Blog #8: End of Writing 1!

For your final blog of this semester, you will write about two topics:

1) Write 200 words on what you learned in writing class this semester, and how exactly your writing improved. Give details!

2) Write 100 words on how you want to improve your writing next semester. What do you want to learn about? How do you want to improve your writing and vocabulary? Again, give as many details as you can.

**Finally, I want to thank you all for being such wonderful students, and for trying so hard this year! Your hard work and efforts have paid off, and your English skills have greatly improved! I hope that you can keep your motivation up and continue to strengthen your English as you move into the future. Remember, the main reason for learning English isn't to pass a test, or to get credits for a course, but to improve your lives, expand your perspective of the world, and to increase the opportunities you will have in the future. Keep it up!**

Blog #7: Spring Vacation

For your seventh blog topic, please write 200 words about your plans for Spring Vacation (February & March). What will you do? Where will you go? Be sure to write lots of details, and continue to practice writing good paragraphs with what you have learned in Writing Class this semester.

Blog # 6: FREE TOPIC!

For this week's blog, please write 200 words on any topic you like! Make sure to follow the rules of paragraph writing, and provide lots of details.

Blog # 5: If I could have dinner with one person...

For your 5th blog topic, please write 200 words about someone you would like to have dinner with. This person can be anyone, alive or dead, famous or just a normal person. Please write details about why you would choose this person, and what you would like to talk to them about. You can even write about where and what you would eat! Be creative!

If I could have dinner with anyone in the history of mankind, I would choose a man named Sir Ken Robinson. He is a British "educationalist," or person who thinks about ways to improve our current educational systems. Sir Ken Robinson has many unique, ground-breaking ideas for how we can change and update our education systems as we head into future generations. His three main points for improving education are: encouraging individualism, fostering creativity and curiosity, and moving away from standardized tests.

Because I love Japanese food very much, I would take Sir Ken to a local izakaya, where we could eat delicious Japanese food and also have a few drinks! This would be a great setting to have a fun conversation about education in Japan. I believe a lot of his ideas could be used to greatly improved education in Japan, so while we had dinner, I would ask him about how the educational system here can place less importance on entrance exams, and focus more on helping Japanese students to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which I believe are very important things that we need heading into the future.

I think that Japan's strong focus on entrance exams has a negative effect on education, especially English learning. This is because students must study very hard and memorize many things that will appear on the tests, but often forsake important parts of learning a language: communication and discussion skills, creating and sharing opinions, and general interaction with people. As entrance exams often deal with grammar translation questions, these other English skills aren't focused on as much in schools, which is a problem. I also think that while entrance exams are important, they only measure a certain type of intelligence, and don't do a very good job of assessing creativity, communication skills, and other things that aren't tested on the exams. So, I would like to ask Ken Robinson what he thinks would be a good alternative solution to the current system.

If you would like to hear about some of Sir Ken Robinson's ideas, check out this great animated movie below!

Blog # 4: My Winter Vacation

For your fourth blog entry, please write 300 words on what you will do (or did) over winter vacation! Be sure to include lots of details, and some pictures too!

When I am in Japan, I have a wonderful time going to my wife's hometown in Kasugai, Aichi. We spend a traditional New Year's together, eating O-sechi, and visiting the nearby shrine to pray for the New Year and drink a small cup of sake. I really enjoy this relaxing time with my family!

When I spend the holidays in the United States, the atmosphere is similar, but has many differences as well. One big difference is that Christmas is the big event at this time. New Year's Eve is a fun day for partying and celebrating the end of the year countdown, but New Year's Day is not the same "family event" as it is in Japan. For me and my family, Christmas is the time to spend relaxing and enjoying the company of my family and friends.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, it is a tradition in my family to cut down a real Christmas Tree for display in our house. We drive out into the countryside to a special Christmas Tree Farm, and pay money to select our own tree, cut it down, and bring it home with us.

After getting the tree home, we set it up in a special stand, play some Christmas music, and then decorate the tree. This is one of my favorite things to do during the year!

Later, on Christmas Eve, we usually have a party at our house, and eat delicious food, share drinks, and listen to Christmas songs while exchanging presents. On Christmas morning, we spend family time together and open up our presents underneath the tree. It is a truly wonderful time of the year!

I wish all of my students a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year! See you in 2014!

Blog # 3: My favorite place

For you third blog post, please write 200 words about one or two of your favorite places, giving details about those places, and explaining why they are special to you. Please remember to follow the rules of paragraph writing, and write good English paragraphs!

My favorite place is Copper Harbor, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is located at the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is a very beautiful, majestic place. Although it is in the same State of Michigan where I grew up, it is a 12 hour drive from my hometown of Detroit!

Copper Harbor is a small town on the very edge of Lake Superior, one of the biggest, deepest freshwater lakes in the world. The nature in the area is extremely beautiful.

Driving into Copper Harbor, you first travel through the amazing "Tunnel of Trees." It is a beautiful stretch of winding road that is covered on both sides by old trees.

After arriving in Copper Harbor, you are literally right on the edge of Lake Superior. The air is remarkably fresh, and at night, the sky is so clear that you can see countless stars, and sometimes even the Northern Aurora.

From the top of nearby Brockway Mountain, you have a panoramic view of the surrounding peninsula and lake. It is truly a sight to behold. I have traveled to and visited many amazing places in the world, but none of them compare to the beauty of Copper Harbor and Lake Superior.

Blog # 2: If I had ¥100,000,000...

For your second blog topic, please write 200 words about what you would do if you had ¥100,000,000! Here is my answer:

If I had ¥100,000,000 there are many things I would like to do. First, I would give about 1/3 of the money to charities, especially places in need of disaster relief like the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. People there need medical supplies, food, shelter, and money to start rebuilding their infrastructure. This would be the first thing I did if I had ¥100,000,000.


With the next 1/3 of the money, I would put it into building a beautiful house. Right now, I am in the process of applying for a housing loan, and planning to build a house. But buying land and building a house in Japan is very expensive! So, with the next part of the money, I would put it into building a nice house on a beautiful piece of property.

Finally, I would spend the last 1/3 of the money on traveling. Every year, I go back to the US to visit my family and friends, which is also very expensive as I travel with my wife and two children. So, I would set aside the rest of the money to spend on traveling to the US, and also other places as well. I still have not visited Africa or South America, so I think I would plan for a nice family vacation to those places. What a nice dream, to have so much money to spend! I wonder how I can make the dream a reality?