Merry Christmas!

　好天に恵まれたクリスマスとなりました。今年はクリスマスが日曜日だったので、お買い物やお出かけされた方も多かったのではないでしょうか。私たちは、イブの夜は教会でキャンドルサービス、クリスマス当日はまた教会で礼拝と祝会に参加しました。たくさんのご馳走をいただき、今年もまたクリスマスをお祝いする事が出来た事に感謝でした。私たちは夏にアメリカに帰省するため、冬のお休みは毎年日本で過ごしています。しかし、主人はやはりクリスマス時期はホームシックを感じるようで、アメリカでのクリスマスを懐かしがっています。来年あたり、冬に帰省してみようかと考えています。
　さて、今年もあと少しとなりました。本当に多くの恵みの中で生かされて、守られてきた事に感謝です。多くの新しい生徒さんたちとの出会いもあり、共に時間を過ごせたことを嬉しく思っています。一人一人の素晴らしい成長を見させていただきました。来年もまた元気な皆さんにレッスンで会えるのを心待ちにしています。今年も一年、本当にありがとうございました。どうぞ良いお年をお迎えくださいね！

Christmas is Coming

There are few times when I feel homesick as I have lived here in Japan. Sure, after 16 years a lot of things are home here, but there is one time that I feel it most: Christmas. It is a season for family back in America.

Even then Christmas has not been popular until about 8 years ago when department stores and other businesses started decorating and playing music. Then it has been more noticeable. But it is the music I think.

Christmas music was always part of my family as my parents played holiday music in our home. We sang it at church and even went caroling around our town in the cold -30C of winter. I guess when I hear that music again it reminds me of those times and I am a little homesick.

I hope this holiday season all of our students will have a great time with their families. Merry Christmas!

A Season to be Thankful

We are so thankful for all of our students this year. November is a month of thankfulness in my home country of America and we are thankful for all of you, our students. May this coming year be one that improves your communication skill while getting excited learning English.

Thank you.

AGO Phonics cards

Over the last two years a new product for English learning has come out that has been a lot of fun to use in the classroom. Ago cards come in both question and phonics based sets, each in three difficulty levels. For younger students the phonics cards are helpful in getting them to both connect the letters with words and the letters with their sounds. Rules are easy, basically the same rules as use for a traditional UNO deck. Kids must say a word from the card, or could also say another word as long as it is the letter or combination on the top of the card. First person to discard all cards is the winner! I recommend these cards for ages 6 and up. Have fun with English, maybe even Mom and Dad will learn something too!