email1

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
***************************************************************************************************************************

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)

It is so rewarding to see pictures of people you have written about. You can see all the kindness and love Father Nissel has in his face. I remember you also writing about this event and how long you prepared for this day.
(Vicki)

I printed out the pages. Thank you so much for including me in your story of Hideo's chemistry, but best of all writing, "Still another friend wrote." You made me feel very honored.
(Vicki)

April 3
a letter from Akemi Iida
Hi, how have you been? I think you're very 'genki'. I visited your HP and found it very interesting and enthusiastic!! I learned how powerfully you are teaching, no, helping your students learn English and how you've been walking your 'Eigo-do' or way for pursuing to be a master of English. Your students get a lot of 'genki' from you when learning English with you. I realized again that it is the most important thing for us teachers to try to make our students enjoy learning it. One of the reasons why I started learning MA program is to be a well-trained teacher/better learner of English to encourage them to learn English enjoyably.

I've found that some assignments compulsory to hand in to successfully complete the programs are very tough, but I'm more than happy to get an opportunity to learn English under an ideal circumstance I've long wanted to be.

I'd like to talk about a tour guide with you in future. I've tried to take the exam for some times many years before, but haven't succeeded in passing it yet. I'm still interested in it and would like to challenge the exam again in the future after completing the MA program. It's very interesting/helpful to learn how to explain about Japan and things Japanese in English! I'd like to put some of what I learned for the exam in my classes.

When is the time for viewing cherry blossoms in full bloom in Akita? It's the time for it here in Chiba and Tokyo. Spring has surely come! Hope to see you soon in near future. Let's try to keep in touch! Until next time.
Akemi Iida   Keiai Gakuen S.H.S.

Letters I've received about my MSU-A speech and homepage after March 14:
(Richard J. Graham B.Sc. AMInstP)
I've just checked out your homepage. The information about the Akita World Games looks very interesting. Concerning the name of your site, I think you should check out this site at http://www.GenkiEnglish.com !!
Be genki,

(Daiki Ozawa)
As soon as I come back from Sendai and see the mail, I visited your homepage. What a nice homepage you made! I don't have my homepage, but now I'm making one. My work is so slow that it will take few more weeks (or months) to up-date the homepage. When I finish making my homepage, I inform you it's URL by e-mail.

My school life is full of joy. But this second-grade in college was very busy. I had to take many many exams. Now, I'm felling relieved that I passed all of those exams and I can be promoted to third-grade. The way for doctor is very hard. But this is the way which I choose by myself, so I will study hard and achieve my purpose!

**A long letter from La Verne in US
Well! I've just spent the morning with you, reading all the great and inspirational information on your web pages. I couldn't stop because it felt so good to be involved once again with all that is going on with MSU-A, and Japan, and teaching of English in Japan. I believe you must be a very positive influence for the increase of the learning of English in Japan. I believe as you do, in the necessity for us to have a common language in order to interact successfully with one another and globally in all phases of human life, whether interpersonally, or in business (which leaders often give the greatest attention and importance to before believing anything which educators know to be true. I am wishing we could receive the tv program here on March 25. Will you be recording this half hour? I should hope it will be a positive justification for the ways of teaching in practice at MSU-A. If it turns out well, and there is a possibility of sending a copy to me (without an exorbitant cost to you -- I can reimburse you) I should like to view how it is presented.

I have not yet studied English as a second language, though I have thoughts about the use of English many times, and how I would teach it, especially when I interact with a variety of English speaking persons and cultures, including many raised in U.S.A. schools. The consonants seem to be eliminated, or not pronounced properly when there is difficulty interpreting correctly. Many US educated persons here will not take the time to listen enough to figure out what is being said, especially in neighborhoods where only one culture exists. The idea of speaking English if you want to live in the US is expected, and some people who never expose themselves to other-than-the -usual every day can be very harsh about this principle (example in California with the Spanish speaking immigrants, a real education problem there.) Your comments about teaching straight English without the Japanese interpretations would apply as well to the Spanish-speaking. The arguments we heard were about teaching youth in their native language vs in English. We have the same here, with older children immigrants who have never even been in a school, yet are of high school age. Imagine dealing with that in a school???

Back to personal a bit, I think the difficulty requires a practice of the mouth formations of the pronunciation of the letters. Our mow performs so many ways to create the correct sound of the letters, and cannot be inhibited by modesty or fear of looking silly doing it. And the younger the better, so it is claimed. Young children will try anything, un yet conditioned to be embarrassed when not quite correct. (depending on parenting, of course) So when I listen, I try to hear the pronunciation and guess at which letter is either being left out entirely, or mis-pronounced. My wrist is acting up. I have so much I want to share with you, about how inspirational your work is to me, that all you do is possible and a reality!!! This is very renewing of spirit, at a time when our politics are weighing heavy on all that we had hoped for. Until recently, I had no idea of how completely the politics of a country can impose and control what happens in the education systems. To think a new administration changes the entire staff of all who were progressing -- it's no wonder we never get to the point of implementing the most basic and wonderful concepts of what a true education might become, philosophies dating back to Plato and 2000 B.C. about the value of music, and arts, and spiritual, values and creative expression being first and highest valued. Here the administrators will cut arts and music first when budget restrictions are imposed and all wisdom of true educators whose lives are based in study of education, can be thrown out in favor of saving money.

It is disheartening, to say the least, to discover where the control actually lies, and how it can change so frivolously. As one whose life work is invested in improving education systems, I have been shocked to see what has happened. Yet, we must continue hoping and trying to improve and continue what contributes most to learning at all ages, and with all types of learners, hoping to give opportunity by teaching to each learner's preferred type and way of learning.   Your program on Suggestopedia seemed to convey this way of teaching. Your programs seem to have given very practical information. I keep learning about type personalities and preferences at a meeting each month, and how to integrate the use of type information with one another. It is a fascinating experience, being with others of our type and discovering the ways we do things.

Last month we discussed the interaction and influence on our choices in life between our values held and our preferred personality type. One's values can override our preferences for how we do things best, which hit home with me. For example, my values are for education for everyone to have opportunity for an education which utilizes and develops their own personal talents and skills and potential. Yet my preferred type of learning and expression is with use of the artistic, the experiential, the social interaction with others, within the academic environment. Acting to implement the learning, in the classroom, not as an assignment for later. But, the academic environment is so totally left brain, rational, linear, that it most often (unless in a college different from the university competitive environment) cannot encompass the human spirit within its study requirements. (Depending upon the teacher, of course.) I cannot seem to be one way or the other, but instead try to accommodate all at once, which I guess I do believe is entirely possible. this is my teaching philosophy, and a lot of it is based upon the experience of raising children who each had different needs and ways to develop themselves to be who they are.

I'm going on and on too long here. I think what I am trying to say to you is that your website is a total inspiration and reminder of the work I am trying to accomplish. It is very holistic and relevant. I have taken notes on books and follow ups from the year of meetings described. Your Honors Convocation speech was very special. I have to comment here about my surprise at the need for conversational English. We in the USA have believed that Japanese education is superior in every way, and I discover I had expected English to be spoken everywhere, as it has been in many other countries. You must be right about the need to somehow teach more than grammar and reading. I am impressed with your way of learning from recording programs. I have heard teachers tell of their classes needing to watch and hear proper English being spoken for months just to hear what proper English sounds like, before they begin to study the language.

Although Shakespeare is adored and mentioned, we do not really speak that way today. The plays also need much interpretation and explaining to gain their meaning, esp when young. I have heard learners told to watch the tv children's programs which teach language. Music and games, play, all good. However, some of our current music is so terrible we wouldn't even want any youth to be learning anything from it. Much junk is being produced and played, immoral and decadent, it seems there is no limit at all at this time on what can be shown or said. Even announcers are now using swear words and disgusting references. This probably proves me to be one who believes in protecting our precious language, which gives endless means of expression, and our respect for one another, our ways of treating one another with courtesy and caring, our ability to improve our intelligence and wisdom. With slang and swearing, the use of language is minimized, which is proven today that the number of words used is decreasing.

I also have a thing for handwriting, the learning to write beautifully and legibly. This actually is an art form. Emphasis on learning to write (with joy) so people can interpret what you try to express, is needed. The signature you write should tell people who exactly you are, yet this is impossible with the sloppy handwriting tolerated today. Doctors' prescriptions are an example, many wrongly understood and people get the wrong drugs. We had to practice practice practice, and most of us do well. My children didn't and do not have lovely handwriting. I still believe it is an art form to be enjoyed. I also need grammar to understand. I think a holistic approach, using what we are learning to read and write is necessary. If I hear something I generally need to spell it out before I remember it. In US we are having great emphasis on the reading right now. Money is going out in grants for reading teaching. It's amazing how many graduate from high school without ability to read. something is missing, whether it's eye exams to correct for difficulties focusing (as an optometrist discovered in the 1970's) and the brain research seems to be bringing us important information.

We are having such problems with drugs and other habits which affect the brain's use and development. Why do people have so much of a problem doing what is healthy? Why won't they believe the information which they do receive? Now we are losing friends who had to smoke during their lives. Two of mine in the last month. Awful! Now it's "ecstasy" and breathing household cleaning products and of course alcohol, which is such a huge industry. As I watch old movies I see how much alcohol use has always been modeled.     Continual things our public health must be actively involved in to educate the public.

I guess I'd best quit for now, it's noon and time to get physically busy here. I'd prefer to be "out" doing something. Our weather must be similar to yours. Today the sun is partially out enough to brighten one's spirit, we had a rain last night to help the piles of snow melt, and it should be 42 degrees today. Hopefully I am on track to accomplishing my goals, or part of them, again. It's an awful eye-opener to experience an injury which confines for a time. I can finally exercise and that will help.   My wrist needs work for flexibility.

Oh, one more thing I enjoyed, the descriptions sent you of "chemistry". I don't watch sports enough to know all that. Where I've heard it used (and abused) is as an excuse as to why a divorce is necessary, casually "Oh, the chemistry wasn't right", even when the couple has had many children and decades of being married. There seems to be a great misunderstanding of what a lasting relationship entails, and a reversion to the teenager who wants to run away and just have personal fun again, leaving the spouse and children to manage without them. We hear of "trophy wives", older men who marry someone their daughter's age for a trophy. Even in business magazines will be photos of these really old men with a very young woman on his lap. It's quite a phenomenon amongst men with money and time to retire, I guess. I like the definitions sent to you better. It amazed me how complete they were. Maybe this is why I have appreciated academic work so much, it gave a depth to my life which was missing when only in communities where no one continued their education beyond the basic high school and college work.

WELL! Here I still am. I hope this isn't all boring you to pieces. The main message is that I do very much appreciate all the work you are doing. What you have done with your website is amazing and very useful. The photographs come across very well (I have a large screen) and help to create the experience of being there with wonderful people.   It really does! I hope Japan will manage well with its leadership, we are hearing about your difficulties. Our stockmarket is continuing to fall, losses have been great, we are waiting for it to level out. Our world is certainly having problems, the animals in Europe etc. The continuing wars. What if we all learned to get along, at least our leaders? Our election was a spectacle which still angers me. There was no majority vote in reality, without all votes being counted. I still have trouble believing that we we saw happen actually happened. and the ways being implemented so rapidly. on and on. politics are a very unusual thing, part of a culture and use of power not for the interests of everyone.

I hope the Games go well for Akita. Also, that your university will continue. Are you interacting at all with our Governor Ventura or our education state executives? Your web page would certainly be educational for them, I think. Our governor seems to have no respect for nor personal knowledge of the higher education systems in MN or elsewhere. I hope his views are being influenced by someone who has more knowledge of education systems and the needs of learners. Again, one in political power can change so many things. Our Senator Wellstone was a professor, and is a good person for education issues. Well, take care, keep up your fine work, keep us posted. I wish Japan weren't so far away. Bye for now, your friend,   Lovey La Verne Lein (March 21, 2001)

P.S. I see I have some corrections to make, as mouth not mough, and about Young children. . . yet unconditioned . . . on page 1,   but if I back up I'm afraid erasure may occur, so I'll send it this way hoping you will correct along the way. It was good to see the pictures of you and students and teachers and the rooms. It brings me back to our evening classroom and all our learning discussions. I actually WAS there, it seems to tell me. Our group was the most rewarding and enjoyable part of my visit to Japan. Today I just clicked on your underlined and colored address, and it came up very easily. Wonderful!!!
(La Verne in US)

So good to hear from you, it's been quite a while. I'm finally without a cast on my arm. so things should improve from here to accomplish some writing.
I have tried and tried, but my computer will not open your homepage, something about the URL I just don't understand what it means. a fault here no doubt. question: Is that little wiggly line before takeshis a dash, is it supposed to be part of your address? I'm anxious to read your pages, and will try to consult here when time, about what to do with this computer.

I suppose it's silly to inquire what your homepage is about, I just have to find it. It's proving to be life here after winter, several days with above freezing so our sidewalks are finally clear. The piles of snow are so dirty, and some predicted rain might help them go away. the longer light of days is a blessing. Well, this will be short. I must go for my hand therapy to get things back to normal as soon as possible. I hope everyone is well. I hear your call for support of the University MSU-A . Give my hellos and love to everyone. I think of you often.
(La Verne in Minnesota, US)

(Osamu Marumo in Singapore)

(Bill Pellowe)
Good luck with the HTML. I found that it becomes easier when you know HTML You can look at a great homepage on the internet, and you can look at the HTML to get ideas or to learn something new.

When you get the Akita page working, let me know. I have links to chapter homepages on http://kyushu.com/jalt/chapters.html and also I've been working on the on-line JALT national event calendar. That will contain links to each chapter's official homepages, too.

I've been learning a lot this month, too. The calendar for JALT is a database. When you go there the first time, you'll see the events that are upcoming, from today's date. You'll have several options to choose from. You will be able to view upcoming events by chapter (so you'll see all of the ones coming up in your chapter) and events by location ("region" of Japan). After all of the functions are working properly, I'll start on a "event admin" page. If this works, then the program chair from each chapter will be able to go to a password-protected page to (1) add events for their chapter by filling in a form (for example, "title", "speaker name", "date" and so on), (2) edit events (for example, if details were not ready in time for TLT, you can edit the details on the calendar), and (3) delete events that have been cancelled.

I think that's pretty exciting. As soon as you add your event to the calendar, anyone looking for events in your region or chapter will see them.

(Tom Merner)
Thanks for contacting me about the May Akita Chapter info. I will put your generic blurb in for May.

I visited your site and was amazed at the amount of content you have up. It must have taken a lot of work. I have also noticed that quite a lot of people have been giving you feedback. BTW. Does Akita Chapter have a site? The webmasters of JALT are trying to encourage all chapters to build up their pages and either upload them on the jalt.org site or create links. If this hasn't been done yet, you may be interested. These folks are really helpful and also can give you all sorts of advice on making pages. They are also in preparation for a discussion group to discuss basic "how to" questions for page creation.

Thank you for your e-mail. I haven't written to you for a long time. I have to say Thank you so much for giving me much useful information every time.

I watched the TV program about English education for elementary school children. As I'm a mother of two elementary school children, I'm interested in that issue. My two children also enjoyed English class at school a few times with ALT Frank, who wrote some essays about America on the "Shiseidayori". It's a good thing that children have a chance to communicate with foreigners. I always say to my daughter " If you can understand English and speak it, it will broaden your world."I want her to recognize the necessity of using English and know that learning English itself is not a goal but one of the means to communicate with other people.

(Noriko Sawai)
I saw your homepage. It was wonderful. I enjoyed reading your diary. Your life is filled with English ! I'm always impressed with your enthusiasm to learn English and consistency. I'm looking forward to reading your new story.

About a month ago, I was asked by one of my friend to teach English to her daughter, who will be third grade of junior high school this spring. I decided to take her request and now I'm preparing for lessons. You wrote,"I don't teach English to students." I also think that I want to learn English with my student and I hope that I can help her to understand how to study English in her own way,using some method you always emphasizes "not grammar-translation but student centered". But in fact, I find myself I have been thinking how to teach grammatical things to her. I have to study the way or the method that enables her to understand grammar or translation while raising the level of listening and speaking abilities. I'm going to make use of radio program"Kisoeigo 3".Memorising whole sentences of text book you recommend is a good way. I'll try it.

(Milan Davidovic, Toronto, Canada)
One suggestion: on your diary page, reverse the order of the entries so the most recent is at the top.

(Andrew Obermeier)
Great Sight, Takeshi.
Lots of fun pictures and a very eye-pleasing design. One small change I think I would make is the "describe" in "These are some pictures that describe Akita Chapter Meeting" to "These are some pictures of Akita chapter meeting meetings." I don't think I've ever heard someone say that pictures <describe> anything, though the verb does convey a very accurate meaning.

(Kris)
Hi, Takeshi-san,
Thank you for your reply today. Have you thought of doing a dissertation based on your English learning method? I am bit presumptuous to suggest this but you might like to discuss this with your friends at Akita University or Minnesota University Akita. I think that you have more than sufficient cases and experiences of English learning by Japanese.

(David E Weaver)
Mr. Suzuki,
Thank you for the invitation to view your homepage. I think you have done a fine job with it. I was very impressed with your obvious love for learning and using English and with your many lifetime accomplishments. I think you deserve much praise for your work as Akita Chapter JALT president, your much needed and generous support of MSUA, and your general promotion of the study of English in Japan. Thank you for creating such an interesting and informative Web site.

(Rube)
Genki English sounds just fine. The name is for internal (Japanese) use, so as long as it is understandable and has a nice ring to it, Go For It!

Letters I've received about my MSU-A speech and homepage until March 13:
(Mr. Y. Yaezawa)
*** Thanks a lot for having shared your speech delivered at MSU-A. Certainly it's a great one: Your axis is fixed on the quality education exceptionally available at the very MSUA, and you explored to prove your theme and values. I'm very proud that such a masterpiece has come from you, and at such an extremely special occasion.

My life has been quiet and normal. Last week, I signed a contract on selling my house. Surprisingly, the buyer is an American! He has a Japanese wife and two children. Like you discussed in your famous speech, we are living in an increasingly international world! It will be mid- to end May that they move in to my house, which necessitates me to locate a new living place by that time - hopefully much closer to office and golf courses.

(Mr. H. Takeda)
*** Your speech is very interesting to me. You are right absolutely.

The professors of universities must change their old fashioned ideas about English education in Japan. Translation method is useless when we communicate with native speakers. I don't know why they teach English in Japanese. Students will be able to understand if professors use easy English.

How many Japanese professors of English literature can use English freely? Do you know the number?

(Mr. T. Kurisu)
***Thank you very much for sharing your speech at the Honors Convocation of Minnesota State University Akita. Congratulations on your excellent speech. I am very sure that it will serve to help these graduating students in meeting and overcoming many challenges waiting for them in the future.

One can teach subjects but it would be extremely difficult if not impossible, to be able to communicate on a 'Heart to Heart' basis and offer the sharing of 'one's Luck' with others. I think you must have done an outstanding job in accomplishing this through your generosity and sincerity as well as with your warm sense of humor.

Takeshi-san, I think it would be great if you could theorize and structure your thoughts and experiences of learning or teaching English as a Japanese and publish your results. Your book or system would surely become a great asset for those who need to 'communicate and use' English as a means.

Lastly but not least I liked very much your closing suggestions, namely 'So work hard and take chances. Being a risk taker......' With your warmth, not only your graduating students but also we or at least I can sail into 'the open-sea' from 'fishbowl'. Thank you again for your wonderful speech.

(Mr. T. Kurisu)
***My heartiest congratulations to your excellent web-site. You are now the first proud home owner among our friends. I have clicked into your site and browsed through every pages. It has really very rich contents on 'English Learning'. I am very much impressed and look forward to the further evolution of your web-site. The following is my quick observation:

1.Takeshi-san, you seem to like to age faster than us. If I am not mistaken, you are now 56 years old and you will be 57 on Christmas this year. By the same token, we graduated in March 1967, not 1966. Please note this is not only limited to you. Up until very recently somehow I thought I was 57 and was corrected by my wife. Osada-san said he also had a similar experience of believing his age 57 instead of 56.

2.You mentioned on your resume that you joined a foreign trading company. I thought Asahi Tsusho was a Japanese trading company, not a foreign trading company.

3. While this could be a matter of taste, it looks bit difficult to identify your page as yours. In other words, all of your clickable sections on the first page seem to be asserting as if each were the owner of your homepage.

Last but not least, Omedetoh gozaimasu and Hat Off to your efforts and Genki Page.

(Mr. Y. Masaki)
I congratulate you on your excellence in your speech. The students are indeed lucky because of you. I quite agree with the way you observe the teaching situation in Japan. Someday I would like to have an opportunity to meet with you and talk.

(Ms. N. Taguchi in US)
***Great job on your homepage! Many thanks for including a section of MSU-A. Pictures of JALT meetings made me feel homesick!

I'm taking a class called "Computer Application to SLA" this semester, and I am learning how to make website and teaching/testing instruments on the web. I need more time than what it usually takes because I'm such a computer-illiterate! We're using programs called Dreamweaver and Coursebuilder.

(Mr. K. Yoshida)
*** Congratulations for being asked to give the guest speech! That's wonderful, and I sincerely believe you deserve it. I also read your correspondence with Prof. Cunningham and I agree a hundred percent--you have really been a great supporter of MSU-A.

As for the Fish Bowl analogy, unfortunately, I have not written anything in English about it. I will be talking about it at the TESOL Convention in St. Louis, and it might get published in English after that.

However, I do have the speech I gave in Nagasaki last October (I'm still in the process of checking the English as well as the content) which, I think, will be published in their English Teaching Journal. Otherwise, everything that I've written about it is in Japanese (Eigo Kyoiku, ASTE, etc.) You're welcome to use the analogy in your speech.

Good luck to you, and be sure to tell Fr. Nissel about it.

(Father Nissel, my college teacher)
*** It was a very nicely written speech. I enjoyed reading it, and I am sure the audience appreciated the thoughts very much. I hope other people have a chance to read it. Perhaps you could send it to the local English newspaper; maybe they will print it. Then the next step will be a career in journalism. How about a column twice or three times a week, called "Tohoku Corner" or "Home is Honjo". Kurisu is progressing in his attempt to enter Sophia grad school. I hope he can both work and go to school at the same time.
Later on I'll read your speech again, and give you a more thorough analysis. I hope it has stopped snowing in Honjo.

(Mr. Y. Aoyagi)
***I think in Japan education of English and music have the same problem. Many people had learned piano when they were children, but most of them aren't good at playing the piano! And many Japanese can’t speak English in spite of 6 years’ study!

(Mr. interpreter)
***I thoroughly enjoyed looking at your home page. It is very informative, attractive and well-laid out. You should be very proud. Your World Games interpreters' group looks very invigorated. I am also registered as a volunteer for interpreting during the World Games but I get few opportunities to practice my skills. Would it be possible to join one or two of your meetings in Akita?

(Ms. M. Sasaki)
***That's terrific!! I love the beautiful design and colors. I really enjoyed your page and am truly envious of your talent!! I hope you will join the upcoming AES TEFL meeting on Saturday, which I noticed on Monday by e-mail. I hope your computer go back to normal soon.

(Ms. M. Sasaki)
*** Thank you for letting me look at the page for Akita JALT. As I told you before, it has a sophisticated texture with a fine combination of my favorite colors. I can think of only candid praise for your work.

I found that your digital camera had been given to you as a prize for a New Year postcard by reading your keynote speech. I hope I will get lucky, too because I'm communicating with you, who is really lucky.

Today I read your keynote speech through. Your speech well reflects your serious attitude towards learning English, your way of thinking and viewing the world, and your energetic and warm personality. The MSU-A students must have been encouraged and felt sure about their right choice of the university.

(Just one thing about the wording I happened to notice at the bottom. It is about an index of 'my keynote speech at feb 22'. 'at' was probably carelessly typed instead of 'on'.)

(Mr. I. Osada)
*** Thank you for sending me your speech. It is impressive. I wish I could have been there. But I can easily imagine how you looked and voiced and how audience excited and encouraged by your speech. Congratulations for your success.

(Mr. I. Osada)
***Congratulations on successful launch of your home page. I think that it is done well. I hope that in the near future someone wants to use your home page as an advertising medium.

(Ms. Y. Okakoi)
*** Thanks for letting me know the URL of your homepage. I was amazed to see your work on creating very attractive homepage. It must have been Herculean task to design and complete it. I wonder how much time and energy it took. I have just looked over it and found my e-mail address was an old one. If possible, please change it to new one,the one we are using now. If any, let me tell you what I want to say (not what you want to hear) later. Your career and your effort to achieve your goals is something you can boast of, as well as your career. Furthermore, the colorful front-page is all very well designed and gives us the good impression to the viewers. You should introduce it to Tie and Jalt members.

(Mr. N. Sato)
*** I've checked out your homepage. It's fantastic! I enjoyed the photos you took with your digital camera. I'll log on your exciting homepage. It'll be interesting to read your diary and see what you're up to. I hope you liked your work as a STEP examiner on Sunday.

(Mr. T. Tanuma)
***Congratulations on your successful opening of your home page! I have been waiting for it since I heard you were planning to open it a few years ago. It must have been a tough job. I hope a lot of people will visit and enjoy it. I saw some photos of you in your home page. I am afraid to say that you seem to be much younger and more energetic than I imagined.

P.S. In your home page, you write "I was born in Honjo, Akita in 1944, the previous year of World War Two. " Don't you think you should write " ... in1944, the year before the end of World War II." ?

(Mr. H. Suzuki, my brother)
*** Thank you for sending me a copy of your speech you made at MSU-A. It has been interesting to read it, really. In the speech you picked up two reasons why the students you addressed your speech were lucky.

The second reason especially attracted me as I feel myself very strongly that Japan is changing. (must change or is forced to change). Historically, Japan changed a lot from "Gai Atsu" like establishment of Meiji era, Just after Second World War and etc. Seems to me that a change realized from internal power is hard or almost impossible in Japan because people, including myself, being conservative. (Maybe it's not Japan alone, but other countries as well. This is why people need to have contacts with those living outside from time to time and need to learn.)

Everyday, if I exaggerate a little, there is a news on the topic you referred to like a country's financial debt, Insurance/Bank companies status in a bad financial shape and etc. Today's newspaper says that a U.S. company, which rates countries' financial credit world wide, has dropped Japanese country bond rate from "AAA" to "AA+". It's not only a shame but also it will create substantial negative effects economically This shows apparently Japan must change.

I am facing a remarkable market change in the industry I work. Our company has manufactured a certain product and maintained the biggest market share in Japan. It has not been easy to maintain the position for years, let's say 15 years, because there are competitors who try to optimize the market share by a development of new models, price down, new functions attracting the customers, better quality of after sales service and etc. Still we have maintained the market share. (Of course, we lost it unless we have made any better improvement than our competitors.)

Very important point we have been missing. The above competition has been within Japan. Recently two major competitors came to Japan. One from Germany and another from U.S. We have now realized that the competitors are not in Japan only but world wide.

German company will found a subsidiary company in Japan next month while U.S. one has made a dealership contract with a Japanese firm. The market prices supplied from the two companies are inexpensive than ours by almost 30%.

Japan is a country of high cost. Land cost, labor charge, distribution system.

This is just a sample. I believe that in some industries Japanese companies are competitive in the world though, there are many industries which are not strong enough to compete world wide.

Now we have "Gai Atsu" again. Japan changes whether people like it or not.

(Mr. H. Suzuki, my brother)
***Thanks for your info. I am pretty sure that you have spent a lot of time and energy to make it. I will visit it when I have a time and give you comment back.
By the way, how's mother? Is it getting warmer in Honjo? Weather here just looks like a saying "Sankan Shion", warm for a few days followed by very cold for next few days.

(Mr. H. Yunome)
*** It was greatly appreciated what you always care about MSU-A. There's no words to express how I was impressed your effort on your home page working. Looks very professionally done! I will visit your address frequently.

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