Time Chart

Yesterday, when I accompanied my hubby to a golf range, I browsed my favorite( I've been interested in it for a long time, but I've never bought it!) magazine, "President" when he practiced.
The back number's title was, "Good-bye busy-lazy me! How to use 24 hours effectively."
The issue showed me the results of surveys between "effective business people( whose annual income is over 15,000,000yen)" and "common people(whose annual income is around 5,000,000 yen)."

The results were really interesting...
For example, "effective people go to office one hour earlier than common people."
"Effective people use one hour in the morning to study for themselves,"etc, etc.
Among them, the one which caught me the most was,
"Effective people know how much time they consume for each task."

Then, I remembered one Japanese TV drama, "Rikon Bengoshi(Divorce Lawyer.)"
In the drama, the main character who was a hardworking lawyer (acted by Yuki Amami,) made "time chart." She colored how she used the time for each work, to know how much she consumed.
When I watched the drama (four years ago?) I thought it would be a good way even for me, to study effectively. But I had never tried!

Then, I started to make my own "time chart."
The color difference is the following;
Sleeping and meal: blue
Housework: navy
Beauty(hair& make, skincare, beauty saloon, etc):purple
Studying:pink
Family(date with my hubby, talk with my family, write letters to my family,etc):brown
Socializing:orange
Extracurricular activities(Toastmasters, French):gray
Work:light green
Hospital, health:green
Hobby:black

So, today? Actually, my time chart became almost all "navy!!"
After I woke up, I did the laundry, made lunch, ate lunch, dried the laundry, thought about cooking menu, folded the clothes, cooked dinner, ate dinner, cooked stock food for two days( I'll go out tomorrow and Tuesday, as well!) cleaning the house...
The only one I did for my study was "memorizing my next speech for the Toastmaster's speech contest." That was good, but...should I learn how to do housework effectively rather than learning English or French???????

I was a bit discouraged, and my hubby said...
"I guess your time chart today was A LOT OF BLUE!! You slept for a loooong time, right?"
Oh, right... I got up at 11:00 even thought I planned to get up at 8:00am!!
That is another culprit...

Daily French

"The best way to improve in a foreign language is USE the language as possible as you can. Speak, listen, read, write, and think in the language in your daily life!"
"If your language class is one-hour long, review, preview, and practice it for three hours. Your lesson won't be exactly worth unless you take the THIRD time of the lesson to prepare."
...They are what I keep saying to my students.

But I didn't follow what I say, if I speak about FRENCH.
I take French class every other week. However, between the lessons, I rarely studied French...so, at the next class, I forgot all of what I learned, and learned them again...
I took the fourth grade of French certificate, but that was the reason why I still can't speak in French!

So, I started to use French in my daily life.
For example, today, I asked my hubby...
"Tu as faim? Venez dejeuner! (Your are hungry? Come to lunch!)"
"Voila, ta tasse. (Here is your cup.) Voila, des cuilleres, des couteaux, et asseiettes... (Here are spoons, knives, and dishes...) Asseieds-toi!(Have a seat!)"
My hubby had no idea what I was saying, but he just "repeated" after me, making fun of me.

...Before I went out to go to French lesson, he gave the words to me,
"Good luck, Je t'aim!" (がんばってジュテ！)
...They sounded like French. Maybe it's the good way to learn a new language for the WHOLE family members???

Food Flood

I don't think I'm food-conscious like my mother. ...I thought so.

Today was my regular "beauty maintenance" day. I went to an eyelash saloon and a hair saloon at Kichijoji. When I go to Kichijoji, usually I hung out department stores and drug stores. However, today, I irregularly didn't stop by anywhere, and went back to Mitaka because I tried to save money...but, I was unexpectedly "trapped" in a supermarket.
Cheese, noodle, spring veggies, pickle... Lots of my favorite food!
Maybe, because I had VERY nice lunch at an organic vegetable restaurant "courage",
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13048567/
my mind was filled with healthy food.

Then...I remembered when I moved back to Japan from America.
In America, we lived a big house, so our kitchen was large. Maybe, it was about ten-tatami spread, as I remembered... When we moved there, I realized I...stored too much food! It's just SO MUCH for two of us that I felt FOOD FLOOD attacked me! Why did I store so much food? I felt regret, and SWORE not to buy too much food, but get "prompt" amount for us.

But after I came back to Japan, I started to STORE too much food again, making excuses, like, "If I run out of food and don't have time to shop?" or "If an earthquake happens? We NEED extra food!! "

Is this a kind of maternal instinct to STORE nutrition for a baby???
Cause not only me, but many women have this instinct, I think... Like, "empty-fridge phobia" or something like that.
I've been trying to be realistic & effective to keep "prompt amount" food in our fridge...but when the food in fridge became almost prompt, my mom called me.
"Hey,Keiko! I just sent you LOTS OF seafood! Enjoy!!"
Wait a minute, another FOOD FLOOD is coming soon...

Dear Examinees

The biggest reason why I don't mention about this blog for my students is...that I may not be able to disclose what I REALLY think. Also, to avoid identifying my students.

Kotaro, 17 year-old my private student, is a rich kid.
When he was a baby, his baby sitter was English. Since he was very little, he has been coming our language school. However, he just...can't get his goals.
Now he is aiming to get the second grade of EIKEN. I've been teaching the special class for him for a year, but his scores have not raised much.
I provided some order-made tests for him, gave a listening book and check how he was doing, and listed up some tips of how he should study for EIKEN.
I try to explain English vocabulary as his familiar world, like J-pop. Sometimes I even sing! I think I told every technique of taking a test, but still...his score is far from getting the second grade.

When he started to take my class, he didn't have any enthusiasm for studying.
Sometimes I scolded him, and he often had the mumps. But recently, he seems to be willing to work hard for EIKEN. His contract will expire this coming April, but he said he wanted to continue my lesson. That makes me more PAINFUL. ...Why don't he improve???

I was at a loss, so I asked help for my head teacher, Taka.
Taka asked me, "have you ever have him written the Mission Statement? The Mission Statement is what are your English goals, in short-tern, middle-term, and long-term. Kotaru can't retain his English knowledge because his goals are very vague. Once he started to study actively, I think he will improve."

I see...yeah, he has been VERY passive!
Taka also showed me his "secret manual" of test-taking teaching trainings, for head teachers. I stayed office until 10:30 pm, and copied all of his manual.
I should make Kotaro pass the second grade of EIKEN!! cause I want to be a RELIABLE professional whatever job I'm engaged to!!

His manual seems very good. There are many test-taking skills I didn't know very much, like scanning, eye-stopping, sight translation, etc, etc.
If I become familiar with those skills, it would be good for Kotaro!! and...MYSELF!!

I'm also the one who has kept failing EIKEN...not second grade, but first grade...
Even my score is always "a little bit short" of passing score, "fail" is "FAIL!!"

On this weekend, I'll read this manual to master test-taking skills!!!

Confrontation of PHOBIAS

Today, I deliberately confronted two of my phobias.

1. Sea animals...
I don't know why! But since I was a kid, I've sometimes had a bad dream.
In the dream, there are many fish...not cute tropical fish, but deep-sea fish like angler fish...in the bathtub of my bathroom. I'm terrified, but "I have to get in." So, I try to put my feet in, still trembling...
Then, I always wake up, sweating.

I don't have any bad memory of fish! I think they are supposed to be cute, but...just, scary to me.

Anyway, how did I confont the phobia?
I went to watch "Oceans." Why did I pick the movie? I just need to see some SPECTACULAR view cause I haven't watched a movie at a theater for while!!

The documentary movie was...good. I saw stronger fish prey upon the weaker...
But actually, I brought my lunch in the movie theater, and the lunch was coincidentally...SUSHI.
I just felt like sushi, but you know...I watched "dog-eat-dog" world, no, in fact, "fish-eat-fish" world, eating FISH. Having watched the movie, I felt "every animal needs to fight to feed themselves." But I didn't fight at all, just "bought" the "feed."
Sorry! That was my impression of this movie...

2. (the other phobia) pointed stuff...
Whenever I see something pointed, like a skewer or a toothpick, I can't stop imagining the scene...the one sticks into my nose or eyes or somewhere!!
Yes, call me stupid! But I just...can't stop thinking about it.

How did I confront it?
I went to an acupuncture & moxibustion clinic today.
One of my admirable friends, Mina, recommended this clinic to me.
This clinic might be very good for me to change my allergic constitution, she said.

Moxibustion is good, I can endure the hotness. But acupuncture! They would stick "NEEDLES" into me!! However, I plucked up the courage to go there.

The impression... That's not so painful, as I imagined... But sometimes I felt pain when the acupuncturist stuck needles to specific parts, like my insteps or head.
Yes, head! I got NEEDLES ON MY HEAD!!

Anyway, I'm proud of myself that I challenged two phobias...
But I realized I have MORE. Not phobias, but BAD customs!!
1. The movie was so quiet that I can't stop DRIFTING OFF...
2. I was 5 minute LATE for the appointment of the acupuncture clinic!
Falling asleep or being late (always 5 minutes, though) when they are not appropriate are clearly my BAD CUSTOMS.
I should confront these sooner!!

Get out of your comfort zone!

I finished writing my script for the upcoming In-House Speech Contest at the Toastmasters.
However, the required time is 5-7 minutes. My speech is quite long... Where whould I cut? The opening? Numbers of episodes? or explanations?
Also, I think I should make the ending more specifically. Organizing ideas is the MOST difficult part of making a speech!!

Good evening fellow Toastmasters, and guests.
Six years ago, I was not in Japan. I lived here.(show a map) West Lafayette, Indiana state, in America. My husband transferred to this small city. We happened to live here for four years and a half. I didn’t want to move to this city because I didn’t speak English very much and I enjoyed my job in Japan. I was a wedding emcee. As you know, the one who says, “Here comes the bride and groom! Please join your hands with congratulations!” like that. Speaking in front of people was kind of my profession. But in America, I was like a child who barely communicate with people because of the language.

However, I tried to keep saying this to me, “Get out of my comfort zone! That’s the only way to make me grow.” Today, I would like to share my transition stories from my comfort zone to my challenging zone.
In America, I shifted from English language school, DJ school, college, and the Toastmasters. Not smoothly, but awkwardly.

At the first day of English language school, students introduced themselves. Name, home country, former job, and so on. I didn’t know how to describe my wedding emcee job in English. But my tutor, who was a linguistics professor, insisted, I should say it formally, as “a mistress of wedding ceremonies and receptions.”
MC is the abbreviation, and I am a woman.

However, at the English class, I thought “I am too nervous to introduce myself with such a long explanation!” So, when my turn came, I said,”Hello, everyone! My name is Keiko, I’m from Japan! And…I was a MISTRESS. That’s all!”…I remember the teacher who was an old woman turned pale. Later, I noticed a “mistress” was a woman who dated a married man when I watched the TV sitcom, FRIENDS.

One year later, I wanted to learn the wedding emcee job from American professional. However, in America, there was no “wedding emcee” job. But some American told me, “DJs speak and announce in weddings. That’s what you want to be!” So, I contacted the most popular DJ in the city. The DJ, Mark, accepted me generously, saying, “I will open the DJ school soon. You should come and learn about the job.”
I was very excited and go to the DJ school. When I opened the door, Mark was surrounded by electronic equipment and turned the DJ table.
“Hey, man! What’s up!? Let’s get started!!”
I thought I would learn how to speak properly, but he meant how to turn the music.

Two years later, I found the “voice for the actor” class at the university.
The class was to build well-trained voice. This must be very good for myself, dreaming of a bilingual emcee! So, I started to take the class.

At the first day, the instructor, Stacie, said,
“Let’s play the game to remember your classmates’ names! Make a circle!
Then, say your name and make an action which represents yourself! The next one, repeat the previous one’s name and action, and do your action! The last one is supposed to memorize everyone’s name and actions! Let me start! Stacie! (dance) Next!”
(The next one) “Stacie! Tony! (salute)”
(The next one)“Stacie, Tony,Ron(play the guiter!)”

I turned pale because I was only non-native English speaker, and the last one of the circle! If they had been all Japanese, I would have enjoyed the game.
However, there were Danica & Darci, Brandon & Bryan, and Molly and Holly…a lot of confusing names to me!

“Here is your turn, Keiko!” In contrast to very cheerful instructor, I was desperate to survive there. “Stacie! Tony!Ron! Ah…who’s next???”

After drifting my challenging zone, the last place I reached was the Toastmasters.
A half year later, I became a secretary. The president was Kevin, who owned a farm. At the officers’ meetings, sometimes I told my opinions to members.

(Keiko)“So, I think, the meeting theme has to be decided by the Toastmaster, him or herself. It’s very hard for international people to be familiar with the topics!”
Kevin just nodded all the time, “ah-hah.”
(Keiko)“Therefore…how should I tell it to the Vice President Education? Or should I wait till the next training is over?”
(Kevin)”…Um-huh.”
(Keiko)”Kevin…what do you think?”
(Kevin)”Ah…Keiko, sorry… What did you say???”
Kevin had never communicated with Japanese before, so he didn’t understand my English with Japanese accents!

Despite of my embarrassing situations, I’m proud of myself that I kept challenging. The challenge doesn’t have to be a big step. Even though it’s a just one step further, I bet you can see different scenery you used to have.

Yesterday, I said this to my husband.
“Honey. If you transfer again, I would follow you anywhere in the world.”
He put his hand on my shoulder.
“NO WAY! Japan is the BEST country. I’ll NEVER get out of here even A STEP!!”

Letter from New Student

Who has been saying, "The Japanese birth rate has been stagnant!?"

At our school, kids' student population has been propagating!!

Today, I welcomed three new kid students at each class.

At 7-8 year old class, the new student's name was Miyu. She said she had never learned English before, but her pronunciation & greetings were perfect.

She said, "Hello, my name is Miyu. How are you? Nice to meet you!"

After the greeting, she gave me the drawing of a girl. (right picture!)She must love drawing! I just thought, and asked her.

Keiko:"Is this you?"

Miyu:"Not me."

K:"Is this your mother?"

M:"No."

K:" Is this your...sister? or friend?"

M: "No! This is my English teacher, YOU!!"

...Wow!! I had never met her before, but she "imagined" what her English teacher(ME!!) would be like. How cute she is!! I was impressed, but she even made me moved more.

Miyu: "And...here it is. This is also for you."

She gave the this letter (left picture!) ...Oh, you don't read Japanese?

It says,"Nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to learning English from you!"

Isn't it nice???

I didn't meet her mother today. Miyu said,

"My mom is working hard, so she left me here and went back to her office."

I bet she is a busy working woman, but I'm sure the mother taught Miyu English, and told Miyu about writing my drawing and letter for me.

What a GREAT mom her mother is!!

Today was snowy cold day...(It was the FIRST snowy day since we came back to Tokyo!!) But the letter and the drawing made me warm.

After I got home, I showed these to my hubby.

He said,"Ah... I don't know how her English is good, but her imagination is not good at all! The girl in this picture is APPARENTLY a child!! Not a teacher!!"

Oh, right...