"GENKI" English education homepage by T. Suzuki |
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The following are some of the letters I received from my friends.
Please write to me about anything, preferably concerning English teaching/learning
or my homepage. I won't put any personal letters here. Please let me know
if you prefer not to see your letter here. I'll delete it as soon as possible.Thank
you for your understanding.
Takeshi Suzuki
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Monday, July 30
(a letter from Akemi Iida)
I'm happy, too, to hear your attending the seminar!! How have you
been these days? I thought you wouldn't be able to come to the seminar
because you must have been very busy preparing for the big sports event
in Akita, right? Anyway, I bet we'll have a great time together with
many others in the seminar.
Concerning the master's program, I started the studies again with the beginning
of the second semester, which began a week ago. We had some break
between Semester 1 and 2 for several weeks. I take one unit per a
semester and I've just finished the first unit 'The Nature of Language.'
I got the result for it last week also and I was given 'A', which is the
second best grade. The best grade is 'HD', which means 'high distinction.'
I'm satisfied with the result 'A' because I believe I tried my best to
do some homework and the final exam. Many parts of them are quite
difficult to answer and totally, the work is very tough. First of
all, we have to read a lot of materials such as a thick textbook, referential
materials to do the task. I also need to research through the web
to collect sources for writing essay type homework. One semester
is for about 3 months and we need to submit two different homework and
a home-take exam during a semester. Also, we need to keep reflective
journals every week and send them with the homework.
The biggest problem is that I'm not able to spend much time for these work
in a week. I'm busy during the weekdays, so I try to take as much
time as possible to do these studies. Each task has its due date
and I'm always struggling against it! My struggle will continue as
long as I am taking the program for the next several years, but I'd like
to enjoy it.
I'm looking forward to seeing and talking with you soon. I'd like
to learn a lot from you again in the seminar. See you soon in Hatano!
Akemi Iida
(a letter from Miki Kato)
I found your homepage. Reading your background made me understand why you
are such a great speaker of English. I have been looking for a chance
to join the JALT meeting as a stimulation and information source. Now I
have come closer to what I wanted, that is, the chance to improve my language
ability. I just liked to tell you that I reached to an excellent teacher
and his web-site.
See you in September at AES TEFL in Akita University. I hope you remember
me.
Miki Kato from Omagari City
Friday, July 13
(two letters from Katharine C. Dale)
(the third letter written on July 10)
Thank you!
Thank you very much for the well-thought out and interesting answers.
It is obvious that you really spent some time thinking about what you wanted
to say, and I greatly appreciate that. And your English is clearly
well-practiced!
Now I would like to think about your responses, and write back with a few
more questions in a day or two. I hope that is okay with you.
Thanks again!
--Katharine
(the second letter written on July 8)
Thank you so much for being willing to answer my survey. I greatly look forward to your knowledgeable answers. I hope I may ask follow-up questions as well. Most of my respondents so far have answered anonymously.
Because the survey is somewhat long, I will again try to attach it, this
time as a Word document. I will send both the Japanese and English
versions. Please let me know if you still cannot open it, and I will
paste it in the body of my email.
I do not mind if you put my letters on your webpage. Perhaps that
will give me more respondents for my research.
I am so glad that Nomo won again! He is having a very good year.
I knew that the Mariners games are being broadcast in Japan, but I didn't
know that the Red Sox are, too. I also didn't know that Ichiro is
prioritized over Nomo! Thank you for telling me these things, I am
very interested in this information.
We have another connection, besides our interest in baseball. I grew
up in Mankato, Minnesota, where your sister school MSU is based.
Isn't that interesting? So I am a Minnesota Twins fan, even though
they do not have any Japanese players. I am very happy because they
are doing well this year. But, I can not watch them very often because
I am in Iowa. You probably see more MLB than I do! It is really
terrific that you can understand the announcers. I think that would
be very difficult, because they use many idioms.
Thank you again for
your help. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Katharine
(the first letter written on July 7)
I am a graduate student studying cultural anthropology at the University
of Iowa. My research concerns the Japanese baseball players who are
playing in the Major Leagues. I am interested in what Japanese baseball
fans think about these players. I have viewed your web page and noticed
that you are a fan of Nomo and very informed.
I wonder, may I please ask you some questions about these baseball players?
I am attaching a survey. Could you please answer it? I would
be very thankful. It is in Japanese, but it would be helpful to me
if you answer in English. My Japanese is very bad, and your English
is very good.
After you answer the survey, I would like to ask you a few more questions,
if I may. Could I please ask your opinion? I greatly appreciate any
help you can give me. Domo arigatoo gozaimasu.
Katharine C. Dale
University of
Iowa
Department of Anthropology
114 Macbride Hall
Iowa City, IA
52242-1322
(a letter from Vicki, Long Island, NY)
(written on July 9)
It is a very exciting time for Ichiro and his fans. I am happy for them
and him. They are already talking about him becoming ROY, (Rookie of the
Year). I am happy about Kazuhiro Sasaki becoming American League ROY for
the year 2000. It made me mad that the Mets organization rejected him
I know in my heart Bobby Valentine wanted him to stay. Bobby quoted in
the paper he was one of the best pitchers he ever saw in baseball.
I watched Hideos game intensely yesterday afternoon, He had a very tough lineup to pitch against and did superbly. I do not know if it was true but the papers over here said, "When the batter got a leadoff single in the top of the 7th inning off Hideo and he saw Jimmy Williams come out of the dugout, Hideo slammed the ball into his glove and turned to face left field. I was hoping Hideo would of been selected to the All Star game this year, along with Kazuhiro and Ichiro.
Masato was used as a starter yesterday. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave
up 7 hits, 3 runs,2 earned runs, 1 walk and 1 strikeout. I heard he pitched
a wild pitch, which was one of his unearned runs.Maybe his elbow
is not completely healed ? I asked him this April "Masato,how is your
elbow ? He said "Good!", with much excitement in me asking
him.
Takeshi, I am very excited . I am going to Shea Thursday, Friday and Saturday
to the Boston Red Sox games. I am hoping with all my heart he will
see me all three days. It will be hard for me to root for both teams.
Rick Reed got selected as a pitcher for the All Star team. I am very ,
very happy for him.
Marie will be very happy to hear your message of hello. I told her about
your games you were preparing in Akita. She said how exciting it must be.
Happiness, health to you and
all,
A special hello to you Fusako, Mutsuko, Minako, Keith and Father Nissel.
With all my sincerity,
Vicki
Tuesday, July 3
(a letter from Vicki, Long Island, NY)
The baseball season is 1/2 over now and the Mets are not doing well at
all. Tsuyoshi must be very disappointed and to be on the DL. Their
trying hard but no results. That is all right with me. Now it is another
teams turn to go to the World Series. I am hoping it will be Hideos team,
the Boston Red Sox. The Mariners are on a winning streak. They are incredible.
How is your Jalt Game plans doing ? It must be exciting to bring everyone
to unity.
I saw Marie today at work. She is the woman who taught Math at college.
She told me to send you her best. My best to you too and everyone,
Vicki
Thursday, June 14
(a letter from Brian Ahlstrom)
Thanks for the e-mail regarding the upcoming JALT Meeting. I plan
to attend. I was wondering if you might be interested in getting
together before the Jalt meeting to discuss plans for promoting the
internationalization of Akita following World Games 2001 Akita.
For several years Dr. Manabu Watanabe and I have been discussing ways of
encouraging internationalization through education and by providing a support
network to assist the public and private sectors. We would enjoy
the opportunity to present our ideas and entertain a discussion/idea exchange.
If your schedule permits, would you be interested in meeting together at
my office at 10:30am Saturday June 23? After Dr. Watanabe makes a brief
presentation of his plan, we could discuss it and exchange ideas for promoting
internationalization. The meeting will take place in Japanese.
Please let me know if you are interested in attending. Also, please
feel free to invite anyone else who might be interested in this meeting.
Thank you,
Brian Ahlstrom
............................................................................
Dr. Manabu Watanabe received his PhD in linguistics from The University
of Hawaii, Manoa in 1998, and is currently working at the National University
of Singapore. Dr. Watanabe was one of the original MSU-A faculty
involved in designing the program in MSU-A's Japan Studies Department.
Monday, June 11
(a letter from Coleman South)
Genki deshou ka? I just had a chance for the first time to look at your web page. I like it, especially the letters from your students. They were interesting to me. The best one, I thought, was the one about "genki" from Yukari Hori. She's a deep thinker and clearly a genki person. Mr. Masugi also seems like a genki, interesting guy. I dream of doing all sorts of
things when I retire, too, but we never know what might happen, do we?
Longevity runs in my family, though. My mother just turned 82, and my dad
will be 91 in October, and they're both pretty healthy. Ironically, my
dad developed cancer of the lymph gland a couple of years ago, and it spread
to his stomach and other areas, so we thought we'd lose him. But he took
chemical therapy and is now just fine, still walking more than 2 miles
every day!
Cheers,
Coleman South
(a letter from Sara Bushey)
Thank you so very much for the wonderful email! I apologize for not responding
sooner. I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed my presentation. I myself
had a very good time and thought that it was a really good conversation
and exchange of ideas rather than interpretation practice!
In regards to elementary education, I agree that with the necessary preparation
and support mechanisms, a more communicative English education can be achieved.
I am excited about the potential success of such a system and am very interested
to see what the outcome will be. As soon I can find (and touch-up) some
of what I have written on the subject, I will certainly send them to you.
I hope that you find them interesting!
Also, I have started to finish and revise my presentation material. If
you would like a copy of that as well, please let me know and I will gladly
send it when it is completed! Thank you so very much for your email and
I hope that we will continue to share ideas.
Sincerely,
Sara Bushey
Monday, May 21
(a letter from Naoto Sato)
I often read your diary on your homepage. It is wonderful that you
keep journals in English almost every day, recording not only the day's
happenings but your feelings about them.
I myself have been in the same habit since I was 15 years old. I am fully convinced that writing in English about a wide variety of topics is an effective way of improving our overall ability in the language. Of course, it is not easy to write in proper English all the time, yet by constantly trying to express ourselves in English, we can easily find what kind of vocabulary words and expressions we still need to learn.
When I read English, I am always on the lookout for better words and phrases that I should have used in describing certain situations or expressing my inner thoughts. I can do this because if I do a lot of writing.
My personal belief is that reading is basic to writing. In other
words, we cannot write well unless we do a great deal of reading.
And another thing. Writing about a diversity of topics in English
helps us tremendously in raising the level of our ability to speak the
language.
Obviously, you have a great fondness for writing in English,
which I am sure accounts for your super command of your English.
I hope you feel the same way about writing.
Naoto
Saturday, May 12
(a letter from Naoto Sato)
Thanks for your quick response. The task of accompanying
the foreign journalists turned out to be a humbling experience.
For instance, when we visited a pine forest in Tenno, I really
had a tough time translating into English what the guide said about the
problem of "matsukui mushi." Now I know the term "pine
weevie."
There were a few technical terms that I failed to put into English.
I could not very well ask the guide to stop talking and give me time to
look in my dictionary. I had totally forgotten the English equivalent
to 広葉樹and 桐. To be a successful interpreter, you truly ought to have an enormous
vocabulary.
The size of my vocabulary, about which I had developed complacency,
proved to be still inadequate. At any rate, there is no end to my
learning. Every time I get an opportunity to act as interpreter,
it jolts me out of complacency, spurring me on to further efforts.
I have been keeping journals in English for more than 20 years. I
believe it has helped me to improve my ability to verbalize my thoughts.
I appreciate your support and understanding. Talk to you later.
Naoto
(an earlier letter from Naoto)
When I got back from work around nine last night, your
email was awaiting me. It was indeed a tough job to act as
a translator for a group of foreign journalists, but it turned out to be
a wonderful learning experience. The reporters asked interesting
questions wherever they went. I feel grateful to AOC for giving me this
rare opportunity. As for the translations of the three Japanese
words in question, let me think about them for a while. I am
still in a stupor because of the nerve-racking job I had to perform for
the inquisitive newspaper reporters.
Naoto
Saturday, May 5
(a letter from Omi-san)
Thank you very much for sending me your home page. I read many of your
pages and found them very attractive, interesting and so well organized.
I find your enthusiasm for English in whichever page I read. I was impressed
by the good English your students wrote! Besides, what they wrote was really
interesting to read. I thought that it might be a good idea if you suggest
that they take part in a speech contest on the same subject.
I read in great sympathy when you wrote that one day you realized that
your listening comprehension was not perfect. I had the same feeling that
the most difficult aspect of English was hearing. Though in my case, I
had greater difficulty in speaking out.
Just like you, I enjoyed watching TV dramas. The three great dramas that
I liked most were, "Bewitched", "Dinosaur" and "Santa
Barbara".
As you know, Bewitched was just a home comedy when it started, but it gradually
changed to take somewhat philosophical taste into the stories and became
like a rivalry between mortals and super-human existence (witches and wizards).
I don't know if you know Dinosaur. It's a serial drama for children but
somehow I'm convinced that you would love it if you saw it.
Santa Barbara resembles Dynasty. But a lot more characters are involved
and each one has his/her own long story and I used to think it was American
GENJI MONOGATARI. Santa Barbara seems to be an imaginary town of
the rich and celebrities on the West Coast. This program had been broadcasted
on Wow Wow. Any one could see it free of charge from noon without intervals
for 45 minutes five days a week so I used to flew back home from anywhere
I was and was absorbed in the program. It was as if I was living
in Santa Barbara, meeting each character every day.
This custom of mine suddenly came to and end after six months, when
the program was transferred to Sunday mornings. I couldn't see it
because my children were there with me. There's nothing to
be ashamed of watching the program, and they don't understand English,
but it's a drama for grown-ups and contains many "spicy" scenes,
you know. I really miss the drama and eagerly want to know what had
happened to my friends in Santa Barbara.
Well, I have been taking some time writing this and I have to stop now.
I admire for all your effort making your website. I really enjoy
reading your pages and would like to visit once in a while.
Omi
Sunday, April 29
(letters from Vicki, Long Island, New York)
Vicki's letter no.1:
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu for the birthday greeting both in your diary and
emailing me too.
You are very, very busy and it seems very exciting. I printed out your
pages and gave them to a mother I met. Her daughter is a school teacher
of math. I thought she would be interested in hearing of your games in
August in Akita and also the readings of your web.
I saw the picture of the cherry trees. They are beautiful. We have them
outside where I work. The buds are just starting to come in bloom. When
I look at them my mind drifts off and I think of your country and how refreshing
and graceful it must be there just like the people.
Enjoy your weekend and please send all my best to everyone. A special Konnichiwa
to Fusako, Mutsuko, Minako and Keith !
Vicki
Vicki's letter no 2:
It makes my heart very, very happy to see Hideo do well. I love him and
Masato. I want to see Hideos dreams come true by him being in a World Series.
Tomo # 18 seems like such a sweet man. I am glad he is with Hideo. Tomo
pitched very well against the battling Yankees, Sunday April 22.
GO Hideo
!!!
Ganbare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go
Boston
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vicki
Vicki's letter no 3:
Went to Yankee Stadium Sunday 22 of April to see Hideo.They have
every isle blocked off with a chain and you can not get down there without
a appointed seat. Two ushers were asking me about my signs I had of Hideo.
One said I let you down there for 5 minutes. I walked away from him and
then sat in the isle above the walkway. I was looking to see if I
could see Hideo. He was not around.
Then I was watching a woman show her seat to the usher. He opened the chain
and my mind went blank. I got up out of the seat and I followed her and
her two daughters. I ended up in back of the Red Sox dugout. The usher
even came up to me and said , "Could you please get your stuff off
the top of the dugout?"
I could not believe no one stopped me. I had a T-shirt with Hideos pictures on it.The waiting felt forever. My face got a little sunburn but it was worth the wait. Then I heard someone say Nomo. I looked up and held up my sign for him and a 26" silhouette of his tornado pitching stance.He walked over to the corner of the dugout and started signing.
He waited for me and I handed him two different mini vinyl banners I have
of him from 1997 and 1998. He signaled for me to hand him a pen. He signed
them both and handed me back the items and pen. I said, "Thank you
Hideo sama." I was the last person he signed for at the dugout.
Then he went to left field and ran the warning track like Masato does. After that he started to sign maybe a dozen more signings in left field. Takeshi, that is all I kept praying for when I purchased those tickets is for Hideo to see me and God granted me my wish. I believe it was him that led me to the dugout in the stands.
My sign read: Hideo Ganbare Ichiban
He made me very happy to see him. I hope he will see me again when
he comes to Shea. I will always honor them (Masato and Hideo) in my heart.
My locality and spirit will be with them for eternity.
I also saw Masato April 16 and April 18th. Monday he was tossing the ball with a team mate. I ran down to the railing directly behind him and I held my sign up for him. His teammate said, "Masato someone is there for you." He turned around and said,"Hi, how are you?" I asked him.
"Masato, could you please come over." he said, "Busy".
Then later, I shook his hand. Wednesday I saw him again, and I had birthday
sign for him and he held his two fingers up hold a V waving. I did the
same only meaning a Y for Yosh Monday. I told Masato he made me happy that
he decided to stay in MLB. Montreal will be coming again June 18,
19 20 and 21st and Boston to Shea July 12, 13, and 14th. Yossha!!!!
Sunday at Yankee Stadium I had made a sign for Tomo, "Sanshin"
and used the character after Sanshin. He struck out 6 that day. He pitched
5 2/3 innings. I was sitting in lower right outer field so he could
not see my sign. I held it up anyway cheering for him and Boston.
Happy the games started again, even though the Mets are not doing well.
It is just exciting being there.
I sent you something else yesterday and pictures of Masato pitching at Shea Monday evening when he was on the mound pitching against the Mets I felt his nerves were on edge. Masato pitched very well that evening. I will always be proud of him.
Wednesday after the birthday sign I had
three more signs for him.
1) Masato Takusan Kofuku - He had a big
smile after reading that sign.
2) Masato Eiyu #1
Taisetsu
3) The character I used for Samurai Warrior
After that he signed for the people. I went up to him and asked him can
he please sign his jersey I have of him. The second time I went to him
and said, "Yosh, we all love you here." He was still signing
and I went up to him the third time and asked him , "Masato,
how is your elbow.?" and he said, "Good." Then he went back
into the dugout. He signed from the corner of left field to third base.
I felt much better after that.
Vicki
Wednesday, April 25
(a letter from Naoto Sato)
Thank you for sharing with me a letter to Masako-sensei.
I found it very interesting. We all agree that most Japanese
people cannot get to the level where they can express themselves well in
English despite years of study. We blame the sad state of affairs
on the massive emphasis placed on grammar and translation. I do not
think that the teaching of grammar and translation should be totally abandoned.
Rather I would say that it should be de-emphasized. After all,
without a sound knowledge of grammar, we cannot possibly understand
the target language, spoken or written, nor can we express our thoughts
correctly.
At Obunsha LL
English schools, the five steps below are followed:
Step 1: Input(Rule
Discovery)
Step 2: Drill(Imitation/Repetition)
Step 3:
Output(Communication)
Step 4: Reading/Writing
Step 5: Confirmation
It is not necessarily easy to follow these steps
strictly. Many of the Obunsha instructors tend to skip Step
3, whose aim is to use the target pattern(s)for communication.
Although each step has its own function and significance, I am most
interested in Step 3, because, without it, our students would
never learn to put their knowledge of English to actual use. We can spend
a good deal of time explaining grammar items and get away with it.
However, if we are truly anxious for our students to develop their
communication skills in English, we have to explore ways to
make it possible. Creating situations where we can get them to use
their English without fear of errors is no easy task. I have a distinct
impression that no clear distinction is made between "studying ABOUT"
English and "LEARNING" English. It is sad that the
vast majority of Japanese students are programmed to gravitate toward the
former, without experiencing the fun and excitement of communicating
in English. More on this later.
Naoto Sato
(a letter from Noriko Sawai)
Thank you for your warning. I'll get dressed warmly. Changeable weather
continues every day. We must be careful not to catch a cold. I'm
looking forward to joining the class.
I sometimes visit your diary and enjoy it. A few days ago, I was surprised
to find you read a book " Eigo wa zettai benkyo suruna". I read
it, too. What the author says was very persuasive to me and as you say,
I thought the way he recommended was very similar to your own ways to learn
English. That book was encouraging to me. Because I found that there was
a real person who could make a lot of progress in speaking English by the
author's method.
Noriko Sawai
Tuesday, April 24
(a letter from Tom Merner)
Hello everyone,
Just to thank you all for all the work you went through for my presentations
in Akita and Iwate. I had a wonderful time visiting the two cities I have
never been to and meeting so many people I had never met before. The cherry
blossoms were so beautiful and I truly enjoyed the hospitality the both
chapters provided for me.
Takeshi,
Thank you for taking me around Akita and showing me the various places
and thank you for already putting all the things up on your website. I
failed to see the photos you took, but still clearly remember those beautiful
cherry trees in front of MSUA.
Mark, Dave, Yumiko-san,
Thank you for having me over and I am wishing activities at Akita Chapter
will continue to be Genki! Hope I can see you again down in Kitakyushu.
Mary and
Iwaizumi-sensei,
Thank you for everything in Morioka. I was so surprised to see so many
people attending. Maybe it reflects the interest in elementary school English
in Akita. I hope you can provide support to all those who are interested
in making English in elementary school a success.
I am also glad that the your two chapters may be heading toward a cooperating
relationship. We may see a very GENKI JALT up in Tohoku in the near future.
Looking forward to the next opportunity visiting and meeting
you all!
Thanks again. Yours,
Tom
Monday, April 23
(a letter from Masako Sasaki)
37th AES TEFL Skill
Training April 28th!!
Date: April 28th,
2001
Place: the 4th conference room, Building 3 of Faculty of Education
and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00a.m. to
1:00p.m.
Experiential learning. Can you explain what it is like?
Have you ever thought about "experiential learning" or
"experience of using English" in English education? I learned
at Saturday's JALT meeting that it is one of the key words to make elementary
school English education successful. Mr. Tom Merner, the lecturer at the
JALT meeting, said that it should be more than skits and role plays.
Not convinced on the spot, I gradually came to realize that experiential
learning should involve learners' feeling of "I understand!"
after repeated trial and error, instead of going through a mechanical PPP
(Present-Practice-Produce) with the help of rote memorization. I
thank Mr. Takeshi Suzuki for giving me this chance and Ms Mikako Suzuki
for discussing with me on the way back home in her car, keeping patient
with my poor sense of direction!!
The upcoming skill training will be fun with Robyn-sensei
from Australia as a guest instructor and interpretation training using
an interview with Bill Gates. Many thanks for your arrangements to
have Robyn-sensei with us, Ms Erina Tateyama.
Timetable: 10:00-11:50 Reading/Listening & Discussion by Robyn-sensei
from the Red Cross Junior College of Akita
12:00-12:50 Interpretation Training by Masako
Sasaki
Call for volunteers: (STUDENTS ARE WELCOME!!!)
We are looking for VOLUNTEERS to organize skill training. If you are interested in it, please contact Masako Sasaki. Anybody can have an opportunity to do so. It is a good practice of sort of public speaking or planning a class. Do not hesitate to volunteer for it!! If you know about a native speaker of English who is likely interested in organizing our skill training, please introduce him/her to us.
Let Masako Sasaki know about your attendance by
Thursday, April 26.
Masako Sasaki
Friday, April 20
(a letter from Lovey)
Wow!!! I have much to read, and so
interesting, -- an inspiration for me to get back into my academic
whole-heartedly and entirely again. Thank you. There are so
many distractions in USA to take one from our studies and serious academic
work, esp when beginning to study after having another life with family and
children and community first. Than you, my intelligent self feels so
nurtured at this moment, bringing me back to what I need the most to keep going
in this crazy world, the study and interaction with others who love to learn
and teach. I have printed it out, and will continue to read. The
lines are so long that the last part of sentences do not print out.
Reading your diary brings me right back to the campus, but with the desire to
be doing some serious teaching. Thank you.
I'll write more later, have to get to telephoning and I don't have two lines
for phone here. I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. Installation of
new computer systems can be rough. difficult.
You are most kind when describing me, thank you for such complementary descriptions.
Of course I am happy you think of me in this way. Sometimes I think
caring for one another in loving ways is our most important purpose here on
earth. Which is what all our work is about, esp with education. I shall
write again, I suppose my margins are funny again, the lines seem to get
too long for the printer and I don't know how to accommodate or change this.
Send my happy spring wishes to everyone. I must get myself organized here
to do things I have wanted to do for long time, such as our photos and books I
want to send to members of our class (communication content) and so much which
has accumulated for three months here as I could not use my hand
efficiently. But, things are getting better now, at least we have the sun
peeking out for short moments each day, for the last three days. This has been
the LONGEST and most gross winter -- it just won't go away. We still have
ice piles melting.
So I send my thanks to you for all
your writing. I need time to decipher and digest what all is in
there. Your work is an inspiration (again I have to say it). An
absolute inspiration to me. The interaction of our students from Japan and
USA is so important, and I saw the need you speak of which is the conversation
and ridding of the fear of speaking English to those who already speak
English. The Japanese students who spoke to me on our trip to Kyoto were so
apprehensive to speak English with me, but when we did they were so pleased. One
group even cheered the one who conversed with me during breakfast, after we had
finished our conversation. This was a lovely moment. The people who
do not take time to listen and to interpret (when someone is beginning English)
are those who are inconsiderate in many ways, or always in a rush, or "narrow-minded",
so students should not be intimidated by that type personality.
Minneapolis is becoming more integrated all the time, with many people here
from many countries, all speaking different languages. I hear it now no
matter which suburban area or store I happen to be in.
Well,
it's almost ten. I must leave this and get busy. Somehow this a.m.
I have good energy, maybe it's your letter, for sure it is. Thank you so
much, Takeshi. You're helping me get busy with my "catch-up"
work and attitude. haha. Til next time, keep up the wonderful work you are
doing, and the study in your three classes (very ambitious) but you sound like
a person with the "learning spirit" I write about our needing to
protect in our young learners. Older learners also. Well, good bye for
now. I shall get busy reading again. Til next time, take
care, Love to you and everyone, Lovey
Lovey in US
Thursday, April 19
(La Verne in US)
I haven't heard from you in quite some time. Did you receive my l-o-n-g
letter after I read your home page? It was too long, sometimes I get carried
away writing what I am thinking. I'm hoping all is well with you.
Our spring is trying desperately to arrive, but it has remained very chilly
and cold. Brave little perennials are peeking through the earth.
Buds on trees are finally visible. When does your spring actually
arrive? My right hand is gaining strength, the therapy and exercise is
very helpful.
Say hello to everyone for me. I hope all is well with you, it's been a while since I've heard from you. Take care.
Wednesday, April 11
(Kaoru Nakamachi)
Thank you for your message to my Japanese students! I am amazed at your
prompt response. I printed it out this morning, and will post it in my
class room. I am inspired a lot by your HP and your letter to my students.
I will try out "shadowing" practice, and you will check up with
the improvement in my English skills, when we see each other this summer!
(Kaoru)
a letter from Kaoru Nakamachi
This is Kaoru Nakamachi from International School Bangkok. I have been
‘swamped’ with my daily school business since winter holidays(!), and
finally our spring break started last week, so I have got time to visit
your HP, Yeah! (clap, clap)
I am so impressed by your enthusiasm to acquire English as your second
language, and help your students learn English. According to your
description, since you returned to Akita in 1975(?), you have been trying
so hard to keep up with your English by listening to News and watching
films. This will be a great encouragement to my Japanese students
who are returning to Japan as overseas returnee students; one of their
concerns about going back to Japan is that they may not be able to retain
their English proficiency as they have now, once they are in Japan.
I will tell them to see your HP, so that they will have some idea about
what should do to keep their English in Japan. I hope you do not
mind. Hope to see you again this summer at a new Sophia seminar-are you
doing this course?
(Kaoru Nakamachi)
from March 29 to April 4
letters from Vicki
I am very excited about your web page. It makes me very happy to see you.
Remember way back when I said I heard in a movie, which said, "To speak Japanese, you have to think Japanese." I hope I am not too far behind thinking Japanese ????
I so much would learn to speak your language. It would be a big task in
front of me, but I know it would be part of my spirit and I would
have a happy heart learning !!!
Yes, you are the person who deserves his name. You are the teacher of Samurai,
as in my dream. As you said in my dream, "Stay here and learn."
(Vicki)
It is called selective memory.
Maybe that would be interesting to write about? I see a few things we have
talked about on your web. I am enjoying readings of what the writings are
written of Akita. Your state sounds so beautiful. I can see it in my mind.
Takeshi, can you please clarify the correct pronunciation of Akita.
I was told by Bobby Valentine it was A ki ta. I always thought it sounded
like this "A key ta." Please tell me which is correct when
you have time. :-)
Doumo,
(Vicki)
PS: Your homepage tells; Key Note Speaker's Name: Father John Nissel: The other panelists' names:
Yoshikiyo Arai, Tsugihiro Kojima, Yasuo Yaezawa, Ichiro Osada, Koichi Arita,
Takeshi Suzuki, (on September 26 in 1998 at MSU-A)
Takeshi Suzuki was asked to give a keynote speech for Winter 2001Honors Convocation held at MSU-A on February 22, 2001. You can read the full script of the speech |
Read My Diary 4 (from January 1, 2003) other pages: MSU-A Akita JALT My Message My MSU-A Speech PALS English Class Hi! We are PALS students My thoughts about MSU-A |