This month's issue.

• Interview with Patrick
• Tracy's Teaching tip.
• Skye's travel idea.
• Restaurant of the month.
• Bradley's swordsmanship.
• From the Clubhouse.
• Handy info, if you have a Hotmail account and you keep getting tons of junk mail, go to the 'options' area after you sign-in then to 'personal profile' then scroll to the bottom. Unclick the two boxes there. These two boxes give Microsoft the right to give your e-mail away to anyone!!!
  

WELCOME

How's it goin'? Enjoying the world cup? Every team I picked as being potential finalists didn't get past the quarterfinals. Just as well I didn't put money where my mouth was. Congratulations to Japan, they did really well. I hoped they would out do Korea however.
The thought for this month is comes from Paul Hanna's 'Mini Motivator'. One of these self- help books that leave you cynical after reading them because they seem unrealistically positive and sickening.

"The great pianist and comedian Victor Borge, once said that 'Laughter is the shortest distance between two people,' the next time there's a bit of tension, try and find something all parties can laugh about."

Now, I think there's something in that for everyone.

ALASTAIR

Introducing new dude, Patrick

Name: Patrick
Home City: San Diego, California.
Hobbies/Interests: Cycling, sailing, hiking, travel, maps.
Best Japanese Food: Unagi don.
Best Restaurant in Japan: Any unagi restaurant in Hamamatsu.
Best Drinking Place: My kitchen after a visit to liquor store.
Best Japanese Word/Phrase: BAKAYARO!
Best Place in Japan: Window seat, middle of non-smoking section of any shinkansen.
Best Thing in Japan: Transportation system, smell of tatami.
Worst Thing about Japan: the prices - more deflation kudasai!
Favourite Interchange Lesson: NIC1, p73 ex3c - I like the illustration.
Best Kind of Ramen: I haven't met a bowl of ramen I haven't liked.
Best Music: Jazz before 1940; 60's rock, steady reggae, Louisiana.
Best Drink: Young's double chocolate stout beer.
Embarrassing Moment in Japan: Meeting the in-laws, don't ask.
Personal Goal: to be happy settled somewhere near a beach.
Prefer Futon or Bed: Futon

Teaching tip - Tracy Olsen.

One of the most important (and most simple) tactics of effective teaching is use of the whiteboard. The whiteboard can be one of the most valuable - and most overlooked - materials with which each classroom is provided. Using the whiteboard effectively can result in higher fluency in drilling, better notes taken by the student and improved student confidence!
So, what is "effective" use of the whiteboard?
First, you need some accessories - namely, four different colour white-board markers: one of each red, blue, black and green.

Then, divide your board into three columns - this will help keep the information organized and your board neat.

After that, you should board all of the vocabulary elicited in the warm-up and necessary for the lesson. For example, let's say that my lesson is Experience using the Present Perfect tense (however, the same tactics work for EVERY teaching point). My warm-up might include eliciting names of famous places: such as the Eiffel Tower (Paris), Big Ben (London) and Tokyo Tower (Tokyo). Using a blue marker (actually, any colour except red!), I then write each place name in the third column on the board.

Next, I elicit an appropriate verb to match to each place: visit, see, go to, etc…and, using the black marker, I write each verb beside the place, but in the middle column. Using the green marker, (but in the same column) I get out the Past Participle of each verb and board it.

Finally, I elicit the target structure and board that, in red, in the first column.
At the end of this process, my whiteboard will look like this:

3rd 2nd 1st First
Have you ever been to Paris? Go - been toSee - seenVisit - visited ParisEiffel TowerLondonBig BenTokyo TokyoTower
Eiffel Tower, ParisBig Ben, LondonTokyo Tower,Tokyo

Because both, the target language AND the ideas, are boarded, the student should then be able to ask questions quickly and easily (in effect, drilling the target). As the member becomes more comfortable using the target language, encourage him to come up with new ideas. Again, all information should be boarded.

Why write all such information on the board and why bother with the different colours? Writing the information on the whiteboard will indicate to the member that you feel the information is important enough to write down, thereby encouraging him to also copy the information into a class notebook. The many different colours help in this instance, too: if you first indicate that red is the target structure, it will reduce the amount of actual note-taking the student has to do, as he will not have to write every word.*

Another benefit of using the whiteboard is that the information will remain there for the duration of the class and will be readily available for reference by the member at any time, facilitating his reproduction of the target language. Also, it gives the student a feeling of achievement, or self-satisfaction, to see his own ideas and his own words written on the board.
Also, when the student makes a grammatical error, you can write the grammatically correct version (but staying as close to the to the student's own words as possible), thereby allowing to student to see his mistake, but not having a big deal made about it. Each of these points will greatly facilitate the learning (and teaching) process.

Skye gets high on Kanazawa.

"Kanazawa", Think Kyoto but less busy, more compact and more difficult to get to. Although there's a bit of planning:
(1. buy a car 2. get used to driving on
express ways 3. buy a highway card)
its definitely worth it.
The renowned Kenroku-en is really beautiful, especially in autumn with the clichéd but wonderful golden leaves.
Another highlight is Higashi Chaya where you can go into a former geisha house (Shima) and see how they lived and entertained. We also visited a silk dying place (Yuuzen Silk Centre) with a good explanation in English on paper and a walk-through tour where we could see the artists in action.
The gift shop there had some fantastic fabrics for sale. Nearby we wandered around the samurai houses area (Nagamachi) which had very impressive buildings. All of those sights and loads more we saw on foot.

The compactness of the city really allows you to get a proper feel of the city as you walk from place to place. Of all the place's I've been to in Japan, Kanazawa rates very highly. If you have a chance - go!.
-Skye Taylor.

Restaurant of the month

Next time you're in Tokyo near the Shinjuku station, you can treat yourself to an evening of fine dining in an atmosphere that is well worth soaking up, even if you don't eat anything.
But that would be just plain silly, wouldn't it? Walking into the place is like being transported in time to a combination of Mediterranean and a 1950's movie version of North west Asia. (Africa in this case)

The candle lit entrance, Arabic music and elaborate décor are a relaxing escape from the deafening noise and blaring neon just outside. The restaurant I am referring to is Les Aladdin; part of a chain of restaurants owned by UG growing corporation which is I've never heard of before either. But I've been to Le Aladdin twice now, and both times were an exotic foray into old-world Moroccan feasting.

The menu has a selection of both Moroccan and Japanese dishes. I had shish kebabs with crepes, stewed beef eggplant, couscous and rice and a dry curry with an aroma and taste that will leave you salivating on the edge of your seat. (mixed metaphor) Everything is nicely presented and quite tasty. The food ranges from mild (one lamp on the menu) to hot (four lamps) and there is a chilli side dish if you really want to spice things up (bad pun)

The portions are just the right size for the true gourmet. (not so small you leave hungry and not too big you need to loosen your belt)After the meal, you're left with just enough room for desert. I don't usually eat dessert, but I couldn't resist trying it at this place. I had the Jordan Ice Cream Boat.

It's a white porcelain gondola that's about 30cm long filled with sweet sticky, delicious food. It isn't actually ice cream, but it's kind of like ice cream. It has a grainy texture and is just sweet enough to satisfy a mild sweet tooth.
There was also whipped cream and some chocolate shavings; it was a perfect compliment for the meal. You can find out how to get there by going to a web site and checking it out on the map. www.ug-gu.co.jp

It was very easy to navigate and gives far better directions than I could. I've got lost on the Gotenba sen. So if you're a gourmet,(you enjoy food in a great atmosphere) Les Aladdin is a place you must check out. However, if you're the gourmand, (you eat anything until you can't breathe) or if you think a chemical burger at McDonalds is delicious, then the Les Aladdin experience might be lost on you. Happy eating?
-Tony Hajjar

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Bradley and Budo

A lot of people have asked me why I came to Japan. When I first came, I didn't have a specific thought, just a change of pace, new job, and a chance to travel overseas for the first time. I did have one interest, however, that started when I was in high school, and has evolved from a hobby to a way of life.

My sensei said, "If you don't have any money, and I give you some food, that's karate. If you need help on your farm and I give you a hand, that's karate. If you have a bad attitude and try to hurt someone, and I stop you, that's karate." Though they sound very simple, these words represent an idea that dates back centuries. The idea of "Bushido."

Eastern and Western ideas of Bushido seem to differ. Westerners often see only the "samurai" image of a warrior who fights and dies for his master. In Japan, the traditional meaning of bushido is someone who is a warrior, but also much more. It is a person who peacefully tries to help people any way they can.

When I first came to Japan, I wanted to study something in the sword arts, my choices being Kendo, sport fighting with bamboo swords, or Iaido, the traditional practice of drawing and cutting with a katana against imaginary opponents. I really wanted to study Iaido, but unfortunately, couldn't find a dojo where I was living, so I started kendo.

I practiced (using beginner's Japanese) 3 times a week in the mornings before work. Rain, shine, or snow, I bicycled to the dojo to meet with my sensei and get hit in the head with a stick. Of course it's more complicated than that, but as a beginner, I didn't often get many good shots of my own in, and as a result had a permanent bruise on my head. I practiced one-on-one for about a year and occasionally had chances to spar with other people. I passed my 1-kyu test after 8 months, and my Shodan after a year and a half. My abilities and technique (waza) were just starting to develop when I joined FIA and moved to Shizuoka.

I quickly found a dojo in Numazu, but after going for about a year, dropped out and started Iaido. Now I am practicing Iaido once or twice a week at the public gym. I currently am 2nd Dan and will test for my 3rd next year. The language for studying and doing Iaido is difficult and specialized, and I've had a lot of difficulty with it. Luckily my sensei and the other members are very kind and have helped me a lot in my study.

When I look at my sensei and see how peaceful and at ease he is, I don't wonder that it's from his years of training. He is a 7th Dan in both Kendo and Iaido and teaches children and adults. He's very active in community events, does volunteer work, and is one of the kindest, self-sacrificing people I have met in Japan. He is truly a warrior. Truly Bushido. I aspire to be like him.
Bradley Anderson
http://www.ididthat.biz

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From the Clubhouse

Its raining its pouring
Hana's dad is snoring

How about the World Cup? John Wellings is a shattered man after Brazil unceremoniously knocked England out of contention. How about David Beckam's hairdo? It would seem that any self-respecting professional soccer players must tour with their own professional hairdresser. I saw a young Japanese guy in a liquor store the other day that had paid a visit to Beckham's hairdresser. How do you think your students would react if you came to work sporting a hairdo like that? Now this only my opinion, but among all the skill that has been shown there has been an equal amount of theatrics. I hope the Academy has been watching because a few best actor awards could go in this year's cup. Japan is a much relieved nation now that Korea are not in the final and even worse, World Cup Champions. The tournament has been great and the umpiring has made the tournament even more interesting. There should be a rule that every umpire makes at least one controversial decision each match.

July will welcome 4 new trainers to F.I.A. Gabriele Ciminelli, Brett Hamaker, Ami Palmer and Chris Main. Chris, Gabriele and Brett will all be working in Y-City and Ami will be going to Shimada. Melissa is on holidays now, but she will be joining the scholarship program this year.

There are a few goodbyes. Hayley Tull, Skye Taylor, Sean McCormack, Lee McPhee, Jason Block, and Melissa Marsh. We wish all these people the best for the future.

That's about it.

Keep up all the good work.