Kevin`s 英会話　スクール Blog　　　　南足柄市　小田原

Kevin`s School Days

2009-04-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

Can you guess which one I am?

The Guests of Chris & Erika`s Wedding

2009-02-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

Here is another shot of the wedding.

Chris & Erika`s Wedding

2009-01-26T19:41:00.000-08:00

One of our former teachers and a good friend got married to
a lovely Japanese lady.

Chris and Erika Congratulations!

It was a very nice wedding and Chris`s sense of humour showed through!

文法によくある１０の間違い

2008-12-26T22:28:00.000-08:00

文法によくある１０の間違い

10 common Grammar mistakes

文法によくある１０の間違い

これらは、文法によくある１０の間違いです。今後はきちんとこれらを理解し、
よりよい印象を与えられるようにしましょう。
（http:www.thestranger.com/2002-09-26/ex9.htmlより要約、簡素化）

1) It's vs Its
It'sは、'it is'を意味しています。（it's cold, のように）
時に、'it has'(It has come to thisのように）を意味することもあります。
逆に、'Its' は、その所有物であることを指します。
（The bear wiped its paw on the rabbit　のように）

2) アポストロフィー
アポストロフィーは、複数形を構成することはなく、所有格を構成します。
（例えば、'Fred's' は、Fredの所有しているものを指します。'Freds'は、Fredという名前の人がいっぱいいることです）

3) He does that well vs Trump's hair looks good
実際、単純に考えて見ましょう。'well'は動詞を説明している副詞です。
（you throw, run, or hit well のように）
ですが、your mom is a good person の 'good' は形容詞で、名詞を説明している単語です。

4) Literally
本当に起こっている行動、活動について説明をしていない場合、'literally' は使わないこと。
その場合、なぜそれを使うのか？起こっていることを言うだけでいいのです。

5) Me and I
'That's between my girlfriend and me' が正解です。
ここにはシンプルなトリックがあります。文章から相手（my girlfriend) を取ります。
'that's between I' と言いませんか？
なお、逆の作用もあります。'My dad and me went to the game' は間違いです。
'Me went to the game' とは言いませんよね。

6) You're vs Your
とても重要です！　'You're ' は　'You are'　の意味です。('you are sexy' のように）
'Your' はあなたの所有しているものの意味です。('Your friend is sexy' のように）
'Your welcome' は間違いです。

7) They're, There, Their
'They're' は 'They are' の意味です。（'They are old enough to know how to spell' のように）
'There' は'there' を意味しています。('Over there', or 'There, there...', or 'There you go' のように）
'Their' はそれらに属しているという意味です。('Their grammar is an embarrassment' のように）

8) Who and Whom
'who'= he/she, 'whom'=him/her というルールがあります。
質問の答えが、その手がかりを教えてくれます。
'Who is that?' 'He is that.'
'With whom did you go to the show?'　I went to the show with her.（私は彼女とショーを見に行った）

9) 分離不定詞
分離不定詞＋副詞（'to boldly go' のように）はある程度受け入れられており、時には適していることもあります。
これに関しては、それほど悩む必要はありません。

10) 文章の最後につく前置詞
専門的にいうと、文章の最後に前置詞をおくことはとんどしないでしょう。
ですが、このルールにかなり気を配り、いらいらしていた人物が１人います。
'What did you come up with?' は、'Up with what did you come?' よりも分かりやすいですからね。

Sean Nelson 書

Translated by Ayako Sugai

Tal Ben Shahar on Educating our Children

2008-12-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

"He (the student) is constantly reminded by his parents
and teachers that the purpose of going to school is to get good
grades so that he can secure his future. He is not told that he
should be happy in school or that learning can be--and ought to be
--fun."

--Tal Ben Shahar, Ph.D

How to Improve your English

2008-10-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

Pictured: A Penguin graded reader, reading graded readers is a
fantastic and fun way to improve your English.

By Kevin Burns

Make the decision to do it! As Nike says: "Just Do it!"

Use your will to study, even when you don`t want to. Even when you don`t feel
motivated that day.

Watch Movies

Watching old black and white movies is probably best as they don`t use much slang,
and they don`t have things blowing up every two seconds! The actors also speak
clearly.

Another idea is to watch a movie that you know. But this time, watch it in English.
If you watched it in Japanese before, now set the DVD to English, with
English subtitles. Or if you are more confident, just listen to the English (with no
Subtitles). This well help your listening.

Don`t translate as you listen. Do your best to think in English. You can do it!
You don`t need to understand everything. Try to get the just of the meaning.

As your listening ability improves, select movies that you really want to watch,
and enjoy them in English. Don`t use the Japanese subtitles.

If you have trouble understanding British accents. Then choose British movies for the
next few months.

Really any TV program you would like to watch will improve your English. Soap
operas are also good as the acting is very exaggerated and the English is easier.

Some of my students watch Prision Break, Lost or 24 because they love those kinds of shows.
But again, don`t watch them in Japanese. Watch them in English only!

Read Books

In children`s books, the vocabulary and grammar is easier, plus it is a fun change from normal study.
children`s books too can give you valuable insight to the culture of the country
and what parents think their children should learn about morals and values.
kind of a mini-lesson in culture.

Some of my students read Harry Potter and other books in English. You can also
borrow easy books in English from the library. These are called graded readers.
They are published by companies like Cambridge and Oxford University Press.
You should choose books where you know 95% or more of the vocabulary.

You should read for enjoyment. If the book is too difficult and you have to
constantly look up new words in the dictionary, you will probably give up.

These books usually come in six levels. Choose a very easy level for yourself,
then gradually choose more difficult books as your English improves.

One day you will be able to read any book in English and enjoy it!

Get a Job!

Find a job where English is spoken. Japan is changing very quickly, with more
and more non-Japanese living here. As well, the Japanese Ministry of Tourism
is trying to increase the number of tourists coming to Japan.

Areas where non-Japanese live like Shin Okubo, Roppongi, Hiro in Tokyo require
English speakers. There are areas throughout Japan (even in Hokkaido) where
many non-Japanese live. Live and work amongst them, and improve your English!

The major tourist spots of Japan require people who can speak English.
waiters, sales staff, hotel staff, bar staff, tour companies all require English speakers.
Why not make some money and practice English for free?

You will quickly learn the English necessary for your job. Then you can
even do small talk with customers. Non-Japanese love small talk.
With the internet it has become easier for Japanese to meet people from abroad online.
Of course you have to be careful. But corresponding by Email can be another
great way to improve your English skills.

Japanese tend to worry about making mistakes. DON`T!

Mistakes are necessary for improvement. Think about when you were a baby.
You had to fall many times before you could learn to walk.

Valuable Phrases:

How do you say this in English? (Point to object)

How do you say tori in English? Bird

Once more please.

Sorry could you repeat that please?

Could you speak more slowly please?

Finally

Enjoy the process. Learning English should be fun, keep it that way by making it your hobby.
You will improve over the years, and the world will open to you.

Henry Adams said...

2008-09-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops."

Some of Goro Tajiri`s Insights on Teaching English

2008-07-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

Gojo Tajiri gives seminars about 150 times a year. Here are some
of his thoughts on teaching English in Japan:

Tajiri believes that winning students` hearts and trust is a
very important prelude to actual English teaching.

"What they learn through English is most important.
Motivation is generated when students think they want to know
more, want to read more and want to speak more," he said. "To
make them think that way, the content we teach is very important."

--Goro Tajiri, English Teacher

Content Based Language Learning

2008-05-07T02:09:00.000-07:00

What you're talking about here is what content based learning is all about. Rather than learning vocabulary, grammar, etc in isolation (and boy can that ever be frustrating) we improve our language skills by combining things that interest us with the language. Whether it's comedy, history, or whatever, combining hobbies and interests with language is a very powerful and motivating tool.

Tom

About motivating yourself--it is such a difficult thing to understand
about oneself let along about trying to motivate others.

For me I have always loved comedy and movies, so lately I watch
a lot of comedy, but in Japanese. I try to use what I already
enjoy to motivate myself to study (but in a passive way--by watching
TV). I find my Japanese improving and I enjoy watching the comedy.
Plus it is an activity I share with the whole family.

I play sports and converse in Japanese with my Japanese buddies then.
My study of Nihongo at this point is pretty indirect, but I still
find myself improving.

Kevin

Those Who CAN...Teach!

2008-05-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

by Kevin Burns

I was lucky enough to have been enrolled in one of the
best teaching programs in the world. It isn`t
world famous however. I studied from some of the great
ones.

In grade eight I was lucky to be put into Beth Bell`s
Social Studies class. My life would never be the same.
This dynamo of a teacher with the energy of a marathon
runner would stand up on the desks as she mimicked crossing
the Delaware River as George Washington. I have never
forgotton some of her lessons.

Mr. Wilson in Grade 4 taught us just once a week unfortunately,
but I always enjoyed his self deprecating humour. I paid
more attention in class as a result. He would often lament
loudly in class (to many chuckles), "My mother always said
I should have been a church minister, why didn`t I listen?"
--whenever we had given him a hard time. We always looked
forward to his classes.

Mr. Koch in grade 8 science combed his hair forward it was
rumoured, to cover a bald spot. I think in retrospect, he just
liked that style. Regardless he was one of the great ones.
He always looked at life and learning in a humourous light
hearted way, and I never saw him angry. Although I wasn`t
always interested in the content of his lessons, I always
enjoyed them, because of his humour and love of teaching.
I even stuck it out when we had to cut up pickled baby pigs!

Moreover, there were so many honorable mentions in my life.
The Mr. Christie`s who taught with warmth, empathy and even
brought music into the classroom in the form of his guitar and
singing. I still remember you clearly Mr. Christie and others
like you, who while not making my top five list, were very good
teachers nonetheless. You taught well, were well prepared and
obviously enjoyed teaching.

Another great was Mr. Leach. I didn`t like him at first thinking
he was too stodgy and stern. But that changed once I got to
know him. He too was humorous and able to recognize that not all
students were alike. They might need a special project to work on
individually. He kept his eyes open for students like that.
Moreover he would play with our growing rebelliousness with humour.
We were getting to that infamous junior high school age, but
Leach could handle anything we could throw at him.

Mr Bohmert had been a young Nazi as a boy. All the boys had in
Germany at that time. Had you not, that could well have spelt
trouble for your family in the Germany of that age. Yet he
was one of the most liberal thinking teachers I know. He
brought a passion to his teaching that few have equalled.
Studying with him in grade 12 gave one a preview of coming
attractions in university. He had a love of his topic:
Western Civilization, and it was evident to all. He kept
a good balance between being teacher centred and student
centred--often asking us what we thought, and promoting
discussion. His lectures were great!

Catherine was at one time a depressed and overweight
woman. You would never have known. Her acting lessons at
UBC were superb. She was a master at reading the atmosphere
of the class and adjusting to that. She was passionate about
her work and there was no doubt as to what we were there to do
or why. There was nothing more important in the whole world,
than what was taking place in her class at that moment.

How many times have you ever felt that with a teacher?

Do your students ever feel that in your classes?

Humbling questions I know, but important ones for us career educators.

"Where are you?" Catherine would ask. "Are you in the moment?"

As teachers if we don`t treat each moment as the most important
event in history, how can our students?

If we are not enthusiastic about our classes, how can they be?

Perhaps the greatest teacher I ever had was Dr. Peter Loeffler
of UBC. I had him for Theatre History and the topic wasn`t
that interesting to me. Yet because of Dr. Loeffler it made it
so. Loeffler was all about passion. Passion for the theatre,
passion for art, passion in love. He embodied passion.
He wanted all of us to really be what we were working on. He eloquently spoke of Goethe. He loved Goethe.
I wanted to love Goethe.

My project for his class was a stand up comedy act about
Oedipus. Sounds crazy! And it was!

Dr, Loeffler did not simply want me to perform stand up comedy,
but he wanted me to engage my artistic side as much as possible.
He really wanted to bring out the talents of the students. Very
difficult to do in a class of over 100, but he managed to.

I had (mistakenly) mentioned that I could not draw and wasn`t good
at art; that only spurred him on. "You must make a poster then,
you don`t have to draw everything," he said in his Dutch accented
English. So my comedy performance would also have my poster which
I cobbled together with my drawing, printing and pictures from
magazines. It actually looked pretty nice. Stand up comedy followed
with jokes about sleeping with my mother and a blues number
lamenting the same unfortunate family relations, finished my act.

I think Loeffler taught me the value of how teachers have the magic
to bring out the best in our students. To help students realize
who they really are, where their talents lie and dig them out
from the hole they are buried in. Students are diamonds in the
rough.

Loeffler too was magical. He believed in the magic of things.
Like a six year old child, he valued the magic inherent in events.
He valued the magic of the moment. His subject matter was theatre and
he bewailed the loss of magic in the Canadian theatre. His one
frequent example was the hush that befalls the audience just
as the lights of the theatre dim and the curtain begins to open.
That anticipation just before the set is revealed on stage.
In the Canadian theatre at that time (twenty years ago or more now)
the set was frequently there for all to see as the audience entered
the theatre. Magic of the kind Loeffler referred to was gone.

I think as English teachers in Japan, few of us realize that
for our Japanese students from Niigata and Nagano, we are walking
magicians. We are just like the people they have seen in
movies all their lives. To them we are magical. That
man or woman they saw on screen is now standing before them.
Tough to believe I know. But to many of our students, we
look just like Kiefer Sutherland, Mr. Bean, Paul McCartney,
or God forbid, Margareth Thatcher!!!! Ouch!!!

He looks just like that actor in what movie was it? The Matrix?

Use it! Use whatever magic you have. Engage your students!
If you look like an actor to them, play that up.
Play up the wonder and the mystery. And for God`s sake make
your English class a magical and wondrous event.

To the teachers who say, I am not an entertainer.
I am a teacher. I will resist slapping you silly.

You are an entertainer
& a teacher. You must entertain. You must keep your
students engaged. If not, you cannot hope to teach.

幼児期の英語学習に関する私の考え

2007-11-06T22:56:00.000-08:00

幼児期の英語学習に関する私の考え

ケビンバーンズ

基本的に、もし、子供達が学びたいのであれば、ひとつの外国語を学ぶべきだと思います。
もし、子供達に学ぶ気がないのに、ご両親が学ばせたいとなると、
ご両親や先生達は外国語を学ぶことがいいことだと、子供を納得させる努力をしなくてはなりません。
近いうちに海外へ引っ越す、外国語を話す親戚がいる、将来仕事で英語を必要と
する、もしくは、アジアだけでなく、視野を広げ、世界中に目を向けるため、
というのがシンプルな説明かもしれません。

「英語を勉強するつもりはない」「英語が嫌い」
日本ではこのように、英語に対して冷ややかで、否定的な態度がみられます。
難しい問題です。英語は日本語に浸透してきてはいるものの、
未だに、英語を話せるようになることが想像できないという人もいるのです。

このような否定が全国に広がっていることもあり、英語の必要性を子供に納得させることが難しいのです。
話はそれますが、オランダのように、他の国の言葉に対しても、オープンな国では、簡単なことなのでしょう。

勉強を強要しても、決してうまくいきません。
言葉を学ぶことが、とても大切なことだということを
分かってもらうための、手段を示してあげましょう。、
子供にとっては、ディズニーをテーマにした物を使うのもいいかもしれません。
イングリッシュランド、というテキストはディズニーを使用しています。

何歳から、外国語の勉強を始めたらいいのか。

これは、難しい問題です。子供や、その状況にもよるからです。
ちなみに、ケビンズイングリッシュスクールでは３歳から英語を
楽しく学ぶことができます。

幼児期から英語を勉強する必要はなく、１２歳までにと、提案するところもあります。
勉強を始めた年齢がばらばらの生徒達が、同じレベルで、何も気にせずに学ぶ傾向にあるのです。
私達は、何かを見落としている、と思いませんか。

話し言葉を学ぶ、テストで良い成績をとる、それだけのために言葉を学ぶわけではありません。
言葉を学ぶことによって、私達は、子供達に、全く新しい世界や、考え方の違い、
現実に世界を見ることを、切り開いていくのです。

早ければ早いほど、いいと思います。いつか、子供は自分で決めなくてはいけないでしょう。
親として、教育者として、私達はその事を重要だと考え、その事を子供に納得させなくてはいけません。
もし私達にそれができないのなら、子供にとって、それがどれだけ重要なのか分かるまで、待つべきでしょう。

My Thoughts on Early Childhood Language Study

2007-11-05T15:49:00.001-08:00

Pictured: Kevin and friends in Kaisei Town, Kanagawa

By Kevin Burns

My basic feeling is that children should only study a foreign language if they want to. If they don`t want to and parents think it is a good idea, the parents
and perhaps the teacher must try to convince the child that studying the language is a good idea. Perhaps the child will be moving to a foreign country in the near future, has a relative that speaks the language, or will need the language
in the future for business; or simply to help the child to see that the world
is a bigger place than just these small Asian islands.

In Japan, there is such a negative attitude towards English that ranges from
the apathetic: "I can never learn English." to the: "I don`t like English."--the
task is more difficult. Though English permeates the Japanese language, few Japanese ever envision themselves becoming good English speakers.

With this nationwide negativity, convincing a child that she might need English is very difficult. It would be much easier to do so in a country more open to
other languages like the Netherlands, however I digress.

Forcing someone to study never works very well. You need to find a way to make them realize that studying the language is important for them. You need to show them the benefits--what they will gain from this study. For young children perhaps associating English with a Disney theme could be one answer.
A textbook series called English Land has done just that.

What age should children start studying a foreign language?

This is a difficult question! I think it really depends on the child and the circumstances. Though at Kevin`s English Schools we have children as young
as three studying and enjoying English.

Some studies have suggested that it isn`t necessary to start studying at such a young age, that by the time they are 12 years old, all the students who started
studying at various ages, tend to perform at the same level in the foreign language regardless. Perhaps we are missing something here though?

Studying a language is not done just for the spoken output or doing well on a test. By studying a language we are opening up a whole new world to our children, a different way of thinking and indeed seeing the world. The sooner that can happen the better in my opinion. Yet the child must decide that for him or herself, and if as parents or educators we deem it important, we must convince the child that it is. If we cannot, the child should wait until such
time that it is important to her or him.

Rambo Weber

2007-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Rambo Weber, better known as Chris Weber was one of the better teachers to have graced our schools. Here is his latest concert poster. He will be appearing in concert in
Australia.

Kevin`s English Schools Requires Native English Teachers

2007-10-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

Training Starts Feb. 14th, 2009. Must be able to commit for one year or more.

One Year Contract -- Renewable

*Must have a University Degree. B.ed or other teaching related degree preferred but not necessary. TESL, TESOL, TEFL, RSA or other TESL or TEFL Training and/or previous experience preferred.

*Teach in a Canadian, Victorian House (materials imported from Cloverdale, British Columbia, ariver-side cottage like schoolwith a Canadian style General Store on the first floor, and some other very cozy schools in Kanagawa, Japan.

Our Tsukahara School is in a cottage-like building a stone`s throw from theKari River. Both of our Minami Ashigara schools are in a pretty rivervalley. This school has a Western style, "cowboy," veranda surrounding the firstfloor`s General Store.

Our Anne School (Minami Ashigara) is a Canadian Victorian style house. The materials were imported fromCloverdale, British Columbia.

Our Kamonomiya school is in the most desirable area of Odawara, near shops, restaurants,and the train station.

We try to create a very warm environment for our teachers and students.

Title of position: Fulltime Native English Teacher

Address:

____Iizawa 242-23, Minami Ashigara City, Kangawa Pref. 250-0122 Japan_

Telephone: _81-(0)465-74-4458_________________ Fax: ___Same

E-Mail: kevinsenglishschools@hotmail.com

WWW address: http://www.eikaiwa1.com

Contact person: ___Ikumi or Kevin Burns

Inquiries should include (please mark with an 'X'):

_X_CV/resume __diploma(s) _X_letter of introduction __essay

__publications (# __) _X_photo __teaching certification(s)

__transcripts __letters of recommendation __video/audio Tape

__Other (health certificate, etc.) _

Describe position/duties: (please use additional lines if necessary)

Wehire native speakers from all English speaking countries. One YearContract.Teach children to adults and some company classes. 20-28hrsper week.Very attractive furnisheded apartment provided. Rent￥63,000/Month No Key Money!

Free Japanese lessons provided whileyou work for us. Canadian owned andco-managed. The Canadian stillteaches, so understands what it`s like 'in thetrenches.' No longcrowded train travel!

You will not be a number! You will be avery important part of our team. It isour family business. If we don`tkeep our teachers and students happy, we don`teat! Our business is notjust about making money. We care about our teachers andstudents. Whenyou finally leave us, you will probably shed more than a fewtears. Fourweeks of paid vacation (2 weeks at Christmas and 2 weeks inthesummertime). No cliche! It is a great area to live in!

Special skills/requirements:

__Required:A university degree. We want people who don`t view teaching English as'something to do until they get a real job.' This is a real job.

Wewant people who regard teaching English to Japanese people,as somethingthat is very valuable to our students and to themselves asteachers;even if they don`t want to pursue teaching English as a long-termcareer.

Teaching English for our schools, should be somethingyou really, really want todo. This isn`t just a job. It is anadventure. We truly believe that.

Application deadline:

None

MUST APPLICANT CURRENTLY RESIDE IN JAPAN? (Y/N) __No_________

Hours/week: _20-28Salary: _￥250,000/Month________Class load _20-28 hours per week.

*Wealso require part-time teachers who live in our area now, and cancoverclasses when teachers are sick or on vaction. Contact Ayako Sugaiif you are interestedin part-time teaching work: 74-4458. Give her yourname and phone number and askher to keep you on file for vacationrelief and sick leave work.

Minimum university degree(s) REQUIRED (please indicate all):

_x_BA _x_BS __MA __Ph.D. __Other _Any university degree is fine.*

Wedon`t accept diplomas, you must have a degree. We prefer someonewho hasshown the intelligence and perseverence to complete a university degree.

University degree(s) PREFERRED

_x_BA _x_BS __MA __Ph.D. Other

Subject specialization (please indicate all):

__Education, English

Prfessional certification(s) REQUIRED (please indicate all):

__TESL/ESL __Teaching __RSA __Other

Professional certification(s) PREFERRED (please indicate all):

_x_TESL/ESL _x_Teaching _x_RSA _x_Other ___CELTA_

Experience required (years/level/etc.):

None,we will train you! We have a two week training program, in whichyouwill observe all of our teachers, teaching. You will be given someteachingmethodology books to study as well.

Japanese speaking ability not required.

Applicant's visa status (please indicate one):

Wewill sponsor and we will renew visas. *Commonwealth citizens 30 yearsof ageor younger can obtain a working holiday visa, which is a greatvisa to start with!

Accommodation is (please indicate):

_x_Included __Partially provided __Not included

__Other(or details) __x__Rent for our furnished apartment is 60,000-65,000Yen/Month*Must pay 2,000 Yen per month leasing fee for furniture andutilities.

Position includes (please indicate all):

_x_Paid holidays _x_Completion bonus __Travel allowance

__Moving/relocation allowance _x_Paid vacation __Airfare

__Health insurance __Research allowance

__Other(or details) _____We don`t pay for airfare but you will get a\\100,000One year contract completion bonus after completing yourcontract.

*The best health insurance in Japan is JapaneseNational Health Insurance. That is what Ihave had for the past 16years. It is very inexpensive and teachers pay for their own healthinsurance.

Contract information:

Length: ___1yr_____ Renewable? _Yes_______ How many times? _Until death.____

Instruct applicants to contact your institution by:

_x_Mail __Fax __Telephone _x_E-mail __In-person

__Other (or details) ______________________________________________

Other important information:

Weare proud that we are very different from the large schools here. Wefeel that ourstudents and teachers recognize our caring attitudetowards our business. Take a look at our homepage to see what I mean.Our schools are very homey and that empitomizes theteaching environmentwe have.

Our attitudes towards life and work are very down to earth. If that sounds likeyou then please apply!

E-Mail: kevins_english_schools@yahoo.com

WWW address: http://www.eikaiwa1.com

英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄か？

2007-08-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄か？

英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄だと言う話を時々耳にします。
さらに、子供のレッスンはほとんど遊びだという人もいるようです。

Manabu, Hiromi, Masami。
ケビンズイングリッシュスクールで学び、アメリカの大学を卒業した
彼らに会ったことはないでしょう。
もちろん彼らはスクールだけでなく、自分自身で一生懸命勉強していました。
英会話スクールに通うことは、出発点なのです。
自宅でもたくさん勉強をしなくてはならないのです。
多少お説教のように聞こえるかもしれません。
でも、上にあるようなコメントを耳にするとがっかりしてしまいます。

しかし、これは日本中で起きているようです。
日本にもDavid Paul. Lisgo, Happy English Clubがあり、
英語を学ぶ方の手助けとなっています。MasamiやManabuもそうでした。
日本は信じられないくらい急激に変化しており、英会話スクールは
それを促進させている要因のひとつです。決して時間の無駄ではありません。
私達のような小さなスクールも、この国を国際化させるお手伝いを
しているのです。

私達は時々思い出す必要があります。
私達英語の専門職が、英語を学ぶ生徒さんたちの手助けをすることは、
長期目標であり、長期に渡るということを。
水泳を習うこととは違うのです。英会話を学ぶことは、ピアノを習う
ことと似ています。２，３回のレッスンでベートーベンの曲をお母さんの
前で披露することはできないでしょう。でも、泳いでみせることは
できるでしょう。英語を学ぶことは水泳を習うこととは違うと思って
下さい。しかし、残念ながら多くの方がそう信じているのです。

もし一年間だけ英会話スクールで習ったとしても、
私が何を話しているのかを理解できないかもしれません。
もう一度いいますが、これは長期に渡る目標であり、たった
一年間で生徒さんの進歩度をはかるのは難しいことです。
これは、10年間に及ぶプロジェクトなのです。

日本をより国際的にし、他国の文化ををもっと理解できるようなお手伝いを
少しでもする・・のが英会話スクールです。そして私達はゆっくりと
国際語を教えているのです。

何か間違っているでしょうか？
これ以上は思いつきません。

ケビンバーンズ

Free Listening Actitivities for your Students at ELLO

2007-08-04T04:05:00.001-07:00

elllo ～リスニング学習サイト～
Toddのリスニング学習HP
Practice Your Listening!

http://www.elllo.org

Studying at an English School is a Waste of Time?

2007-08-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Hiromi and Masami on graduation day, at the
University of Oklahoma, with their mother

by Kevin Burns

From time to time I hear people say that learning English
at a language school (Eikaiwa School), is a waste of time.
Others will say that the children`s classes are all play.

They obviously haven`t met some of our students. Manabu,
Hiromi and Masami all went from KES to study and graduate
from universities in America. Of course they did more
than just study at KES, they studied a lot on their own.
Studying at an English conversation school is just a
starting point. You have to spend a lot of time at home
studying as well. I may be preaching to the choir a little
bit, yet when we hear comments like the above it can be a
little disheartening.

I think we all need to remember at times, that we are in
this profession for the long haul, for the long-term goal
of helping our students to learn to speak. It isn`t like learning
to swim. Learning English is more akin to learning
classical piano. You cannot show your mother that you can
play Beethoven after a few lessons, but you can show her you can swim.
To think learning English is like learning to swim is false, yet a lot
of naive people seem to think it is so.

We are making Japan a little bit more international,
a little bit more understanding of other cultures,
and we are slowly teaching them to
speak the defacto, international language of the world.

What is wrong with that? I can`t think of a thing.

KES Model Day at our Tsukahara School in Minami Ashigara

2007-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

by Chris Zanella

So I held my first model class here. We thought this would be a good weekend but it turns out the students are all on summer break. And, there is a big soccer camp going on now that some of my students were attending. So I only had 6 students but I will be doing this again in September after my summer break.

The models I bought the same weekend I went to the Tokyo Toy show. The store owner of Leonardo's gave me a huge discount on the models shown in picture #1, so they only cost about 50-60 cents each plus some I had in there for myself not pictured (those were about $10.00 each). Leonardo's is the place that was a used shop with 5 floors and 8 locations in Japan.

I showed the students how to remove with sprue cutters and to file the nubs left behind away. I was afraid hobby knives might be a little much for some of them. The students were as young as 5 and the oldest I believe was 9. We used the closest thing I could find to sharpies for painting. And there was very little gluing needed so I did that for each model.

I hope you guys enjoy the pics.

Kevin`s English Schools` Model Day Gallery.
More Kevin`s English Schools Model Day Photos

OLL: Question/Answer Tag

2007-07-20T07:13:00.001-07:00

This is an activity I have done for years off and on with childrens classes. You pre-teach a new question each class and make sure the class understands how to ask and answer it. ie) Can you play baseball?
As the weeks go by they have more potential questions they can ask and answer.

You go outside or can do it in a large room on a rainy day. If it is a class of 6 or more I usually have two or more people be it. The people who are it, try to touch those who are not. When they do they must
ask a question. The child touched must answer it, and then she or he is it and must try to touch someone else. Optional: You can have them count to ten before they touch someone else, otherwise they sometimes just touch the same child over and over again.

We usually play it until we are too tired. It is a big hit with the children and a lot of English is
spoken in a very fun way.

What are your ideas for OLL?

Kevin Burns
http://www.eikaiwa1.com

OLL: Outdoor Language Learning

2007-07-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

More KES Model Day photos

OLL: Outdoor Language Learning

For English teachers, there is a new group discussing ideas for outdoor language teaching and learning. It was inspired by an article in the Language Teacher.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Outdoor_Language_Learning

Teacher Testimonials on Teaching at Kevin`s English Schools

2007-06-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Rugenji Temple courtesy of Fuji Film Staff

Kevin and Ikumi are great people to work for. They let me experiment a lot with teaching ideas and in my first and most important year of teaching I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do. It was a great place to get started.

Jonathan DeNardis

Ian Slesinger on Teaching for our schools:

On a typical day at Kevin's English Schools you work from about 3pm to 9 or 9:30pm although some days are longer or shorter. You get weekends off which is nice, since you have to work Saturdays at most English conversation schools.

The job involves teaching a very diverse range of students in terms of age and ability level. I teach everything from preschoolers to business classes for engineers. This instills flexibility as a teacher and allows you to gain experience in many areas of teaching. It also provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate your preferences and strengths and weaknesses, which is helpful if you plan to pursue a career in EFL.

The majority of work tends to be with elementary students and junior high school students. The position would be apt if you enjoy working with children.

In most classes teachers use textbooks and supplement them with other games, songs and activities.

Working for KES you have freedom to develop your own teaching style and to try out new ideas. Kevin gives you a lot of control in designing your lesson plans and choosing material as long as you generally follow a core curriculum from the textbooks.

Special emphasis is placed on phonics and reading for children. The main textbooks we use are the Finding Out and English Land series for elementary school students, Side by Side for teenagers, and New Interchange and Cutting Edge for adults.

Sarah O`hagan on Teaching for Kevin`s English Schools

Choosing to work for Kevin's English Schools was the best choice I made in terms of my employment in Japan. It's difficult to decide which school to go with as there are so many out there - and most of them sound really good on paper, or when you speak with them on the phone. But I can guarantee you that this school is different than most and that's why I stayed with them for 3 years!

KES more than a school, it's like a tight-knit community. Teachers and students regularly go sightseeing, play sports, and go out for meals together outside of class time. Of course you are not required to do any of this, it just seems that's the way things unfold!

Kevin and his family warmly welcome new employees into their lives and are always there for you. Teachers need not worry about resources as they are provided. However, the great thing about teaching for Kevin is that he gives you the freedom to choose your own materials and textbooks, so long as they are reasonable.

The apartments KES provides for their teachers are clean, comfortable, fully equipped, and conveniently located. The rent is reasonable and, most importantly, there are no hidden fees or deposits (common among rental units in Japan) that can put you out thousands of dollars.

If you are looking for a casual yet professional teaching environment where you can form strong bonds with your students and other staff members then you should seriously consider Kevin's English Schools.

Chris Weber, Australia on KES:

As Kevin mentioned, I'm an ex-employee of his and we've become good friends too. He's a really great guy and as a boss he gives the teachers freedom to have their own teaching style and implement their own lesson plans (within reason).

At the schools there are many text books and materials to use, so you don't need to worry about having to start from scratch using your own materials.

I'm very glad that I worked for KES as my first job in Japan. I stayed with them for 2 years and only moved on because I wanted to see what it was like to work in public elementary schools. I often go back to the area around Odawara and now that I don't live there I appreciate even more what a nice place it is. It's near the coast and hasmountains and forests nearby, so the air is much cleaner than where I live now (the South of Saitama Prefecture, right near the Tokyo border).

I can't really give you any more advice except that my 2 years with KES gave me some great memories and certainly a better introduction to Japan than if I'd worked for one of the big companies like Nova etc, which have a reputation for being more like fast food companies in terms of the turnover of staff and students. KES is more like a family-run restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and more personal approach with students and teachers alike.

If Kevin and Ikumi do hire you, I have to give you my congratulations as I'm sure that you'll feel at home there.

Good luck

Chris

James Pelikan on Kevin`s English Schools

Dear Kevin- I was just remembering how you were a good boss to me, and I wanted to pass that thought on. I coudn't have been a better one myself. Please believe this. And I hope you and Ikumi are doing very well. Also, if you remember, say hi to my host families and Masahiro. with care, - James

Originally Posted at the forum for Kevin`s English Schools:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KevinsEnglishSchools In fact you can still find this post there.

Kevin on TV

2007-06-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

I will be on TVK Channel 42 during the last week of June.
They filmed a documentary of one of my students and interviewed me very briefly.

Kevin

Teaching Young Children

2007-06-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

“….teachers are finding themselves at a perplexing crossroads
between teaching and playing.”
--Tania MacDonell, English Teacher

Our newest teacher at Kevin`s English Schools is a natural children`s teacher. He has a knack for being a big kid himself and that comes across in his classes. It is something that cannot
be taught. We all have that inner child inside of us and some are better at connecting with it
than others. He is an allstar. Doing our best to connect with this child, will help us to be better
teachers of children in general and young children in particular.

Dr. Montessori felt that by allowing children freedom in an environment that suits them, they will blossom.

*For all your students, learning and remembering their names is very important. How would you like to be called “Bib” for a year when your name is Bill? Some of our “phopaws” of name mistakes have meanings in Japanese, sometimes negative meanings. Children will quit
if you don`t learn how to pronounce their names. Ask them to teach you how to pronounce
their names, it will show that you care.

The ESL teacher should endeavor to make his or her classroom inviting. One thing one can do is organize materials so that the children are free to choose what they will do next. They will
be stimulated by the spoken language around them.

We should also remember how much bigger we are. Crouching down to get at their eye level
makes us less threatening, and more of a friend.

If parents are allowed in the room, the parents must speak only English. Allowing parents to
speak Japanese will diminish the impact of the class. It is extemely important for young children to hear their parents attempting to speak English.

Get into a routine that the children and mothers enjoy. Repeated positive experiences form strong connections in the brain and give a child a sense of security. (2002) MacDonell

Some recommended activities for teaching young children aged 3-5:

Play doh: Used for introducing and repeating new vocabulary. Ie)

“Have you made a red crow?”

Making a cake with play doh:

“Can I have some?” “Here you are.” “Thank you.” “You`re welcome.”

Books:

Reading to them opens up a whole world to them. It helps with pronunciation, intonation, and vocabulary.

Collage:

Making a collage individually or together. Praising all works of art is important.
“Making a collage is ideal for 3-5 year olds according to Tania MacDonell.

Mixing Bowls:

Using mixing bowls and a spoon helps to draw a connection for the child between what they are doing with this activity and what Mom and Dad do in the kitchen.
The English taught during this activity can be reinforced at home by the parents.
The activity helps them form a sense of belonging in the class.

Puzzles:

“They begin to develop an understanding of task completion and perseverence. If the puzzles are self-correcting, then no adult intervention is required…The language that
occurs is as varied as the puzzles used. But when a child chooses this kind of activity it would seem he or she is moving away from the interactive atmosphere to work alone. This choice should be respected.”—Tania MacDonell

At our schools we have puzzles with many different themes including: the farm.
A lot of activities can go around that. English teacher Ikumi Kishiya has often
told a story about it or asked what various animals or people are doing. Of course
this depends on their ages and abilities.

Blocks and Building:

Use building blocks to build things and play and talk about them as you do it.

Cut up old boxes –fashioned by the children into cars, tunnels and peek a boo houses
Also generate cheap, effective play equipment.

OLL – Outdoor Language Learning:

Take them outside! Children get restless and need to move around. Take them to the park if possible and teach them vocabulary on the way. “Show me a ___________.”
is an effective activity on the way to the park and at the park. Question/Answer
tag is a long time favorite of my classes. I pre-teach the children questions and they
ask a question after they tag a student. The student answers then they are it and do the
same thing. To increase the English being spoken, in large classes of six or more I
often make two people “it.”

This article is based on an article which appreared in Snakes and Ladders, Summer
2002, “Learning Through Play: Language Teaching Techniques for Very Young
Learners,” by Tania MacDonell, and some of my own ideas.

Kevin Burns

Only the Brave Should Teach

2007-04-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Only the brave.
Only the brave should teach.
Only those who love the young should teach.
Teaching is a vocation.
It is as sacred as the priesthood; as innate
a desire as inescapable as the genius which
compels an artist.
If he has not the concern for humanity,
the love of living creatures, the vision
of the priest and the artist, he must
not teach.

Pearl S. Buck

Teacher Testimonies: Chris Weber

2007-01-17T14:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Simon,

As Kevin mentioned, I'm an ex-employee of his and we've become good
friends too. He's a really great guy and as a boss he gives the
teachers freedom to have their own teaching style and implement their
own lesson plans (within reason).

At the schools there are many text books and materials to use, so you
don't need to worry about having to start from scratch using your own
materials.

I'm very glad that I worked for KES as my first job in Japan. I stayed
with them for 2 years and only moved on because I wanted to see what
it was like to work in public elementary schools. I often go back to
the area around Odawara and now that I don't live there I appreciate
even more what a nice place it is. It's near the coast and has
mountains and forests nearby, so the air is much cleaner than where I
live now (the South of Saitama Prefecture, right near the Tokyo
border).

I can't really give you any more advice except that my 2 years with
KES gave me some great memories and certainly a better introduction to
Japan than if I'd worked for one of the big companies like Nova etc,
which have a repuatation for being more like fast food companies in
terms of the turnover of staff and students. KES is more like a
family-run restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and more personal
approach with students and teachers alike.

If Kevin and Ikumi do hire you, I have to give you my congratulations
as I'm sure that you'll feel at home there.

Good luck
Chris

Kevin`s 英会話 スクール Blog 南足柄市 小田原