For December 20th

This week choose two topics that you might want to do for your written report and tell us what they are in the comments. Please be specific about your topics!
Also, we have quiz #5 over shopping, ettiquette and town & country.

Town and Country

In the next class we will talk about life in the country and life in the city. Please answer ONE of the questions below.
1. Which do you prefer: living in the city or the country? Why?
2. Is there a place that has the advantages of both the city and country?
3. Have you ever lived in the country? What were the good and bad things about it?
4. What are the good and bad things about living in Tokyo?

Etiquette

In the next class we will talk about etiquette/manners. Please choose ONE question from below and answer in the comments.
1. Look at the photo of the New York City subway above. Choose a number and tell us what the person is doing wrong. Is it the same for Tokyo subways?
2. In Japan, what topics are NOT ok to talk about with strangers?
3. What etiquette is important for eating in Japan?

Shopping

Great job at Gaigosai everybody! I had a super fun time! Next class we will be talking about shopping. Please answer one of the questions below.
1. Where do you usually go shopping for food and clothes?
2. What stores usually have good sales?
3. How do you usually pay for things? Cash? Check? Credit card? Debit card? Why?
4. Have you ever haggled with someone to get a bargain or a cheaper price? Where/when?

Sports and Games

Do you like playing sports or games? Have a look at the Wikipedia site for GAMES or SPORTS and tell us something interesting you find. Or tell us about your favorite sport or game.

Meal Times

Let's talk about the way we eat in Japan and other countries as well. Choose one of the questions below and write a comment.
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1. Did you know American and European eating styles are a little different? Watch this VIDEO and tell us what you think is different.
2. Do you know the correct way to eat in a sushi restaurant? Watch this VIDEO and tell us your reaction.
3. Watch this VIDEO about eating in China. What did you learn?
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Medical Matters

When someone in my family got sick, my grandmother would make her "voodoo tea" and make us drink it. Amazingly, it could cure just about anything and didn't taste too bad!
Here's the recipe:

2 cloves of garlic
one thumb-sized piece of ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Chop the garlic and ginger and boil in water with the red & black pepper for 20 minutes. Pour into a mug and add the honey and lemon. Drink slowly.

What traditional ways do you know about for getting/staying healthy? Please write them in the comments!

Street Food

Street food is eating at cafes or food stalls outside, usually on the side of a road. First, please watch this VIDEO about street food in Istanbul, Turkey. Second, write your reaction to the video in the comments. Third, choose ONE question and answer in the comments.

1. Do you ever eat street food in Japan? What is your favorite?

2. Have you ever tried street food in another country? What was it like?

3. Do you not like street food? Why not?

4. Have you never tried street food? What would you like to try?

Childhood

Next class we will talk about our childhoods. Think about all of the questions below and answer only ONE of them in the comments.

1. What is your first memory?

2. What was your favorite toy?

3. Do you remember your first day at school?

4. What was your first house like?

5. Who was your first friend?

6. What were your favorite games?

7. Do you remember any advice your parents gave you?

8. What were you afraid of when you were a child?

Remember: NO CLASS ON OCTOBER 11th!!

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Travel

Next class we will talk about travel. Please answer ONE of the questions below:

1. What was something bad that happened to you on a trip?

2. What foreign countries would you like to visit?

3. What was the best trip you've ever been on?

4. Which kind of places do you like to visit best: beaches, countryside, mountains, lakes, cities or rivers? Why?

Have a great Umi Day!

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Superstitions

Superstitions are things you believe without any reason. For example, some people think that if you find a four-leaf clover, you will have good luck.

In my hometown, people believe that you should never put a hat on your bed - it is very bad luck!

In the comments, please tell us about one superstition you know.

Annual Events

Next week's lesson is about annual events like holidays, festivals, special days and similar things. Read the questions below and answer ONE of them in the comments.

1. What Japanese holiday do you like the best? Why?

2. Tell us about a special event in your hometown.

3. The World Cup is a special sports event that happens every 4 years. Do you know any interesting information about it?

4. Do you know of any interesting music festivals?

5. If you know of an annual event in another country, tell us about it!

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Unit 10 Cell Phones

We will talk about cell phones in our next class. Please read the following questions and answer ONE in the comments.

1. How long have you had a cell phone?

2. How many calls a day do you make?

3. How many text messages do you send every day?

4. Do you think cell phones are bad for our health? Why or why not?

5. What rules do you think there should be for using cell phones in public or at school?

Report #2

Next week will be our second report. You will hand in the written report, then practice your oral report once with a partner. After that, you will give your oral report and start a discussion with your group.

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Let me know if you have any questions.

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Research Topic

Step 1: Please choose a topic (something about: compliments, religion or food/restaurants) and tell me what it is in the comments.
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Step 2: Do your research this week and bring the information to class next time.
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Next week we will organize your reports and practice the oral presentations.

Unit 8 Restaurants, Bars and Cafes

Our next class will be about eating and drinking in restaurants, cafes and bars all over the world. What is your favorite restaurant and why do you like it? Please tell us in the comments.
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May 31st

YES we have class on May 31st!! I made a mistake on the syllabus - sorry!

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Religion

Our next class will be about world religions. Please read the first paragraph about religion HERE. Then choose one of the world religions from the list, read a little about it and tell us in the comments one interesting thing you found.

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Giving Compliments

Next class we will be learning how to give and receive compliments. Please answer ONE of the questions below:

1. How do you feel when someone says, "Your English is really good!" What do you say to them?

2. When might this be a compliment? "Oh, you're looking fatter!"

3. In Japan, when do you give someone a compliment? What might you say?
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Reports for May 17

Step 1: Choose a topic
For example -
Judging people by their appearance
Status symbols
How to give a good impression
Your favorite singer or band
An interesting kind of music
Tell us about a musical instrument
Tell us a folk story or urban legend


Step 2: Write the report
1- 2 pages, typed, A4 paper
References (tell where you got your information)

Step 3: Prepare the oral report
Practice talking about your topic without using notes. This should be about 2 or 3 minutes long.

If you have any questions or need me to check anything, please email me!

Folk Stories and Fables

Please click HERE to read the fable called "The Dove and the Ant" then answer the questions below.

1. Have you heard of Aesop's Fables?
2. What is the name of a fable that you know (from Japan or another country)?

Also, please think of a folk story to tell your group next week.

Here are some websites if you are interested in more stories:

AESOP'S FABLES

FOLK STORIES FROM NIGERIA

RUSSIAN FOLK TALES

Also, watch the videos above for some more ideas!!
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Homework for April 26

Next week we will talk about different kinds of music from all over the world.
Click on at least two of the examples of world music below, listen, then write a comment about which one you like best and why you like it.

SALSA

BLUES

CELTIC

RAI

OKINAWAN

First Blog Post

Please tell me about the partner you met during our first class.

Go to "comments" below. Type your information (don't forget your name!). In the "comment as" section, you can choose "Anonymous". Finally, click on "Post comment".

Send me an email if you have problems.

See you next week!

Matt
mattsclass@gmail.com