Listening Test

I got the result of TOEIC in November.
My listening score was 495 (full score) and reading was 450.
It was...almost same my best score(950) two years ago.

I was relieved that my score didn't plummet.
I took TOEIC a few times after I went back to Japan, but two of the listening scores were not perfect. I have taken the full "listening" score in a few years. When my score was not perfect, I was very tired or the volume was a little bit low to me.
That's excuse? I know...but it's true!

I think any listening tests' results could be effected by the test-taker's condition and the test-venue's condition. Not only in tests, but also in real communication!
The place's acoustic condition, the speaker's accents, the listener's situation ( being relaxed or not...) The listening would be changed!

Anyway, one of my resolutions in 2009 was "getting a full score (990) of TOEIC."
I know my efforts have been short of getting a full score!
I have to work harder next year...

Catch up!

I have a question...
How do you catch up daily news?

My husband and I have subscribed Nikkei (Japan Economy) newspaper.
We think it is the most reliable paper to check economical news. I take time to read it almost a half hours per day... But I realized.

Shouldn't I check news in English?

So, I applied a free-trial-subscription of Japan Times.
They delivered the newspaper to my house for one week.
That's perfect! I can check Japanese daily news in English...BUT, reading two newspaper everyday really...takes time.

So, I decided to subscribe "Weekly Japan Times." It's issued every Saturday, and has weekly news on pages.
Is it the best way to catch up daily news?
I don't know, I also think about subscribing Newsweek or Time for a year, because if I apply that, I can get the issue at the cheapest price!

...However, the problem is whether I could check every issue or...not. I have many copies of Newsweek and Time...but they are "one year old." American president Obama, still is a senator on those issues!!

Party Masters

Last night was the Toastmasters Christmas Gala night.
We rented an Italian restaurant in Minami Aoyama, welcomed many guests, and had a party. I was asked to be a MC there, but since my physical condition had not been good, another member became the MC.
I was not sure whether I could come or not...but eventually, I was VERY glad to make it!

Whenever I go to the Toastmasters meetings, I'm overwhelmed (in a good meaning) by the members' energy. Most members are well-educated, working " career" mothers, and involved with activities (not only the Toastmasters, but also another NPOs or something.)
Especially, the founder of our Toastmaster club, Meg, who are a Japanese-American (Sansei) business owner, is an especially exquisite person.
She always brings many interesting quests!!

Who did she bring last night? Embassies of the Republic Tajikistan, Managers from a major insurance company, American yoga instructor, American English teacher who appears on NHK, a weather reporter, Presidents of food companies, a fashion designer, and a language education system enterpriser.
If you are interested in mingling with them, come to our party!

I had a GREAT time, but at the same time, I felt how difficult to be a PARTY MASTER like Meg.
My "partner" (It was decided by lottery) was a Canadian marketing manager of a mining company. He looked so arrogant and uneasy to talk!
His field was "iron and titanium." Hey, what do I know about "iron and titanium?"
I could talk to him, "Hi, I LOVE titanium because most high-class watches are made of them!"
...The conversation must have finished twenty seconds!

After I wondered, I talked to him, "So...how was the security in South Africa(because he just said he came back from business trip there)? My friend wants to go there to see the World Cup, but he's worried about the security."
He only shrugged his shoulders, "You know, 50 million people are living there. You won't be killed easily."
"Yeah, sure..." ANYWAY, the conversation between us was over within twenty seconds!!

Of course I talked with him more, but I thought, I could have been more...natural.
I had been to Canada, and I learn French, so we could have talked about these!
Just from his "super-business like" appearance, I just "assumed" I should ask his business matters!

...The way to be a "party master" is still far away...
Maybe the best way is going parties many times.
Or, at the Summer Gala (we have big parties twice a year,) shall I be a MC?
Then, I might not have to have "partner" who are difficult to communicate!

Mother's Joy

What month is it now?
December? December means... the last month of the year, that December?
I HAVEN'T NOTICED!!

The reason why I haven't published the blog for four months are several.
But the biggest one is...my laziness...

The reason why I start to update the blog is...that I have been bothered by some people who try to leave VULGAR comments here!!!
Unless I keep updating the articles, they always try to violate. I realized.

Actually, I HAVE TRIED.
Here is an article which I wrote half in...November!!



Let me talk about parents' observation classes. This week is already the fourth parents' observation week since I became an English teacher. However, the more I experience them, the more I get nervous because...for some parents, observation classes means teachers' evalustion classes. But I had a good one on Monday!

In my three year kid class, there are two adorable kids. A girl, Kaori, has got accustomed to English lessons because she started taking our classes since she was one year old. On the other hand, Masaki started it since this April. He couldn't enter the classroom without his mother, He cried, shouted, and tried to avoid me whenever I approached to him. Basically, my three year old class is supposed to be only teacher and kids. No mothers. However, exceptionally, Masakin's mother had to be with him all the time. I tried everything to entertain him. But whenever his mother tried to get out of classroom, he started to cry!

My head teacher said, "This stuation might last...until June."
June!? The situation hadn't changed even after summer. I almost gave up.

But after the Halloween party, things changed.
At the Halloween party, I stayed longer with him. Probably it became a good memory for him. Also, his mother's presistent challenges (she brought Masaki to my English lessons as possible as she can) came fruitful.

After the Halloween party, he became a different kid!
He pulled my arm, took me to the classroom, spread vocabruary cards, and presented what he previewed!!
He said, "Look! (he pointed each card) Legs! Mouth! (Looking at the "Whiskers" card,) Hmmm...what's this? I forgot..."


Since I started to teach children, I saw sometimes "miracle," that a scene of distinctive kids' improvement. (As I teach adults, I haven't seen it...because they "graduately" improve.)
The day was definitely, the "miracle" happened to Masaki!!!


...A few weeks passed, and I had a parents' observation day.
In the three year old kid class, Masaki did a very good work.
He enjoyed English games, anwered my questions in English with great energy, and cencentrated on listening to what I said.

After the class, I noticed. Masaki's mother was crying!
She said to me,"He has completely changed. I knew he likes you, but I didn't imagine such an improvement. I really appreciate your teaching! Will you teach him next year, as well? I really hope so."
I saw the mother's joy.

That was one of the most wonderful moments in my career.


By the way, can I talk about another mother's joy?

Kaori, my another student in the three year old kid class, is a very blessed child,
She is cute, bright, and smart. Her mother seemed enjoying being her mother.
She had Kaori take entrance exams of several prestagious private kindergardens this fall. (I know, right now it's winter! But when I wrote this article, it was fall!)
Therefore, Kaori had been much busier than me...to got to cram shcool to prepare it.
But she had NEVER skipped my class.


Her mother often told me the next year's schedule of Kaori's English lessons depended on her results of kindergarden's entrace exams.

She passed a kindergarden in her neigherhood, so the mother would sign up for a class by a bilingual teacher (me,) and a class by a native speaker teacher.

However, now she started to wonder.
Eventually, Kaori didn't pass S kindergarde, which her parents want her to enter.
S kindergarden has a 3 year-course and a 2 year-course. She didn't pass the 3 year-course, but she might pass the 2 year course next year. Whether letting her challenge the exam again and go to cram schools as well as this year(in that case, Kaori wouldn't have time to take 2 English classes per week,) or coming our school a lot to learn English what she likes...

Sounds like too much pressure for a three year old girl? Maybe... But I'm jealous of Kaori. Her mother thinks about her future, very much!!

The reason why I'm jealous of Kaori is not only that.
Her mother is very stylish, so she always wears a Burbery's or agnes b's dress...

That's the biggest reason!

Angel and Demon

I've been saying, "some kids are like monsters." Some my kid students still say to me, "ugly pig old woman!" And some of them try to kick or punch me.
I know that...but I also know that some kids are like ANGELS.

Especially, one of my three-year-old kid class students, Mio, is an ANGEL.
Whenever she sees me, she runs to me and hugs me. Among other kids who are hard to understand what I intend to do in English games, she always figures out what I require her, and try to do her best in classes. Even she helps me to put away some props! After classes, she hugs me again saying, " I want to stay with you!"
...Yes, she is THE ANGEL!
I was looking forward to seeing her today, as well as usual Mondays.

When I found her this afternoon, she wears a dress like princess as usual.
She smiled to me as usual, and said, "this is for you." and held out her palm, which seemed to hold something.
"Wow, you are so sweet!"
I was very delighted by her surprise, and reached my palm open under her fist.
Then, she dropped her gift for me, and I felt it was.....
A CAST-OFF SKIN OF A BEETLE!!!
I screamed, "AHHHHHHHHH!!" and threw it away unintentionally!
"I'm sorry MIo, but I HATE INSECTS!!!"

Mio got angry to see my behavior. "That is my treasure! So, I gave it to you!!!"
...In today's class, she had a bad temper unlikely usual...

What made me wondered was not only why kids love cast-off skins of beetles, but also why the more she showed it off to me, the more I was scared of it.
I thought Mio was a complete angel...but I saw her "demon side" today...

Every human being has an "angel side" and a "demon side."
Today, I learned it...

Links

Today, one of my friends, Kunie, came to my English school to have her baby take a trial lesson from me! Her baby is 2 year old. A year ago, when she visited my house, I gave him a demo lesson. Not for him...but for me, to practice teaching;) cause I just started to teach English then!
One year has passed & the boy, Shuto, became cuter & cuter boy. He was very active & smart... I was so glad to have them at my school!

A week ago, I got an e-mail from my former conversation partner, Stephanie, who still lives in Indiana, U.S.A. She said she got engaged! She also wrote, "I know it's been so long since I've written - but I always want to catch you up on what's going on here."

Kunie was basically one of my clients. When I was a wedding emcee, she was a bride. I mean, I conducted her wedding before. I wouldn't have met Kunie if I hadn't been wedding emcee, and I wouldn't have got to know Stephanie unless I didn't go to America. I LOVE the links between friends, and I appreciate having such nice friends...even though I've been reclusive & lazy lately. Love you!

"Yes, my princess!"

Hello, you! How have you been???
I've been just...maybe jaded...no, just frustrated... I haven't changed myself & my life yet as the way I aimed for, that's why! But it's OK. Just keep trying to seize the day, everyday!

By the way, I delivered a speech at the Toastmasters recently.
The title was "yes, my princess!" I talked about my experience, visiting Western Butlers' Cafe in Shibuya. Somewhat I dramatized in the speech. When I went there first time, the one who accampanied me was not Eri, but Miki, who is my lovely friend!
I went there with Eri, my favorite co-worker, too, but not for "spying new English educational place" like the script says, but just for having fun. Also, there are some parts she didn't say. Sorry, Eri!

Let me update the script here. Since it has to be a humorous speech, I "acted" several characters. I separeted colors depends on characters.
Pink; Keiko
Orange; Eri ( our school's assistant manager)
Blue; Butler
Green; My husband
The speech was seven-minute-long, so, the script is quite long as well as my other speech scripts. However, if you have time or are intereste in...now, it's time to the show!


Good evening, fellow toastmasters and guests. Have you ever read this magazine? “How to master English FINALLY!” ( I showed "an an," published by Magazine House) I found a very unique article here. "Western Butlers’ Café!" The article says, “In this café, all waiters are young, handsome, loyal western butlers. They speak only English, so the café is VERY popular to practice English conversation.” I teach English at an English conversation school. I showed this article to our assistant manager, Eri, saying,
“This café could be our biggest rival! Why don’t we go there and spy what’s going on!”

When Eri and I entered the café, I found several so-called “butlers.” As soon as they saw us, they smiled and said, ”welcome, my princess!” in unison! I said, “Eri, are they kidding me? Princess!? My students tell me I look in around my 40’s, and look like Edo Harumi! I know I’m far away from a princess!”

After we had seats, a Japanese owner gave us a flyer. It wasn’t a menu. It was a list of things we shouldn’t do.
“Let’s see… First, please refrain from giving your personal information, such as e-mail address or telephone number to your butler privately. Second, please don’t ask butler’s personal information. Third, don’t take pictures of butlers unless you pay for the service!? Eri, how arrogant they are!? I don’t come here to eat them!”

However, when a butler came to us, my skeptical mood was almost changed.
“Hello, my princess. My name is Mark, from England. I am very honored to serve you today.”
“Keiko sensei, he is soooo handsome!”
“I know, Eri, don’t be so excited! We are here to spy them!”
( To Mark) “Hello, Mark. I’m Keiko, nice to meet you. Can I ask you what made you come here, Japan?”
“I came here to be a butler to serve you, princess Keiko.”
“OK, now I know you are so professional… Let me change the question. What did you do in England?”
“ I was at a university for butlers and trained to serve you, my princess. Here is special rose water for princess Keiko, and princess Eri. Oh, I love your dress, and nails. So beautiful.”
“…Wow! Eri, did you hear that? He said I’m beautiful!”
“Keiko sensei, he said your dress and nails are beautiful, not yourself! Come on! Rose water? Cheezy! Wow, good smell…”
“Eri, let’s order the food! Well, according to the notice… We have to ring the bell whenever we ask something!? Annoying!” (ring, ring, ring)
“Yes, my princess!”
…Not only Mark, but all of young handsome western butlers answered us, smiling. “Hummm…that’s nice. By the way, I need to go to a restroom. Excuse me, Eri!"
Then, Mark came close to me with a graceful move.
“My princess, let me escort you.”
“…Thank you…”

Ten minutes later, the English butler, Mark, came to us with a Russian butler, Francis, who was also especially cute.
“My princess, we have a surprise for you. Please close your eyes. One, two, three… Open your eyes!” (They serve us dishes)
“Wow! You wrote our names by a chocolate pen?? That’s very nice!”
“And, this is also for you, my princess.”(he puts a tiara on me.)
“Perfect! Now I feel I became a REAL princess!”

Remember. Our original intention was spying them. However, we were completely enchanted by their services. The butlers were very entertaining, but not too much. They didn’t interrupt our conversation, but they spoke to us when we had a silence, and always checked our tea and served the tea if the cups had less than half.

After I got home, I told my husband about their services. I said,
“Well, if I pay 4,000 yen to buy an original note with an European key, I can exchange messages with the butlers. Also, they lift me up like I’m a real princess and have a picture taken if I pay…2,000 yen!”
My husband was reading newspaper and said dryly,
“Do you know how decent Japanese call that kind of service? A host club! Come back to the reality, mom! I need tea right now!”

…Then, I realized. Most women are required many roles in this society. As an office worker, a wife, a mother, and a considerate female. In my case, I’m busy with teaching my students, listening to their talking, serving tea for visitors. At home, I have a big child whom people call a husband, and do every household chore even though I am exhausted. Sometimes we need someone who entertains us, and serves tea to be relaxed. I mean, someone who just says, “Yes, my princess!!”

...Did you understand??
Maybe you had no idea for some parts unless you "see" my performance itself.
Sorry for the unkind update! But, let me "update" myself here from now on.
I'd like to write articles often, hopefully.
Let me hear your update, too, buddies!