Friendship

I found a nice quotation in an English textbook, which I want to share with you.

“Your friend is the man who knows all about you and still likes you.” ーElbert Hubbard

I absolutely agree. Luckily, I have wonderful friends. Friendship is my most precious treasure. I have some long-time friends from college, and we have been keeping in touch for a long time. I have made close friends in recent years. When I am with them, I always try to be true to myself and express myself honestly, as I did in my college days. They understand my strengths and weaknesses, and they are still my good friends. Thank you, my friends!

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My favorite colors and interior decorating

I like to decorate my room with flowers, whether they are fresh or artificial. My room is simple, but flowers add a nice touch to the interior. I like the color combination of pale pink and white.

I think my color preferences came from my experiences in Europe two decades ago. I gained inspiration from a building called Das Kurfürstliches Schloss or the Electoral Palace in Trier, Germany. Its pink and white Rococo façade made a strong impression on me. It looked brilliant and outstanding in the old city where there were many ancient Roman ruins.

Trier is an unforgettable city. It is where I first met my best friends, Melissa and Beth, from the U.S. We shared a room on the first night and visited historic sites together as part of a field trip. Maybe, the color combination of pink and white subconsciously brings back the treasured memories with my friends in Trier.

I think interior decorating can be compared to the process of painting a picture. I enjoy adding my favorite colors onto my canvas as I like.

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How to practice speaking

These days, more and more students want to practice speaking English with me. They say they want to speak more fluently. During the lessons, I try to speak only English as long as they can understand what I say. Only when it seems difficult to them, I sometimes switch to Japanese. (When I teach international students, I speak only English.)

If you are an English learner, I suggest that you talk to yourself in English at home. Express your feelings or describe something around you. You will realize that there are many things you can express using your current vocabulary. You may encounter something difficult to say. Write it down and try to figure out how to express it by using a dictionary or asking me.

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Susan’s class

As you know, I like writing. My daily writing habit dates back to my childhood and to my college days.

In my elementary school, students kept a diary called Sensei Anone (Dear Teacher), and gave a presentation to the class every morning. This ritual lasted for four years, and it was long enough for me to develop a habit of writing on a daily basis.

In college, this habit revived when I took an English Speech & Writing class with Susan, who was an American lecturer.  She was enthusiastic about language education. The first thing she told her students to do was to keep a journal in English. We had to fill at least one page a day, but we could write about anything. I wrote about many kinds of things, such as friendships, music, and my dream for the future. She collected our notebooks regularly and corrected our grammar. It must have taken much more time and energy than it took us to do our assignment. In addition, she gave us feedback on each page, some of which I still remember very well.  She was always there when I was struggling as a college student. I deeply appreciate her devoted guidance.

Here is another episode about Susan. She forbade her class to speak other languages than English. If she heard a student speaking Japanese, he/she had to pay a 10-yen fine. I was talkative by nature, so I had a high risk of accidentally speaking some Japanese words. The Japanese word that slipped out of my mouth most frequently was “えっと(etto).” I should have said “Well…,” instead. As a result, I paid a 10-yen fine many times. In the last class, she threw a small party and brought us some cookies she had bought with the fines she had collected from students. Of course, we enjoyed the party!

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My teaching policy

I always enjoy studying with my students and appreciate their great efforts.

I want to teach as much as possible within a limited period of time. That is why I speak quickly and try to read as many pages as possible during the lessons. I assign them a large amount of homework which is sometimes highly demanding.

On the other hand, I try to create a good atmosphere in the classroom to make them relaxed and less afraid of speaking. Since I want my students to be proactive, I always welcome whatever questions they have to ask. 

It is a great experience to share the delight of learning. I wish to see my students overcome the difficulties they are facing and eventually achieve their goals.

 

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Fields near Lake Toya

You can see farms and fields along both sides of the road. I love this typical scenery of the countryside in Hokkaido, which is peaceful and relaxing. Every time I come here, I feel as if I were in a totally different world. Surrounded by vast fields, I forget the busy life I normally lead back home. What matters here is the fact that I “live” now. In a sense, coming to Hokkaido means renewing my view of life.

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The Windsor Hotel looks like a historic fortress
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Vegetable field
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After harvest
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Stacks
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Toya: Lake Hill Farm

Up the hill from Lake Toya, there is a farm called Lake Hill Farm. I really like this farm. They keep animals such as rabbits and cows. All the animals look happy in the peaceful environment.

The last time I visited the farm, I saw a goat eating grass. She was so elegant and sweet that I was glued to every movement of hers. I loved the sound when she tore off and ate grass.

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There are some orchards and lovely gardens on the farm.

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Crab apples
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Pumpkins welcoming visitors
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Horse ranches in the Hidaka region

The Hidaka region is known for its thoroughbred horses. It is between the Hidaka mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Compared to other areas in Hokkaido, it is relatively warm here and there is relatively little snowfall in winter. The mild climate is suitable for raising horses.

Horse ranches spread out as far as you can see. You can meet horses here and there.

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Autumn in Hokkaido

It was the best time to view autumn leaves in Hokkaido. Tiffany enjoyed walking on green carpets of moss and grass with colorful autumn leaves scattered around.
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Japanese rowan berries

I must not forget to mention food in Hokkaido. Our favorite hotel, the Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort, offered great meals as always. I ate buffet-style meals six times during my stay. They were always delicious, so I never got tired. Every dish was made from fresh, local ingredients. The vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, eggs, rice, wheat, milk, and even honey were locally produced. Thanks to the well-balanced food, I stayed healthy during the stay, except that I ate too much.

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I appreciated the blessings of the nature in Hokkaido.

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Mt. Komagatake
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Lake Toya in autumn

You can enjoy scenic views of Lake Toya. On sunny days, you can see Mt. Yotei or Ezofuji (Mt. Fuji in Hokkaido) across the lake. You can enjoy strolling alongside the lake.

You can also take the boat called the Toyako Kisen to cruise around Nakanoshima Island. For a more playful option, you could take a swan boat ride!

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Nakanoshima
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English Salon

Today, I hosted an English salon at home and had a great time. It was fun to discuss and delve into some topics in English. One of my students was so adjusted to the English-speaking environment that when my husband turned up, she greeted him in English, saying “Hello!” We all laughed.

I am very happy to have my students (who are also my friends!) at home. The English Salon is where the participants can be honest with themselves and express themselves freely. This is what I always want to cherish.

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Edamame beans

Edamame is young soybeans which are still in their pods. Unlike mature soybeans, they are moist and soft.  Edamame beans are salt-boiled or steamed and served as an appetizer or a snack. Many Japanese like to eat them with beer. They are not only tasty but also nutritious.

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