Golden Week

If you live in Japan... How do you spend at the Golden Week?
I'm going to Maui (in Hawaii) tomorrow!
See you (almost) a week later!!

On-line class

Since yesterday, the on-line EIKEN class has started.
The student is...only me. The instructor is an experienced teacher who has passed the first grade of EIKEN for 27 times in a row!! ( He has been taking it for ten years continuously...)

He has been teaching at a vocational school for interpreters-to-bes.
If I take his course, it costs 180,000 yen... But he also has opened for short-term classes like listening, interview, etc. I've been his classes twice. He opened the reading section seminar as well, but I was the only one who applied for it.

Therefore, we opened the class on-line. We talked by Skype. I had a problem to use it, but now it is working successfully! Also, I got a bargain! Lucky me☆
I took his reading class & essay correction correspondence. He charged me only 300 bucks! (I paid it as yen, though☆）

He is a "professor" type teacher, compared to myself, as a "friend" or "entertainer type..." Sometimes I think he talked too much & should ask my reaction more...
But I've been definitely learning about how to pass an English test from him.
Hopefully I could pass it the next time!

Got a raise!

It has been almost one years since I started to work at the English school.
I renewed my contract as a part time teacher, and I found...I got a raise!
I didn't negotiate about it, but I did☆
Maybe it's a normal thing for employees??? I don't know...
My raise was "just a little bit," but I was glad!

Having the floor

It became a memorable day, today.
I just made a speech at the Toastmasters after in interval of (almost) one year and a half!
The speech was for the humorous speech manual #2.

How did I feel after I had the floor? I can't wait to give another speech!
It always takes time to prepare a speech. However, the fulfillment is also, always huge. I'd like to make more speeches & have experience a lot!

...But before preparing for another speech, I need to prepare for the EIKEN...

Crisis of aging society

...I want to write about silly stories among my kid students and me, but maybe I should work on this topic. I started to take a castigation class of English essays...this is the first assignment.

Will societies with aging populations face a crisis in the future?

Because of the increasing ratio of aging population, I think Japan is going to confront difficult matters. I would like to raise three issues as follows.

First, we should boost the number of birth rate. The reasons of not having a child are various. The educational expenses should be lower, working mothers need supports from employers and communities, and couples who want to have sterility treatment should be able to take it more comfortably with governmental support.

Secondly, the necessity of getting financial resource of social security expense will be more serious. In my opinion, the most possible resource is consumption tax. I think it is acceptable to raise consumption rate to compensate the social security expense because those money are for all people. To provide security especially for aging people, we need to get the financial resource promptly.

On the other hand, thirdly, senior citizens have to care about their health more. I heard the Japanese medical expense for senior citizens is much higher than other countries even though Japan has the longest life expectancy. Having the sense of health management will be indispensable in an aging society, like Japan.

The crisis about increasing aging population is predictable. To avoid this, we should take actions as soon as possible.

How to be a BOSS among...

I will throw a speech at the next Toastmasters meeting.
That will be my first speech at the Japanese Toastmasters meeting!
Here is a script.
I will "act out," so this script looks weird, though...
Oh, red words are what my kid students said & what they did!

Good evening, fellow Toastmasters (and guests.) My name is Keiko, and I teach English at an English conversation school. My students are from 1 year old to 80 years old. It is very interesting for me to teach students in every generation. However, one specific generation has caused me headache. Can you guess? It is 4-5 year old group. They are old enough to rebel against me, and too young to respect me as a teacher. Today, I would like to talk about how I became their boss.

First, let me introduce you to my students. This isToshi. Say hello to everyone! “Hello!” (I will bring two dolls as my students...Hahaha!) This is Taka. Say hello, Taka! “Bye!” …Yes, he is a contrary kid. There were only two naughty boys in my 4-5 year old kid class. One year ago, when I started to teach them, the situation was like this. Dear Toastmasters, please imagine inside this area is my classroom. The entrance is here, and here is the window. Let me begin.

①Hello, Taka! Hello, Toshi! I’m your new teacher, Keiko. How are you?
You ugly pig!
What!? You shouldn’t say that! …OK! Let’s go to the classroom! Yeah!
Yeah!(lock the door) Wait! Don’t lock the door! Let me in!
Hehehehe!
②…OK! Look outside! How’s the weather today? Is it rainy? NO! It’s…
(open the window)
Stop! Don’t open the window! Don’t go outside!
Hehehehe!!
③…OK. What’s this what’s this what’s this what’s what’s? Lettuce! One, two? It’s poop!
What!? Where did you learn that word? No!
Hehehehe! Poop! poop! poop!
④…OK. A letter, a letter, I can make a letter, with my arms, with my legs, I can make a letter. L! (look at kids)…L!
Ahhhhh!(start to scream)
What!? Stop screaming!
Ahhhhhh! Ahhhhhh!!! (start to run away)
Come back! Come back to the class!!

…Well, the class was not a class. That was a zoo. They were like monsters to me. I had no idea why they acted like that. However, my co-workers helped me, and I have made strategies. Now, the class has changed like this.

①Hello, Taka! Hello, Toshi! How are you?
You ugly pig!
You are the cutest, Taka and Toshi. I know I’m cute too.
Hehehehe!!( start to run, lock the door)
OK! It happens! Hey boys, look at this! (show a paper balloon)
Look! She’s got a new toy! (open the door) Give it to me!
Later!
②Look outside! How’s weather today? Is it rainy? No! It’s…
(open the window)
Stop! Look! Taka, here are your smileys.(take out magnets) Toshi, here are yours. If you do such a bad thing, your smileys are gone.
No! I need smileys!
OK, so close the window.
…OK!
③What’s this what’s this what’s this what’s what’s? Lettuce! One, two?
It’s poop!
Hum. Let’s do bowling!
Yeah! Bowling!
Wait! Before I give you a ball, what’s this?
…Lettuce.
Good!!
④A letter, a letter, I can make a letter, with my arms, with my legs, I can make a letter. L!
Ahhhhh!(start to scream)
No! You will lose your voice!
What?
I f you hurt your throat, you can not eat your favorite food. I don’t want you to hurt.
…OK.

What I learned from them is they are not monsters. They are little adults. They want to have attentions, they want to be loved, and they want to be praised, like us. If they understand I love them and I am trying to entertain them, they would follow me. Now, Taka and Toshi are very good students. But, the new semester begins. New naughty kids entered my school, and now I am repeating the same thing in another classes. However, whoever comes to my class, I am the one who will say,
“Hey kids, I am YOUR BOSS!” ...Ms. Toastmaster.

100%

It was VERY hard day, yesterday...
I had seven classes & two interviews of prospective students. One of them talked a lot, so I got home at 11:30 pm!

I was tired, but actually, I enjoyed the tiredness.
Because one of the prospective student (the talkative one) immediately signed up for our school. Also I heard today, that the other one also decided to join us.

I have had several interviews to adult prospective students, and can I brag it?
So far, ALL of them became our students!
So far, I've got the perfect score... I hope I can boost the record more and more!!

Internet should be...

I know, I know, my blog has been getting more boring than ever before...
I have lots of things I want to write about my daily lives, but let me prepare for EIKEN!


Should Internet be tightly regulated?


The more Internet has been familiarized, unfortunately, the more crimes and suicide have been brought by suggestions from Internet. However, this essay will argue that Internet tight regulation is not necessary.

First, it is very hard to decide whether the web-site is harmful or not. It is impossible to read through every Web-site. I heard if the Web-site includes one (so-called) "harmful" suggestion or statement, the Web-site would be marked as "dangerous" even though another whole parts are completely reasonable. That is insane. Even if the government regulates all Japanese Web-sites, they can't prohibit people from reading We-sites aboard. As a result, I think it is impossible to regulate Internet.

Secondly, the Internet situations will become worse if the government regulate Internet tightly. Because of the cost, the broadband expense has to be much higher. Probably, we will have traffic jam on computers if they check Internet regularly. Most people can avoid harmful invitations on Internet, so to keep the comfortable situation for them is an important issue.

However, I think we need to regulate for juveniles not to read harmful sites such as pornography, invitations for crime, or suggesting suicide because they are not mature enough to judge them. For example, "putting the security marks on each appropriate sites, and parents can set computers not to read Web-sites without the security marks." To protect our children, I agree with this idea.

Nowadays, we can not live comfortably without Internet. We want to use Internet not as "whisper of the devil," but very convenient helper. Internet has also very private aspects, so we should argue the regulation seriously.

Raise consumption tax rate?

Should consumption tax rate be raised?

I agree with raising the Japanese consumption tax rate.
Right now, the consumption tax rate (Goods and Service Tax in the U.S.) in Japan is 5%, which is very low compared to most developed countries.
I think Japan should raise the consumption tax rate and use it to social security expense. For example, Sweden and Norway's consumption tax rate is 25%; most of it goes to social security expense, which is used for medical care or public hygiene.
Additionally, these countries' medical care is really substantial.

Some people say income tax and corporation tax should be used for social security, but I think it's unfair to pump much tax from people who are working hard.
Japan is one of the aging society with less number of child birth. To cover the less number of workforce, we should do something to get tax from all the people.

However, I suppose we should have one condition as raising consumption tax rate:we need remedies for low-income group.
There are two ideas; first, refund the tax to them. Second, establish different tax rates depends on the expense. For example, we can keep 5% of the consumption tax rate for food, medical care, and education expense because everybody needs those.
We can have the higher tax rate when we disburse the other thing.

In conclusion, I'm in favor of raising consumption tax rate if there are some policies for low-income group.

"Open" School Days

Actually, my hubby has been away since Friday to Monday.
I could have thrown a slumber party with my friends, but I didn't.

What I have been doing is... Here is a Web-site.
http://www.cel-eigo.com/
Coincidentally, this EIKEN vocational school has opened for trial students since last Friday. I've been taking some classes for the first grade of EIKEN...
So far, every classes are very good.
I would pass it if I study hard here! If I become a student... I wouldn't because I don't want to pay 200,000 yen to pass the test!

Double Income Family

What are the pros and cons of the double income family?

This is one of the topics of the EIKEN interview seminar I will attend tomorrow...so, let me write!

The biggest advantage of double income families is money.
Because of the twice(depends of the family, though) income, they can upgrade their life style, can provide good education for their children, and can get much more pensions.

The second advantage is building the cooperative relationship between the couple.
They are supposed to share the household chores. To see the parent's supportive relationship is great learning for their children.

The third advantage is the idea of gender-free.
If the couple have a girl, she will be pride of the mother who is working hard.
If they have a boy, he will not be a guy who thinks wives have to be stay-at-home mom.

The disadvantage is the lack of time.
Because they are really busy, sometimes they may miss important events for the family. The kids may be lonely if both parents get home late.

Even though we can think about the pros and cons, the most important thing is to build a good relationship among the family. Depends of their effort, the cons may become pros. I support double income families, like our family.

Permanent peace?

Should Japan seek Permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council?

(...It has taken a long time to research the topic! I still haven't known it well yet, though..)

I think Japan doesn't have to take a permanent seat at the U.N.Security Council.
The Japanese government has been seeking it for a long time, but in my opinion, the merits don't cover enough the demerits of seeking it because of the following reasons.

First, military contribution. If Japan becomes a "permanent seated" country, we will have to send the Self Defense Forces much more times to areas which have serious disputes. Basically, our constitution prohibits military operations, so being a one of the superpower countries does not suit our people's opinions.

Secondly, the veto issue. Even if Japan takes the permanent seat, specialists have said, it may be impossible to have the "veto." The permanent seated countries right now, such as Russia, America, China, the Great Britain, and France, have wanted to keep their power, so they are supposed not to give their original right to new comers.
If we can't get the veto, I can't think about the big merit about taking the permanent seat.

Thirdly, money. Japan has already paid much money to the U.N. Our payment is the second highest among the member countries of the U.N. Security Council. If we become a permanent-seated country, how much more should we pay? I heard the Japanese government has paid much money to lobby to get a permanet seat. I think they shouldn't waste our precious tax about it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, has been trying hard to get the seat.
They said the Japanese status will raise much more if we can be, but I hope the government gives more attention to other important issues.

Breeze

The new semester has just started!
Our branch welcomed a new employee, today.
She was just like an "ideal" freshman!

Her smile, the crisp way of talking, modest attitude, and her very new light gray suit...
everything of her was refreshing!
She graduated an upper-class university, and her communication skills (in Japanese and English, both!) are excellent.

She must be a wonderful new blood in our school!
Have you had any refreshers in your office?
It's the season!!

Mexican night with Americans

Tonight was the party night of my school in a Mexican restaurant, Eltorito http://www.eltorito.co.jp/index.html at Shinjuku.
There were Japanese, American, and Australian co-workers participating.
We had a girl whose birthday is coming soon, so we celebrated her birthday with Mexican cake. Some of us put Mexican big hats (I don't know how they call it..,) and acted as if they were Mexican singers.

The moment when I feel really grateful is like the moment. Six years ago, I couldn't imagine myself speaking English without hesitation, in a party with foreigners!
"Being able to communicate with people all over the world" is a big advantage.
That is also most of my students' goal.

I have been thinking about lots of things lately, but I remembered my original intention tonight.
That was a lovely night!

SAKURA Craze

Have you viewed cherry blossoms already?
They are just being in full bloom now!
It was mild & clear weather tonight, so I went to Yasukuni shrine and Chidorigafuti to view SAKURA with my hubby, after his work.

It has been a long time since we went to see SAKURA to a famous place of OHANAMI.
Tonight, we were just...amazed how it was crowded!

Yasukuni shrine is supposed to be a very sacred place, but there were full of people who were drinking & eating. To watch Chidorigafuti's SAKURA, we had to got in line, and waited for 30 minutes just to see cherry blossoms.
And, once we stepped into the place which SAKURA trees were lighted up, we couldn't move because of the crowd!

For foreigners, they must think we were crazy,
However, for my hubby and I... we were kind of relieved by the situation, because we felt "Wow! It seems Japanese!!"

Shopping Peeve

I love shopping clothes, but sometimes, it really concerns me.
"Buy or not buy...that's a question."
Sometimes I really wonder like Hamlet.

There is a saying in Japan.
"Buy cheap goods and throw money away; You get what you pay for."
Today, I may have embodied it...

I went to Takashimaya at Shinjuku before work.
I would buy a middle-length white cardigan with short frills. It's brand was my favorite, Nara Camicie.
However, I knew there was a special sale at an exhibition hall, so I stopped by there before I went to an original Nara Camicie shop. I wanted to check Nara Camicie's bargain clothes. Then, I found another white cardigan!
That was a long cardigan with big frills. I thought it was cheap and cute, so I bought it instead of a regular price one.

However, after I got home, once I tried it on...
I found it was too sweet for me. I tried it on at an exhibition hall, but I got the "cheap magic," I guess... Maybe, it would be wise if I got the regular price one. That one would be suitable for many of my clothes!

"Choice" is always difficult in our lives, but for me, "fashion choices" are ones of the most difficult ones...

Expand your horizons

I was invited an English seminar, Judicial System in Japan, by an event organizer (actually it's her side job though, ) Cathy.
She is a member of the Toastmasters Club which I belong. FYI, she is a Japanese! Cathy is her nickname.

After I applied for participating the event, I got her thank-you e-mail.
She wrote, "Please expand your horizons."
I thought it's a nice, suitable message on the first day of new semester!

I want to expand my horizons, and also want to graduate "lazy me!""

Viva! Toastmasters!!

I went to the second meeting (for me) of the Key Force Toastmasters Club at Omotesando.
I attended a social dinner after the meeting, and I was amazed how energetic they were.
Today, most members were women. Most of them have full time job, are married, and very active at the Toastmasters.
They are...a PR of an insurance company, a founder of NPO, a translator, an apparel trader...even from four people I asked their jobs, such a variety I got!
I was glad everyone has a job which is related "English!"

What I was VERY impressed most was some people have their second jobs, such as an event planner. Where does their energy come from??
I knew Toastmasters clubs are consisted of active people in America, but Japanese Toastmasters are the same as well as American Toastmasters!
I am a "halfway English teacher & halfway homemaker..."
I wish I could get even "half" energy from them!!!