01-23-2020

Today is a cold one in Tokyo. Our theme for today is reading. In order to really "acquire" a language, you have to read it.Reading helps you learn vocabulary and grammar through osmosis. One of the best ways to acquire the English language is to read something you are interested in, in your native language, let's say a baseball game review and then read about the same game review in English.This will give you some context before moving on to read about the same game in English. You may not...

01-18-2020

It is the weekend! We hope you are enjoying your free time. Are you speaking English? One thing to remember when you attend any type of English class is to come ready to speak. As soon as you arrive in the classroom or if you are studying English on Skype, be prepared to speak. If you are prepared then jumping in and contributing to the conversation will be much easier and much more rewarding for you and the entire class. Don't expect or wait for your teacher to ask you a question. Get in there...

01-17-2020

One of the most important things to remember when learning a language is to be inquisitive. What does inquisitive mean? It means to ask questions. To be curious. Now this is where Japanese culture comes in to be a hindrance to acquiring the English language "in Japan". The culture in Japan is one of don't ask and don't tell. Just let things be. Don't bother other people. So, it is basically impossible for students to ask each other questions of meaning, of value. It's more of, "Do you like ice...

01-15-2020

Good morning to all. Today in our blog we will talk about pet peeves. What is a pet peeve? It is a continuous source of annoyance for an individual. This writer has two pet peeves that take place EVERY winter in Japan. Let me explain what they are. The first one is about gloves. Every time I walk outside, in the winter months I wear gloves. In Japan, I barely EVER see anyone wearing gloves. Their hands are red from the cold, so they put them in their pockets or just deal with the cold. I would...

01-14-2020

Are pointing out corrections important when someone is acquiring a language? Many qualified trainers say no. Why? Corrections do not work. They are a waste of time. If the trainer or language exchange partner corrects the students' grammar or word choice, the student WILL NOT remember it. It is something they will have to learn naturally or in a natural setting.

01-13-2020

One of the ways you should consider acquiring a language is using something called the Natural Approach. What is the Natural Approach? Well, here are the key points: * No grammar is taught * No correction from teachers * All language should be taught/used in the target language This is the same way a baby learns their first language.

01-08-2020

In our blog today we would like to discuss something called the "monitor hypothesis". This is how you should be focused on learning a language. This is a theory that says if you study grammar over and over for months or even years, as is the case in Japan, when you go to speak English, you will think of grammar first before you actually speak. Therefore the grammar you have learned will get in the way of you actually speaking the language in a natural way. So, the message is, stop learning...

01-07-2020

Happy New Year !! It's now 2020! Our theme today is about how babies learn a language. They learn through something called "comprehensive input". This means whatever country the child is born, they acquire the language that is spoken around them. From parents, siblings, friends, etc. acquire spontaneously, naturally, and sub-conscientiously. Totally different than sitting in the classroom, learning. What about grammar? Isn't that important? The short answer is yes, but you should acquire it...

12-20-2019

Never give up! How many times have you heard this? It truly is a hard thing to continue doing something for months or even years. But in order to be successful at something, you need to put in a lot of meaningful study and practice. Don't "expect" that you will learn a language unless you make the effort. This is your daily reminder. Never give up! Have a nice weekend.

12-19-2019

When you are learning another language it's important that other people understand what you are saying. So, one way to learn how native speakers make the sounds they do, is to mimic their facial movements when saying a specific sound or a specific word. Observation in this case will go a long way. If you doing the activity correctly, you should have sore and tired muscles in your face afterwards. Please try it!