Japanese in York

LAST CLASS

2007-11-18T09:36:00.000-08:00

The Japanese Conversation Course at Borders is CLOSING!!!

Though more new people are coming to my course, I have to say GOOD-BYE to the course.

The last class is on 20th November (Tue) 18:30-.

BUT we will have a farewell party on 27th November (Tue) 18:30- at Buzz!

Thank you very much for your support!!!

25th Sep

2007-09-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

"Amai"=Sweet....what do you imagine? Ice cream? Cherries?...

How about...
Tell me what makes you think when you hear following adjectives.

"Shio Karai"=salty, Shio=salt, Karai=spicy (hot)

"Suppai"= sour

"Nigai"= bitter

*Schedule Notice*
2nd Oct ---- Class Open

9th, 16th and 23rd Oct ---- No Class!!!

Taiko Workshop

2007-09-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

York Japan Society presents
Japanese Taiko Drumming workshops

13th & 14th October 2007

Workshop 1
Saturday 13th October 2007
Fishergate Primary School, Fishergate, York.
10.00 a.m. – 4.00p.m.

Workshop 2
Sunday 14th October 2007-
Skelton Village Hall,
Skelton, York
10.00 a.m. – 4.00p.m.
£35.00 per person. (No concessions.)
Limited to 20 people per day so book early to avoid disappointment.

Booking/Details from Mary 01904 470507
mary_murata@hotmail.co.uk
www.communigate.co.uk/york/yjs
York Japan Society presents
Japanese Taiko Drumming workshops

13th & 14th October 2007

Workshop 1
Saturday 13th October 2007
Fishergate Primary School, Fishergate, York.
10.00 a.m. – 4.00p.m.

Workshop 2
Sunday 14th October 2007-
Skelton Village Hall,
Skelton, York
10.00 a.m. – 4.00p.m.
£35.00 per person. (No concessions.)
Limited to 20 people per day so book early to avoid disappointment.

Booking/Details from Mary 01904 470507
contact:Mail to Mary
www.communigate.co.uk/york

11th September

2007-09-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you for coming to the Japanese Conversation Course at Borders!!!
We had 2 new member yesterday, Steve-san & Fiona-san!!! I hope both of you enjoyed the class.

As I mentioned in the class, I need at least 3 beginners to start the NEW BEGINNERS COURSE.
The current members who have been improving very much, they are now able to read Hiragana, Katakana and they are also able to make basic sentences. Therefore, I will call the class as "BASIC COURSE".

I would like to send a big big big THANK YOU to Paul-san who had his last class yesterday. He kindly offered us drinks and he even brought nice presents!!! THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK!

that means...I have no more Advanced class...;-( ZAN NEN...

So...this is the new schedule:

Basic Level - 18:30 starts

then if "3" beginner/intermediate/Advanced join each levels...I will open these courses, of course!

Ja, mata raishu!

Tuesday night for Paul-san

2007-09-08T01:17:00.000-07:00

11th September, we are going for a drink to say massive Thank you and Good luck for Paul-san, who joined my Japanese conversation course from the beginning.
He was the only Advanced and most fluent Japanese speaking person!

Let's meet up a bit after 19:00 at Borders 1st floor and have drinks!

The class will be opened as usual from 18:30! Don't miss it!

No Class on 21st & 28th August

2007-08-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am very very very sorry....I cannot run a course on 21st August which is tomorrow!!!

As well as 21st, there is no Japanese course on 28th August.

So....see you all on 4th September @18:30!!!

SCHEDULE:

"NO CLASS"--- 21st and 28th August (Tue)

CLASS RE-OPEN--- 4th September (Tue) from 18:30 @ Borders Book Store

If you have not received my no-class SMS on Monday, please let me know!

New Schedule

2007-07-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Due to the change of Border's opening time, The Japanese Conversation Course at Borders schedule will be amended the following;

Basic (for people know Hiragana&Katakana)
starts from 18:30

Advanced (for people who can communicate in Japanese)
starts from 19:15

each course lasts for 45 mins.

More details?
Contact:
contact by e-mail

By the way, we are now studying how to call your family!!!

17th July!

2007-07-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah! It was too cold to be out side!!!!

However, I had 2 great new starters! The wonderful mother and his son.
Thank you very much for coming and I hope you enjoyed my conversation course!

In the Beginner & Intermediate courses, we did pretty much same thing.
But in the Inter., we did a little bit about Past(kako).

Let's see....

Manga is same.... Manga
Magazine - Zasshi
Book - Hon
Novel - Shosetsu

Yesterday - Kino(u)
2 days ago - Ototoi, Ototsui, Futsu ka mae

Tomorrow - Ashita
Day after tomorrow - Asatte....

In Advance....we had a really really fun conversation!!!!
We talked about Yukio Mishima, Meiji chocolate, how Japanese gov. makes "Heisei" "Showa" "Taisho..." names for each emperor's era. We even talked about who's gonna be the next emperor!

By the way, you have to be careful driving in Japan!!! the speed limit is 100km/hour on Highway!!!! Otherwise, (if you exceed limits=Speed Ihan) you will end up paying "Bakkin"!!!

10th July 2007

2007-07-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hey! Thank you for joining us, Matthew, Rachael and Tegan!
I hope you enjoyed your first class today!

woops...mistake! right ones are..
*strawberry- ICHIGO
*chocolate- pron. ---->chocole-to

We again studied a lot of vocabs!!!

---- wo(o) kudasai = (please) give me -----.
(you can put ---- food! then you can order something to eat or drink!)

If you want to ask "give me 2 cups of tea"...= "Ocha wo 2 hai kudasai"

woo...counting is another magical thing in Japanese!!!

In the advanced class, Paul san taught me a very interesting thing...
the "bunka no chigai" (culture difference)

In the situation of "Fire drills"

in the UK....------> you have to stay calm and WALK!!!!(ARUKU)

in Japan...--------> you have to stay calm and RUN!!!!(HASHIRU)

It's interesting, isn't it????

Next Tuesday, we will do....how to say " I don't...." and how to count!

Yeah! We are back!!!

2007-07-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

Hello hello!!! Kon ni chi wa!
Genki desuka???

The Japanese course at Borders opened again yesterday!!!
I brought a box of Japanese sweet and I was glad to know that many of you liked it!
The name of OKASHI (sweet) is "MUSHA GAESHI" from KUMAMOTO.

Yesterday, we studied some "Kanji".

"FIRST"= ichi, hito...
*ichi
*ichigatsu
*hitori

Then, we made sentences using "SHUMI(hobby)".
What's your hobby?
My hobby is...

In the Advanced course, we read an article about "FIRST FOOD".
What is the most well-known Japanese food? How about in the UK?

We also looked at some "MONKU(sort of complains, negative feeling expressions)"!!!

See you next Tuesday!!!

By the way, we will get together again for "THE SUMMER NIGHT SESSION" soon!
(possibly the end of July)
If you are interested in joining us, let me know!

Iro iro iro...& onegaishimasu/Class Schedule

2007-06-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a while to up-date this blog!

Unfortunately, I currently cannot use Mac to create Japanese info but I do my best to explain what we did today.

"Gochumon wa okimari desuka?"(have you decided your order?)
"Hai,(yes) Ramen wo onegai shimasu"

Colours:
Ao = blue
Aka = red
Kiiro = Yellow....etc etc.

"Ao iro (colour) no pen wo kudasai" (I want a/the blue pen)

And I interviewed my advanced students about "advice for Japanese who want to live/study in abroad"

Paul san said a very good thing "Enjoy the challenge and enjoy cultural differences!"
I agreed with him!

"Be positive!"

I will bring more advice and information for the people who are coming to my exhibition and event in Fukuoka.

***CLASS SCHEDULE***

The course will be closed on 12th, 19th and 26th June

The course will re-open on 3rd July at 18:30

NEW COURSE!

2007-05-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Deborah's PR in Japanese shop (@York),
we have more new members in Japanese Conversation Course at Borders!

Since we have new beginners, I decided to make
1 more class on Tuesday!

Beginners : from 18:30
*Starts from Hiragana, greeting, basic verbs etc.

Improvers : from 19:15
*Katakana, basic sentences, basic Kanji etc.

Advanced : from 20:00
*Conversation in Japanese 88% etc.
Grammar and Kanji

Each lesson --- 45 minutes
Fee --- £3/lesson

*I would like to introduce several books that I use in the course.*

Thank you and see you soon!

Thank you!!!

2007-04-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

"The Spring Night Session" was so much funnnnnn!!!! Thank you very much for coming to Buzz to share the wonderful time!!!

Nice smile! Did you enjoy your food?

Wooo! Look the bottom... So funny!

Eat Eat Eat and Talk Talk Talk!

Thank you and see you next Tuesday at Borders Book Store!

By the way, "Radio Taiso"...you can find definition in wikipedia
Radio Taiso

Then...watch

Algorithm Taiso/March

Taiso with QRIO Version

March with Ninja

I could not find a perfect example for the"Radio Taiso"...I will try film it when I go back to Japan!
Algorithm series are huge in Japan. They do this in other countries and regions even in South Pole!

Week 13

2007-04-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! The Beginners course has just finished HIRAGANA! We can read HIRAGANA now!
We will start KATAKANA soon and more verbs! Of course basic Kanji as well.

Sorry for Improvers...I brought a bit difficult article...
But I am glad that many of you are already "independent"(=jiritsu).

We also had a group discussion about....Japanese Food since we are going to Buzz next Tuesday!

Thank you for coming to the Japanese Conversation Course @ Borders, Tom-san, Epo-san, Hiro-san, Deborah-san, John-san and Mary-sensei!!!

And....Don't miss the event next Tuesday on 24th!!!

How about on 24th?

2007-04-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

Will you be interested in joining us

"The Japanese Conversation Course at Japanese Restaurant Buzz in York"

on 24th April (Tue) starting at 18:30?

If Yes...Please respond me by writing comments on this blog, e-mail or telling me face-to-face!

Week 13

2007-04-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Woops, I did not up-date the blog for 5 days...SUMIMASEN.

18:30-
Hiragana : RA (LA) RI (LI) RU(LU) RE(LE) RO(LO)

Survival Japanese: Where is toilet? Toile wa doko desuka?

ooo...we did more things in the class...

19:30-
Many Kanji...and we talked about School holidays in the UK and Japan!
In Japan, 4 gatsu (April) is the month of START!

***10th April (TUE), the Japanese course is CLOSED***
We will re-open on 17th (TUE) as usual.

By the way, we will have an event "Japanese course @ BUZZ" sometime soon!
It will be open to anyone, so if you are interested in meeting people from the course, please join us.

One of our mates, Paul-san, he had a live-show in York.
Show wa dou deshitaka???

Week 12

2007-03-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

WOW, March is nearly finishing!

It must be nice to go to Japan for "HANAMI"!

The Week 12, we did followings...

Beginner:

1-Breakfast, 2-Lunch 3-Dinner
4-This pen is blue, 5-What do you like? 6-I like flowers

Improver:

1-I will go to the football game even it rains (even arrows rain!!!)
2-Even I can understand that sort of things
3-Is Japanese interesting?
4-the survival of the fittest,the law of the jungle,dog-eat-dog/the beauties of nature

Well...I said this as an example for "JAKUNIKUKYOSHOKU(No.4)
"Lion eats rabit...and rabit eats...what?"
then Paul-san told me "Rabit eats carrots!!!" yes, it's right. We laughed! I liked the moment so much.

I also mentioned about "TORA-san". Check "Fu-ten no tra-san" movie and it will give you an idea about "SHITA-MACHI".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otoko_wa_tsurai_yo

We see you on 3nd April (TUE) 18:30〜！

By the way, I would like to arrange an event "The course in Buzz!" sometime in April.
I will post more info. soon!

Week 11

2007-03-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

In Beginners course, we studied MA MI MU ME MO and parts of face!!!

"MIMI"=ear, ears
"ME"=eye, eyes
"KUCHI"=mouth
"HOPPETA/HOHO/HOO"=cheek
"HA"=teeth, tooth

In Improvers course, we did casual conversation about "TRAVELING IN JAPAN"
Look back our life in Japan...where you went. How do you go? How long does it take?

Week 12 will be held as usual at Borders on 27th March(TUE) from 18:30!

Thank you!

2007-03-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to report your contribution for charities!

As many of you already know, the fee for the Japanese course is £3.
However, 50p out of £3 will be donated to charities through HSBC bank in York.

I have already donated £20 total for 2 charities and wanted to thank you all.

£10 for Haxby Memorial Park project
£10 for Red Nose Day

Thanks again and remember that you are contributing to society by attending the Japanese course at Borders.

One day off in April

2007-03-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Do you have any plans for Easter?

I thought that many of you might be tired after Easter...and I decided to take A DAY OFF for the Japanese Course at Borders.

The day-off will be on 10th April (Tue)!

The course will be held as usual (@18:30 for beginner, @19:30 for improver) before and after the 10th.

Further enquiry---->click here.

Marks & Spencer - Click here

Week 10

2007-03-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much for coming to my Japanese Conversation Course!

Beginners are improving their Japanese speaking/writing skills very quickly!

Improvers are learning more Kanji!!!

However, the size of class has been down-sizing...compare to a few weeks ago. I hope more people will be interested in learning Japanese and join my course!

?What did we do today?

-Beginner-
Verbs:YOMU->YOMI MASU, N*(noun)+SURU(verb form)-->N+SHI MASU
Culture:Name of countries (ex:China->Chugoku England->Igirisu)
Other:TO ZAI NAN BOKU ---> HIGASHI(East), NISHI(West), MINAMI(South), KITA(North)

Homework is...Find names of your body!

-Improver-
Kanji....Parts of Body "ME"(Eye)
Nihon no Kaisha-->Kaicho, Shachou, Buchou, Kachou...

Homework is...Find proverbs with "ME"!

Japanese Conversation At Borders in York

2007-01-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Come and Join Us!

Japanese Conversation Course in York
(very casual course)

-Every Tuesday

-Borders Book Store in York city-centre
(1st Floor:Language Book section)

-Beginner Course @18:30 starts
-Improver Course @19:30 starts

-Trial Fee Free, thereafter £3.00/lesson
(50p will be donated to charities)