On Sunday July 29th, 2007 eight of us went to Universal Studios Japan to spend a day together riding rides and practicing English. It was a lot of fun! To be sure it was HOT and HUMID but not unlike what I remember Universal Studios Orlando being several years ago.
To view the page [...]
Ever since I joined Smith’s back in Nov 2001 I appreciated the freedom that the system gave me. Most people focus on building up their student base or learning Japanese but I wanted to do something different – I wanted to make a system and design my own materials for kids. Now while I’m an [...]
This lesson was with one of my favourite pink students, who is going to Cairns on holidays over Obon. Her husband`s nickname is Billy, and he has been both training her physically (bikini-body) and mentally (English conversation, of course!) After both of us complaining how hot it is…
ET
Last week`s One Point was `I`ve never [...]
I used to have a student at my Smith’s Fukushima School whose family originally came from Kumihama-cho in the north of Kyoto. I was up there this weekend to look at Kinosaki Onsen, Amanohashidate and take in the fireworks festivals at Ayabe and Maizuru. It’s so pleasant along the Sea of Japan Coast.
The [...]
One of my classes finished up their routine and eagerly jumped on the item after learning that we would be discussing movies for the remainder of the time. They were only too eager to talk about movies that they had watched recently, their favorite actors, and fond memories in the [...]
Yesterday evening I had a lesson with three red students. They were all ready for the “shooting the breeze” review of the intermediate level. So I went through the questions with them by giving examples and asking them to make questions to each other using each grammar point we were reviewing. I got [...]
A little over two years ago I asked a student who had been studying with me for some time if she would be interested in doing language exchange(Japanese-English) with me. She said “yes” and we got started. We have now been doing language exchange for over 2 years, meeting once a week for usually a [...]
This month started off a little slow. I only had one trial a few weeks ago but suddenly this week I got a new fax showing 6 trials this week. What a pleasant surprise! I was beginning to worry ….a little. But as has happened many times, there was nice surprise [...]
Anyone new to Japan inevitably experiences culture shock. It can be something as simple as receiving change in a supermarket or, God forbid, a trip to the hospital. Having lived in Japan for so many years, I am used to this society and culture, and not much phases me anymore. But I know I haven’t [...]
As is the case more often than not, Japanese company employees feel they cannot leave their company earlier to attend a personal activity. Drinking events and parties with colleagues are always acceptable reasons but individuals have a difficult time to just leave early for their own personal reason.
Today, one of my students who has [...]
Omiyage (souvenir) is a big part of this culture. It never ceases to surprise me when a student returns from a holiday, either domestic or abroad, and pulls out something for me from wherever they had been. Just in the past few weeks I have been given some mints from Hawaii (maybe she’s trying to [...]
Smith’s Hashimoto opened about two years ago, conveniently located between Tokyo, Yokohama, Tanzawa Mountains, and the beaches of the Sagami Bay. It’s a relatively quiet area, having three train lines connecting to the major cities.
Opening the school was quite easy for me because of the help and support I received from the staff. [...]
I recently had a lesson with a 4th year university student who is planning to go to Canada to study for 6 months. He will study for 3 months for TOEIC test improvement and the last three months will be spent studying business in English. I am sure that he will have a [...]
Last spring a student who has been studying over 3 years with me at Smith’s Tsukaguchi School was staying at a hospital in Sakai City, Osaka http://www.city.sakai.osaka.jp/foreigner_en/iryou/iryou1.html . She was recovering from an operation. Her sister, also a student at my school who has been studying at my school for over 4 years, mentioned that [...]
Well I guess it’s about time for an update to my testimonial here.
I am now 33 years old and I am running three schools.
http://www.sse-franchise.com/testimonials/t27.shtml
Smith’s School of English Horie http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml
Smith’s School of English Kamishinjo http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kamishinjyo.shtml
Smith’s School of English Fuse http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml
I just wanted to post a short story here about something really special which one of my [...]
On my trips overseas I always make an effort to get souvenirs for my students. In turn they seem to be obliging in getting return gifts on their oversea trips too.
Recently, I have told students not to present me any more magnets as there is no more space on the fridge. I told [...]
Martin wrote recently about our newest student, who really appreciated our cheerful `Good morning`s`.
I`d like to write about why I appreciate my students.
It`s difficult when you take over a school that has been very carefully built-up and nurtured by two women who had to go home but that is what Martin and I have done. [...]
Today`s student was a red level student, who has over the last few months considerably improved in all skill areas. Part of the reason why he has managed to do this is undeniably through his own hard work. I remember when I first taught him and I wrapped up the class and he pulled out [...]
I first started helping Alex at his Smith’s School of English Horie School last Christmas.
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml
As I am terrible with directions, I am always a bit nervous about going to a franchise school for the first time. It turned out that my worry was absolutely unnecessary because Smith’s School of English Horie School was probably one [...]
Growing up in three of Canada’s provincial capitals Winnipeg, Manitoba, Regina, Saskatchewan, and Edmonton, Alberta, all I knew and cared about was hockey. Whether it was winter, spring, summer, or autumn didn’t really matter. If we could get enough people and find a rink or street, we played. It was that simple. [...]
I just finished a lesson with a green level student. I always enjoy the classes with him because he has a really nice personality and is always ready to communicate.
I prepared a news event (Hotdog Eating Contest) as an item and Restaurant 2 for routine. But we ended up only having enough time for [...]
Tanabata
What were you doing last Saturday (7/7/7)? Perhaps playing the lottery and hoping to hit the jackpot? That’s what I would have been doing had I remembered that last Saturday was the 7th day, of the 7th month, in the year 2007. Not that I’m a suspicious person by nature but those [...]
I love the Smith’s holidays and the freedom I have to take extra holidays as a Smith’s franchise school owner. The 2007 Smith’s holiday calendar contains 86 days off http://www.sse-franchise.com/calendar2007.shtml . I think that’s amazing. Smith’s is the front runner regards time off for privately owned schools. I can as a school owner control my [...]
This weekend has our first national holiday since Golden Week and it marks the beginning of Festival Season which Yoko and I revel in every year.
One Monday student at my Smith’s School in Fukushima was quite disappointed last week to learn that lessons would be canceled for the holiday. You should have seen the [...]
Today’s student was an orange level gentleman.
I had planned to do a routine and then finish with a review of an item.
That was my plan but one of the challenges of being a coach is the unknown and also having to be adaptable and be prepared for each student’s individual needs.
Recently I have been going [...]
That’s right! I’ve achieved my goal of having three Smith’s School of English schools!
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kamishinjyo.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml
If you’ve read any of my former postings here you are already aware that I have been working toward this goal for some time now.
http://www.sse-franchise.com/testimonials/t27.shtml
Well, on July 1st, 2007 I officially accepted the challenge at Smith’s School of English Fuse and I [...]
This week I had four students attend the night out at SHUNJU, a local cafe where we meet every Thursday night. The “Night Out” is appreciated by many students as it gives them a chance to practice speaking English with myself and other students.
This week was quite good. I was impressed with how [...]
I just came back from PIERROT, a hair salon where I get my haircuts. The owner owns 3 shops. I go to the one in Tsukaguchi http://www.hair-magic.co.jp/salons/honten/index.php .
It’s less than 10 minutes by bicycle from my school, Smith’s Tsukaguchi School http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/tsukaguchi.shtml .
The staff there is very friendly and the service is great. They [...]
Today Heidi had a trial lesson at Smith’s School of English Kotoen which made us feel really good. A wonderfully charming potential student came in to meet with us. The reason she phoned up Smith’s for her Trial Lesson was because she liked the way we said, “Good morning! Thank you and [...]
My father once told me that the most important thing in life is your health. I absolutely agree with him. If you don’t take care of your body, you will eventually pay for it. That’s a fact.
I am 33 years old and I realize that I can greatly reduce my chances of developing health problems [...]