ACES (Akita Communicative English Studies)
photo album 23

This is not a formal or official page of ACES. It is a photo album made by a member of ACES, Takeshi Suzuki for the members of ACES as well as all the people who are interested in learning or teaching practical English. Feel free to send any comments. Thanks.

ACES (the former AES) sessions are held twice every month - on the second Saturday and on the fourth Sunday (from September 2003) at 3-318 (on the third floor) in the Building 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University between 10:00AM and 1:00PM. ACES stands for Akita Communicative English Studies.

The 127th Communication Session
Date: Saturday, September 10th, 2005

Time: 10:00-11:20 Communication session by Dennis Johnson
Topic: Teaching the Art of Punctuation Usage


"Students should learn Punctuation Usage as an art of rules rather than a system of rules. They are not rules, but agreements. Please emphasize on the creative potential. You could empower students by helping them understand 'Writing is a creative process.' It helps students to learn more about the art..."
"According to the hierarchy of power, a period is more powerful than any other punctuation marks..."





Ingrid and Dennis just after the presentation

Time: 11:30-12:30 Impromptu Speech

9 people attended.

The 126th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, August 28th, 2005

Time: 10:00-11:20 Communication session by Soma Govender from South Africa
Topic: Townships
(He is going to focus on certain issues concerning townships and his main focus will be on gangs in townships)


"Young people join the gang for many reasons. 1) They want to make money and get luxury, 2) They have no respect for themselves (inferiority complex) 3) There are few recreational facilities for them and they have nothing to do. 4) They lack in their role model. 5) Teachers' motivation to educate the young is not high due to low salary. 6) Media, movies make them believe that it is cool to join the gang...." "As a solution I believe the better education is a key..."



Time: 11:30-12:30 Debate Practice
THBT Modernization is good

9 people attended.

The 125th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, July 24th, 2005

Time: 10:00-11:20 Communication session by Cindy Snyders from South Africa
Topic: South Africa and Apartheid


"White used to be on top of the rank followed by colored, black and Indian. When Apartheid ended in 1994, however, the order was reversed...."




Soma --- Cindy --- Bob

Time: 11:30-12:30 Debate Practice
THBT local government should allow casinos to be built in Akita

15 people attended.

The 124th Communication Session
Date: Saturday, July 9th, 2005

Time: 10:00-11:20 Communication session
by Geoff Wyatt from UK and his friend Phillip Braithwaite from NZ
Topic: British Comedy


Phillip Braithwaite --------- Geoff Wyatt

The presentation was one of the hardest for the participants and yet many felt that it helped them a lot in understanding the British culture and way of thinking as well as British comedy. The following is the beginning of Geoff's presentation, "The British People and Their Modern Psyche"

"British comedy as a stylistic genre is firmly rooted in the character and personality of the British people. The make up of this is complex, but can generally be described in terms of various manifestations of one key trait; pride.

The British are proud. Most nations are made up of proud people, but in the case of the British this displays itself in a unique way. The French display a characteristic aloof arrogance. The Americans display almost sickening patriotism. The Japanese perhaps some insularity. The British display their pride through self-criticism.

After the fall of the British Empire and the relegation of Britain in the 50s, 60s and 70s to even a European backwater, a real sense of disillusion set in amongst the British people. This conflicted with their previously complacent notions of national pride and assumed superiority, and the British learned to confront these feelings of lost self-assuredness through becoming very critical of themselves, their country and their place in the world.

This conflicted with their previously complacent notions of national pride and assumed superiority, and the British learned to confront these feelings of lost self-assuredness through becoming very critical of themselves, their country and their place in the world..."




We enjoyed watching several film clips from British TV comedy.

Time: 11:30-12:30 Impromptu Speech
We didn't have time to make speech today.

10 people attended.

more pictures of AES past meetings to photo album 22


"GENKI" English education homepage by Takeshi Suzuki

Read My Diary 4(from January 1, 2003)
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