Category Archives: my high level students

Fresh and Fascinating

March 12, 2010 – 12:45 am

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 [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, mine doesn't follow rules | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

The Greatest Reward of All – 1 Year On

February 28, 2010 – 10:44 pm

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, especially [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a look back, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, mine doesn't follow rules, my passion: language, rewarding job change, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Keeping it Fresh

February 27, 2010 – 1:31 am

I’m writing this sitting in the classroom at my English conversation school Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校 waiting for my next student to turn up.
Yesterday, Asada Mao won a silver medal in the women’s figure-skating at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Today I have already used an exercise, based on an article about the final from the [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, mine doesn't follow rules | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

スミス英会話　布施・東大阪: Pre-Build Up News Lesson Plan and The Onion

February 3, 2010 – 6:18 pm

スミス英会話布施校講師が書いた記事。日本語のメインサイトはこちら
I’m sure most of you are familiar with the “News” lesson in the Pre-Build Up section of our Smiths School of English curriculum.  It’s a fun lesson and flexible enough that you can tweak it to suit various levels.  I particularly like the second half of the lesson plan where students are encouraged to take [...]

By Alex | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, SSE Fuse Corner | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

スミス英会話川西校 Lymington – My Old Home Town

February 2, 2010 – 6:33 pm

My wife, めぐみ, and I were lucky enough to spend our last 12 years in England, before moving to Japan, in the delightful small town of Lymington. I can think of few more fortunate towns to live in; with its beautiful coast to the south, giving views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, and the [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a look back, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my passion: language | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

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 Choosing a location, 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 (5)

スミス英会話鶴橋校：ハイキング明日香（飛鳥）2009年：Tsuruhashi team goes to Asuka (Part 2)

October 17, 2009 – 3:33 pm

スミス英会話鶴橋校講師が書いた記事。日本語のメインサイトはこちら
In a previous blog, I mentioned how Smith’s School of English, Tsuruhashi had visited the township of Asuka, and how we had stopped off for a superb lunch at a local restaurant. The owner of the restaurant then proceeded to explain in detail about the history of this area, and one of our students, whose [...]

By Paul | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Living in Japan, SSE Tsuruhashi Corner, a reward in itself, enjoyed this a lot, rewarding job change, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

TOEIC Expectations by Japanese Companies

September 22, 2009 – 6:49 pm

Of course this is Japan so, Japanese university students looking for jobs need excellent Japanese ability, but it seems that Japanese companies are expecting fairly good English ability also.  This became apparent earlier this year when I was looking through the SHUUKAN ST, a students’ weekly newspaper that I subscribe to for my students.  There [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Okamoto Corner, english in japan, rewarding job change | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

英語で考えよう　－ 日本の未来 － Let’s think in English: Japan’s Future

September 8, 2009 – 12:51 am

I recently read an article in TIME magazine about Japan and how, if the current trend continues, the population will drop by 25% to 95 million from the current 127 million by 2050.  Also, at that time more than 50% of the population will be over

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, New start up or franchise?, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, my passion: language, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

A Farewell to Rabbit – and some words on idiom

August 23, 2009 – 11:46 pm

I have just finished reading the “Rabbit” tetralogy by John Updike. At over 1500 pages, this had been a marathon read. I had read the first of the four novels, Rabbit Run, as a young man, but had not read any other of his works since, before I tackled reading the whole set a little earlier [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, high level students, my passion: language | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

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