Students always ask me what’s the best way to learn English…
and I always give them the same answer - study.
However in this day and age with new technology appearing daily we have some amazing tools at our disposal to master English - youtube / dvds / google (just to name a few).
With DVDs students are [...]
Things are rolling at Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture! Not even halfway through June, I’ve already given 3 trial lessons, and all three trial lesson students have joined my school! That’s three for three! Two people found Smith’s on the internet and the other person received a flyer years ago and checked out the [...]
Usually I try and write stories that inspire others but today I thought I’d break the trend to share something a little more private and special: On May 31st Alex Guy Shepherd was born. If you’d like to take a look at his first steps to becoming the next big movie star please enjoy the [...]
recently I’ve been spending a lot of time focusing of getting my lower level students to master questions. It seems that many students seem reticent to ask other questions or ask me about the things they really want to know. I love it when students ask me some crazy questions - “how much money do [...]
I’m a big believer in homework. Just ask any of my students…at times they take convincing how beneficial homework is but now practically all my students go home with something to do.
Things can range from writing up a few sentences with a grammar point or new vocabulary to essays or books.
As most students can only [...]
It is always a joy when people come in for trial lessons at my school, Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi, then join my school.
Trial lesson students are often nervous and lack confidence in their English ability. It is my job to make them feel relaxed and show them that yes, they can learn to speak [...]
As a Smith’s School of English coach of communicative confidence one of our most important goals is to ensure that our students trust us and are relaxed during their lessons. Our attitude, body language - facial expressions, posture etc, empathy and friendliness will all play a part in achieving this major goal.
Many of [...]
My students are used to me asking this question from time to time in class.
I have made it known to all of my students that I am always interested in meeting them for lunch if they have time and our schedules match.
Generally Tuesdays and Thursdays are not good for me because I have a pretty [...]
Smith’s School of English 2008 Cherry Blossom Viewing Party.
Just a quick update to my earlier posting about our fun cherry blossom viewing party at Osaka Castle Park on April 6th, 2008!
If you click on this link you can see many pictures and comments about this event
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/sub/horie/sub6.shtml or….. check out our video!
This video was a lot [...]
This month we did a little bit more advertising to build on the flyering that we already do 2 or 3 times a week.
First, we printed 2000 copies of A4 sized flyers (on Sakura colour paper!!) and put them in the Mainichi Shinbun. Second, we posted our school information in Shiga Living (a weekly newspaper [...]
It’s been difficult for me to come up with ideas about what to say on Soapbox, so I asked Mark what kind of things to write about. He said to write about things that make me smile and he sent me this……
This week I was walking through the supermarket and noticed a child staring [...]