Category Archives: enjoyed this a lot

Things To Do List…

スミス英会話なかもず校・堺東校の講師が書いた記事。日本語はこちらへ。 One of the first things I remember noticing after having lived in Japan for a year was how the four seasons of the year were so defined. Each season provides opportunities to take part in a wide range of events and activities. Some are unique to Japan, and others I was used to doing [...]

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 [...]

Okamoto Danjiri Festival

Today and tomorrow (5/4 and 5/4) the annual Danjiri festival is held in Okamoto (eastern part of Kobe).  About ten groups push the ornate Danjiri Carts or Danjiri Guruma slowly down the street while playing traditional music using drums (Taiko) and bells (Kane) and waving to the crowd.  You can find out more at the [...]

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 [...]

Kagawa Udon 讃岐うどん

Last weekend my family visited my parents- in-law who live in a rural area of Tokushima, on the island of Shikoku.  It took me about three hours to drive there from my home in Nakamozu (なかもず), Sakai City, Osaka. It’s always an enjoyable drive along the Hanshin Expressway past Kobe and over the Akashi Kaikyo [...]

English Conversation Students Enjoy Wine and Cheese英会話スクールの生徒さん、ワインとチーズを楽しむ

スミス英会話なかもず校・堺東校の講師が書いた記事。日本語はこちらへ。 Last Saturday night, a small group of students from my English conversation schools  (英会話 月謝) came together to enjoy a casual night of wine and cheese tasting. The students all had a good time chatting with other students while eating and drinking. It was a very enjoyable evening. It was the first time that [...]

Merry Xmas …. and thanks!

As our last day of coaching commences, it is a good time to look back over the year and give thanks to the many people who make Smith’s School of English such a rewarding and satisfying experience. On behalf of all Tsuruhashi students, I would like to give a big hearty thanks to people such [...]

Is there a more popular video on YouTube now?

Hi everyone, Al Bartle of the Smith’s School of English in Okamoto here.  I was just checking out the favorites on Smith’s School’s YouTube Channel ‘ssejapan’ and I noticed that the video of Justin Bieber that I favorited a few months ago is now at almost 396 million views.  Wow!  That is amazing! Baby by [...]

Legend of the Jack-O-Lantern

Hi!  This is Al from the Okamoto School (スミス英会話岡本校) Do you know the legend of the Jack-O-Lantern? I ran across this story on the Internet.  I thought it was fun so I made it into a lesson.  It seemed opportune for use this week.  There seem to be many versions of the story as it [...]

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