Category Archives: SSE Hirakata Corner

kids

One of the reasons I enjoy teaching English here at Smith’s 英会話 Hirakata is that I have a couple really cool kids classes. In one class I have two sisters, they are 10 and 11 years old. Actually, they are great kids, and get along together very well. I really kind of push them sometimes, [...]

yo-yo anyone?

Back in the 4th grade I clearly remember the yo-yo craze. It seems that about every 10 years or so that they come back into vogue. I also remember how bad I was at it back then. I was amazed at some of the moves my friends could do – “Walk the Dog” (which was [...]

more prepositions

at / of / to / in / with / upon / above / beyond / over / by / into / across / about
There are a few students ______ the Hirakata Smith’s School ______ English that remark quite often that they look forward ______ me writing more “missing preposition” articles ______ the future. One [...]

the speed of technology

When I was young I remember Sony, National and Aiwa being the ones to turn to if you wanted an electronic gadget such as a new stereo or a walkman…boy, how times have changed. Now there are too many brands to even name. Simply choosing a camera to take on a trip can be overwhelming [...]

fridays

On Fridays there are two women that take classes, sometimes together and sometimes separately. They are both decent English speakers, and both have a similar dedication to learning English. The first woman started to learn English, because as a younger person in Junior and High School, English plagued her. She didn’t like it at the [...]

commitment

Adrian asked me to introduce some of my students at Smith’s 英会話 Hirakata.
One lady was originally a student of Adrian’s even before he had a Smith’s school, so that would mean that she has been studying English for over 10 years. I’m really impressed with her commitment to studying, because she has to travel about [...]

inspiration

As I mentioned in an earlier posting I thought I introduce some of the students at Smith’s 英会話 Hirakata that inspire me to be a better teacher, if it weren’t for them I’m not sure I would have grown as much I have. That’s what I love, students that challenge me to be better. As [...]

now that’s kewl

As most of you know I’m big into the web…I spend hours each week shopping, checking headlines and keeping in touch with people. In my searches this week I came across an amazing video on YouTube that I think you’ll all enjoy watching. I can’t wait to see their next creation, who knows maybe someone [...]

perseverance

Just last month I turned 36…it’s precisely this age that my father decided to take a job in the Philippines that would forever change our lives and eventually bring me to where I am today. As such I thought it might be a good time for me to take stock of just what I have [...]

thank you

For those of you who know me or have been reading my blogs you may know that my wife and I had a near-death experience about 6 years ago. It’s hard to believe that such a traumatic event could seem so far away but it does. In many ways it seems unreal though I know it [...]

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