A child of the state

Very powerful story and speech. Hope we can discuss in class next week.http://www.ted.com/talks/lemn_sissay_a_child_of_the_state.html

Racism in British schools

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/05/120525_witn_racism.shtml

good topic to think about especially for us, Japanese. Because we tend to forget that we are dominant race in this country and racism is tend to be unnoticed.

Please think about it and let me know how you would feel if you are ignored or bullied because of your race.

Oh poor thing!

http://www.thestorylibrary.com/21.AudioStories/page03.shtml

This is a little comical story. Enjoy!

This week's article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-19398367

Hi all, this is from Ai. Please read and print it out!

Oh, September!

Hi all,

We are about to start our regular classes from next week! I had such a busy and productive summer this year. These are what I have done:

1 Writing 2 books to publish. Hopefully they will be published by Oct. or Nov. this year.
2 Started teaching At Tokyo Kids Club in Hiroo. Such a posh place to work at.
3 Completed the first module of my Master's course.
4 Read a book, The gift of imperfect. One of the most inspiring books I have ever read.
5 Read and wrote for a few weeks for summer reading.

I am quite happy with the results. Summer is usually a study time for me. I take workshops or lectures.
Instead of doing that, I did productive works this summer except reading the book I wanted to read for a while. I had a lot of fun writing and would love to keep this blog going with you all.

From next week, we will go back to the usual read& discuss routine with some interesting articles we find. How about commenting on the article posted on this blog as homework?

As you know, I don't take no for an answer!! lol

Anyway, please think tell me what you have done for this summer in the next class.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Do you have a good decision-making skill?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=foreign-language-improve-decisions

An interesting article about the relationship between language-learning and decision-making.

It is a beautiful sunny day today. Hope all of you have a good day!

Cheers
Chico

Cramming for tests

http://www.oxfordlearning.com/letstalk/2010/10/15/the-pros-and-cons-of-cramming/

Our environmentally rich country, Japan has more than four seasons. Rainy reason can be added to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Those reasons with different characteristic enrich our lives. But there are also some reasons that are unpleasant, which is the seasons for tests.

Generally, we have three terms in an academic year, starting from April. In the freshman year in any educational institute, the new comers enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms and fun golden week, that has 4 national holidays in the week from the end of April to beginning of May. Students enjoy the holiday with their new mates and family. Then after that, the reality hits them with middle term test. I used to think, "How cruel this is!" Because the fear for the test often spoil the excitements and pleasures  on holiday.  Unfortunately, the bigger and scarier term-end test comes before Summer vacation. In the midst of summer holiday planning, students cram all the numbers and words in their head and by the time the holiday begins, they forget everything they crammed. That is, I call, a season of sighs.

As you sigh so much on endless pages of textbooks, have you ever wondered if  cramming really effective strategy? Well, I won't say to learn but even to get good grades. I certainly think cramming has some advantages but here is something to consider.

Wouldn't that be nice if you get good grades while you actually learn something?

 If this question doesn't make any sense to you, you are one of rare and fortunate case. Congrats! Please carry on whatever you do. But those who understand what I am saying, take a few mins to think about this question. For the test you have been cramming right now, you might have to carry on but for the next one. Cramming is NOT the only way to digest information you get at school.

Good luck on your test! And imagine all the fun staff you can do during Summer when you need to escape from the season of sign for a while. Good news is you are not alone and it can be the last time you have to get intimidatingly huge amount of information into your head within 24 hours.

The Coffee Addiction.

Do you like coffee?
I love coffee, so everday I drink it.  I thought coffee is familiar drink and I can get easily.
But  I watched this video and I knew that coffee  is spent long time until we can drink.

If you watch this video, from now on, you don't drink it quickly  and  you need to taste it.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43393500

The Art of living

Yesterday, one of teachers I know told me about what one of his students said when the student was encouraged to talk about his dream. "I have no idea what I want to do in the future. I have no dreams and no idea why I live. What do I live for?"

Does that sound familiar to you? Have you ever had experience this kind of puzzling feeling? Have you ever felt you are useless loser? Then, welcome to the Teenage Blues Club :-)

I was one of you, a teenager who has no glorifying dream or ambition. I was terrified by the unknown world of grown-ups with heaps of potential dangers and difficulties. Something called social pressure to be better, bigger, wiser human-being came down on my shoulders all of sudden as soon as I became old enough to choose which path I would take; University or Work. Teachers, parents and even my friends suddenly started talking about "reality" which sounded just awfully painful and deadly boring to me then. I had to shift my mind from "dream" to "reality". "I even haven't found my dream, yet" I thought. The sudden shift from "Dream big" to "Be realistic" was confusing to a simple minded girl who I used to be.

"Your life purpose" ? Have I found it ? Have I become a wiser grown-up after all those years?
The answer is no. I still have no idea. But I don't think it matters so much now. I truly enjoy what I do. I appreciate people around me. I certainly got some reasons to live for.

Listen to this great storyteller about the art of living. Sometimes, it is a good idea to take time to listen to stories. Because you might find a story among stories to share with your family or friends. And to me, that is worth living :-)

Nigel Barley:Anthropologist and Writer

http://www.baliadvertiser.biz/articles/siapa/2009/nigel.html

When I was a undergraduate student, I took Anthropology class out of pure curiosity to know what it is. Anthropology sounded exotic to me. And I instantly I fell in love with the idea of "fieldwork" going into uncivilized culture and live among the natives while you investigate their culture. I daydreamed about myself being in a deep jungle, hunting strange looking creatures and sometimes being on the top of a mountain which is not even on the map yet. Well, just dreaming about such a research project is pleasant. I am not sure if I can tolerate with such environment without any civilization since I am a city girl with a few camping experiences. In fact, it will be absolutely unrealistic if I go somewhere like that without any serious preparation. But going there in my head is just fun and extremely safe unless I go out to town with the dreamy mindset.

This dude is a real anthropologist and I found his stories fascinating! I happened to have an opportunity
to deal with a bit of Ethnography as a means of research. I actually have almost no idea except a shallow understanding of the approach but I really love to see myself going "Ummm...very interesting." in a pensive facial expression like most of stereotypical researchers would say. I must admit that my mind is polluted by way too many cliche images. But it is still cool to say "Ummm...very interesting..."
Of course, the genuine anthropologists or scholars don't say that without knowing what exactly interesting about. Don't they?

Thanks to James Newton, one of my mentor / uncle/ mate/ study companion for introducing me to Nigel Barley.

Lonesome George

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18574279

He was the last Pinta giant tortoise on this planet. It is a heartbreaking news yet good opportunity for us to consider the consequences of losing rare subspecies or species.
Here is one of the article for the topic.

http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/species.htm

Something to think about for your future. It is relevant to us all.

record dreams

I'd like to introduce this article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/10/101029_witn_dreams_page.shtml

To record your dream, its mean,  your dream is known to somebody.
Is it good for you?

A story from Ryo

hello 
I ’ m Ryo 

I want to ask this article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/05/120529_witn_football_sol.shtml


Dear all,
I am attaching some relative readings to the topic. Please consider this issue and let's discuss how we feel about it in class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_and_discrimination_in_Ukraine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Nazism
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6241513179213272889
http://youtu.be/YbNR5oMNp1s

Finnish schools rock!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2012/apr/09/finish-school-system

In the last class, I asked why most of students in class were quiet without asking any questions at all. These are the answers: "Because I feel sleepy." "Because I am shy." "Because other students would be angry with me if I ask questions. so, I will ask questions to the teacher after the class."

These are only some opinions and there might be hundreds more reasons, however, their comments give me a starting point to investigate the absolute passiveness in students in some of Japanese schools.
Such attitudes can be identified in way too many classrooms and I suspect that is the main culprit for the decline in academic standards which educators moan about.

Now it is time to ask educators including myself;
What makes you sleepy? Simply the lack of sleep? But would you feel sleepy when you do something exciting or fun, regardless of the depth or length of your sleep? Why does this student feel shy in class? Simply he is self-conscious? Would he feel so shy with his family? How about with his friends? Why would other students get angry at this student if she asks questions? Who facilitates such unfair setting?
And what if we try to learn from the successful school system? What are the differences between the system and our system? Would that be nice if we can facilitate a space where learner's autonomy is respected and everyone shares the fruit of it?

I would love to see such a change at schools in my own country without relying heavily on tests to force students to work hard.

What if nobody believes you?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18404330

The breaking news above is really heartbreaking one. Can you imagine to be accused of killing your own baby? 30 years of agony? This is really beyond my comprehension how awful that all the years must have been. 


Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, a mum was convicted of her baby's murder. What a nightmare! First of all, she lost her baby. Can you imagine going on a camp with your family, having a great time and falling asleep at night peacefully then in the morning you find that your baby vanishes from the camp site? Oh, dear. It must have been awfully devastating experience. On top of that, nobody believes her claim and she was blamed for the tragedy. I have no idea how can she possibly survive in such a outrageous circumstance. This mum must be very wise and strong woman. She even got strength to smile and leave a uplifting comment to the media after the triumph.


The long painful years she has lost  won't come back yet I sincerely hope she will have a loving and peaceful time now.