Category Archives: Living in Japan

Every day life: What it’s like to pick up and stay here for real.

Fantastic New French Jazz Vocalist Coming to Japan

Last year we discovered a CD in the world music section of Tower Records in Zeze by a French artist named Zaz. We didn’t know anything about her but we could listen to the CD in the shop and we instantly fell in love with her smoky voice and bohemian style. We bought the CD [...]

Happy Australia Day!

Today, being January 26 marks Australia Day, the day when the British first fleet arrived at Sydney in 1788 and proclaimed British sovereignty. Japan and Australia have developed a healthy and rewarding friendship over the years and today they are strong partners in areas of trade, tourism and cultural exchange. Many young people from both [...]

I’m Gonna be on the BBC!

No- not the British Broadcast Corporation. I am being featured on a profile piece on Biwako Broadcasting, the local cable network in Shiga prefecture. I thought some of my students and friends might like to catch it live. I don’t know if the channel is available everywhere in Japan or only in Shiga, but don’t [...]

スミス英会話 高円寺 Tokyo Temples GOKOKUJI

The last few days of the year in Tokyo have been very beautiful with clear blue skies & the sun shining, of course it is still cold with temperatures –day time around 7C & night between 2-4C It’s the time of the year I like to get out and visits temples & shrines Last week [...]

スミス英会話 高円寺 Getting Together

During the second half of 2011 Smith’s School of Koenji had three getherings of students family & friends Two were held at Rainbow Koenji Minami & our year end party was held at ban-kan also in Koenji Minami http://ban-kan.com, each of them had 18 or more in attendance & we all had a very wonderful [...]

Fushimi Inari

A leisurely 45 minute train ride on the Keihan line from Yodayobashi lies Fushimi Inari, Kyoto. Last Sunday, students from Smith’s School of English, Tsuruhashi went to visit this beautiful shrine. It was built in 711 and is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes [...]

The system that suits all!

The Smith’s School of English system can benefit all concerned, both students and franchisees. For the potential student • A structured curriculum – The curriculum caters for every level of English from beginners to advanced, including T.O.E.I.C • Native English speaking coaches – This is so important for areas of pronunciation and listening ability. • [...]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Another fantastic Halloween at Smith’s school of English in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. Our 4th annual Halloween party was held this Saturday, with pizza, snacks, pumpkins, jack-o-lantern carving, games, Halloween videos and more. Check out a few of the jack-o-lanterns that our students carved below. Students came in a variety of creative costumes- [...]

3 Great Parks Near the Nakamozu English Conversation School. スミス英会話なかもず校周辺の公園案内

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。 Autumn is here! I love this time of year in Japan. It is a relief to see the end of the humid summer and I’m ready to enjoy a few months of beautiful weather. One of the best ways to enjoy this weather is to spend some time in a park. I live and [...]

Student impresses me with a great writing example

Yesterday, one of my long-time students showed up with a short essay she wrote about her experience the past weekend. I want to share it because it is quite impressive. There wasn’t much to correct. It was nearly perfect. Wow! Very impressive!  I like to think that several years of studying with me has helped [...]

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