Category Archives: Choosing a location

Choosing a location for your business

Chirashi – a pleasure

March 30, 2010 – 9:47 pm

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 [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

The Kansai Boat Show

March 28, 2010 – 3:45 am

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 [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Keeping healthy

March 22, 2010 – 5:52 pm

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 [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

スミス英会話川西校 梅田スカイビル Umeda Sky Building – a great outing

December 7, 2009 – 11:45 pm

Whenever I ask students at my English school, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校, which cities in Japan they would recommend for a visit by overseas visitors, they invariably say Kyoto 京都, occasionally adding Nara 奈良市, and even more rarely, Tokyo. Only one has ever suggested Osaka 大阪市, which is also my choice. Why? Well, to me, [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

スミス英会話川西校 Manganji Temple 満願寺 – Another Local Gem

December 4, 2009 – 6:53 am

During the 9 months that I have been the owner and teacher of Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校, I have done quite a lot of exploring in the area around my English school. I never cease to be amazed by the very special places that I have found in this part of Japan.

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, Sightseeing in Japan, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my high level students | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (5)

(スミス英会話) A Foreigner in Japan – with a camera

October 1, 2009 – 11:49 pm

I have had a great love for photography ever since the first time I saw an image appear on a piece of photographic paper (as if by magic), in a friend’s darkroom. For several years I produced monochrome photographs in my home darkroom, and had some success, exhibiting and winning awards in several countries. That [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a look back, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Naramachi ならまち

September 24, 2009 – 5:25 am

 
During the “Silver Week” holidays my wife, めぐみ　and I visited Nara 奈良市, which is now very convenient for us as there are trains every 20 minutes from Nishinomiya Hanshin Station 西宮駅 direct to Nara.

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Kitano Ijinkan 北野異人館 Revisited

September 14, 2009 – 1:23 am

When we first explored the Kobe 神戸市 area as possibly somewhere to live when we moved to Japan, Kitano-cho 北野町 immediately struck us as a very special sort of place.

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Let’s Talk – Food & Drinks

September 2, 2009 – 10:09 pm

In the “Let’s Talk” Question and Answer Item in the Smith’s School of English スミス英会話 curriculum,  Question 8 asks: “Have you ever complained in a restaurant?”
I have not yet had a student at my English school,  Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi, answer this in the affirmative, and I can’t remember complaining in a restaurant myself (at least here [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Onsen 温泉 – A Great Japanese Tradition

August 20, 2009 – 3:51 am

 
Ever since my first visit to Japan, almost 20 years ago, I have always loved visiting the country’s great traditional hot springs 温泉. My first visit to an onsen was in Nita , in Shimane-ken 島根県. Although I had read much of the etiquette of the onsen, I was lucky enough, on that occasion to [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

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