09
05
2008
Why learning English can be difficult
Posted by: Glenski in Jr./Sr. High School, Teacher Resources, Teaching Kids, Teaching Reading, Teaching Writing
I’m sure you may have seen a semi-long poem about reasons why English (especially spelling and pronunciation) is hard for learners. The poem uses a nice mix of words that are spelled similarly yet sound different. Here is a short version, and here is another longer version with an introduction equally amusing.
On another listserv, I just ran across a YouTube link with a similar take on the subject. Here it is for those of you who enjoy some tongue in cheek humor about our profession. Gives one pause to consider.
Tags: poem, pronunciation, spelling
With MEXT bringing about English education to the elementary schoolkids, there comes a teacher guide called “Eigo Notebook”. It seems that quite a few foreign teachers are discussing this on forums, and the main topic has been the mystery of the content of EN. MEXT has been keeping it under wraps, I guess, in Japan’s inimitable way. A recent posting on the discussions has revealed this 
This blog is meant to serve academic interests and those of daily living. Whether you are a newcomer to Japan, someone outside Japan who is thinking of coming, or a veteran, you might appreciate some sources of information to help you with whatever happens outside of the office. I found some Web sites and books that might be of interest. 
^This is a follow-up to the Dec. 2007 entry I made on proofreading. How do you do it? I get some manuscripts in good old paper form, so I have to break out the red pen (or pencil) and go at it. The good news is, I can do this fairly comfortably on a table top or desk, as long as the work space isn’t already too cluttered, and I don’t strain my eyes as much as I would staring at a computer screen. The bad news is the fragility of paper copies, whether from spilled coffee or from folds and 
For those feeling the isolation of living abroad, today’s technology brings you right into your friends’ and family’s homes if you have a computer and webcam. If you haven’t already heard, it is possible to download free software and use a webcam and microphone to make free video calls from computer to computer. (If you don’t want to use the video option, you can still make regular audio calls for free.)
This semester, several of us English teachers have opted to require that students sign up for classes to avoid an unwieldly number of students in class, or to ensure that the CALL room doesn’t get flooded with too many students for the limited number of computers. I can tell you, the results have been very interesting and encouraging!
I wish I could say my memory is perfect, but it’s not. Oh, I can memorize facts and figures, but when it comes to names, I’m clueless. That’s about the main reason I don’t like the beginning of a school year. I have so many student names and faces flooding in and overpowering my senses. How do some of you people pick up on names so easily? Must be a right brain/left brain sort of thing.
I’m always surprised at the number of television programs in Japan that have been made to try helping Japanese people learn English. It’s a trendy thing, I know, but they seem to be everywhere! Many are just 10 minutes long, which may reflect the response to a busy lifestyle. The programs all have their own themes — a bar, a knowledgeable bilingual paired with a less knowledgeable local, a savvy Japanese explaining to other Japanese in a mock classroom setting, etc. NHK even makes a monthly booklet sold in bookstores to assist viewers in following along.
I see people on discussion forums all the time asking for lesson plans. Some are last-minute requests, while others don’t specify a time limit. Depending on who your students are and what the needs are for the lesson plan, there are many places you can go.
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