Author Archives: John C

facebook in Japan – a puzzle

Having used facebook (yes, they spell it without a capital “f”) and especially its use, and recent growth in Japan, as a subject for lessons in my English school, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi, I thought that it might prove to be a useful tool for my students in improving their English. Blogging regularly in English [...]

Back to School – in Kawanishi

Well, that was it; the Golden Week holiday is but a memory, and I’m fully back in the swing of teaching at my English school, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi. But the memories are great, having spent several days with my wife, Megumi’s family in Matsue, Shimane Ken. As always, we were treated with great warmth [...]

Love at first sight

When I first saw a picture of the “rumoured” iPhone 4 on the internet in the spring of 2010, it was love at first sight. I had never seen such a cool looking piece of kit. I had to have one. I had had an iPod Touch for about a year, but the moment that [...]

Exploring my part of Japan helps make lessons interesting

Since I started living and working in Kansai, I have made exploring the areas around my home in Nishinomiya and my English conversation school in Kawanishi a regular part of my life. Most of my travels have been along the Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line. The stations between Takarazuka and Kawanishi along this line are in a [...]

Chirashi – a pleasure

I have just returned from one of my regular spots, handing out flyers チラシ for my English conversation school 英会話, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校. I am certain that the other franchisees of Smith’s School of English スミス英会話 know what an important part it is of our work. Recently, because of the weather, either very cold or [...]

The Kansai Boat Show

This weekend saw the arrival (and departure) of the Kansai Boat Show at Shin Nishinomiya Yacht Harbour in Nishinomiyahama 西宮浜, where I have lived since I moved from England to Japan just over 2 years ago. I could see the preparations for the show from my balcony, and really looked forward to making a visit. For [...]

Keeping healthy

Teaching in an English conversation school 英会話 is not quite a sedentary occupation. One spends hours every week quickstepping among the commuting throngs, and hopping up and down in lessons. But I found that I wasn’t getting any aerobic exercise when I started my new career as a Smith’s School of English franchisee. I had [...]

Fresh and Fascinating

I recently did a soapbox posting about using a contemporary event with great popular appeal as the subject of a lesson at my English conversation school 英会話, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校. This made for a really successful and very popular lesson. My lesson featuring the (not quite total) success of Japanese figure skater Mao Asada at [...]

Science Fiction

It’s not so long ago that science fiction movies showed such an outrageously modern instrument as a video phone. I remember thinking how cool it would be to see the person that you were talking to, especially if you didn’t know them. How brilliant to put a face to the name. Then a company called [...]

The Greatest Reward of All – 1 Year On

I have been the franchisee and teacher of Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校 for one year today!!!!!!!! I have always loved languages, especially English, so it is really rewarding being able to earn my living teaching my favourite language at my own English conversation school. I always enjoy my lessons with my very special students, [...]

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