Short post for Keiko

The most famous Jamaican is Bob Marley, I think. I found a biography of him at http://niceup.com/bmbio.html. I don't remember Mr. Gilbert's speaking class, but Mr. Tomei says we did a Bob Marley song in that class.

Short post for Yuri

When I was reading Cadogan's Guide to Thailand, I saw that all the temples are called Wat. Angkor Wat is a very famous temple, and there are a lot of other wats in the guide book.

Here's Yoshie's book!

This was a great movie, but I haven't read the book yet.

Honors class

Hey Guys!

This is the honors class!

This is Mikio's book

I think Mikio will like this book a lot. I loved Sherlock Holmes when I was growing up. If he likes it, he should check out the TV series, which is very good.

This is Taiki

Hello Taiki! Nice Peace sign!!!!

For Kazune: an Irish traditional music website

This is a website that promotes traditional Irish Music. I thought it was interesting that the web site was in English and Irish and the word for Irish is Gaelige

Today's class

Here's everyone enjoying English!!!

Mixi for me?

Dan Minor, who teaches part time at Gakuen and full time at Tokai, invited me to mixi. If you are in mixi, let me know, I'd like some help and your opinions of it.

smily or smiley

CA270112.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

This is a tricky problem, which is whether to include an e when you add -y

To tell you the truth, I can't always remember which one is which, but when I see it, I know if it is right or wrong. Here's a list of words that drop the e

ice>icy
spice>spicy
taste>tasty

BUT
price>pricey
space>spacey
smile>smiley

A general rule is that more common words drop the e, but less common words don't, but that is always difficult to know which are common and which are uncommon. When in doubt, your dictionary is your friend!

Not bad English, but...

CA270121.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

This is obviously a take off on the famous phrase 'Boys, be ambitious'. Strictly speaking, the phrase is grammatically correct, but it gets used a lot more here than it would in the states. In fact, 'be [adjective]' is a rather strong imperative (命令), so we use it with things like
Be quiet!
Don't be stupid!

or advice
Be yourself.
Be cool.

We generally don't tell people to 'be' something that they can't control, so in this case 'be gorgeous' doesn't make a lot of sense.

More bad english

CA270131.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

This mistake is something that students always do. I guess they are thinking that it should be
Dear + [noun]
but actually, it should be
Dear + [name]
now, obviously, 'my family' is not a name, so this does does not work.

more English mistakes

CA270106.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

A mistake like this is always more difficult to point out because the people have really thought very hard. However, they wanted to have an English equivalent to 十人十色. Unfortunately, music is a mass noun, so you can't use 'many' with music, you have to use 'much'

The phrase for 'ten people, ten colors' might be 'to each his own", by the way.

My DIARY: Cake shop

My DIARY: Cake shop

Tomoyo wrote about where she works and has added a map, so we can all visit. Yay, Tomoyo!

mamamamameomame: ★☆fawn☆★

mamamamameomame: ★☆fawn☆★

Let's try one more time. I hope this makes a back link. This blog will be like Noah's ark!!

It's a zoo!

This blog has three different animals. I am wondering which blog will have the most different animals on it this year.

Indian food near Gakuen

I want to recommend Indo Shokudo. It is a very nice restaurant that is not too expensive. It is across the street from the Shiritsu Library. The owners are a very nice couple who lived in India for several years. It is here

Even more Omiyage

As I said before, it doesn't have to be expensive. It should be 'exotic'. How about a sign that says 休ませて頂きましてありがとうございます? Here at the 100 en store, you an buy a number of smaller presents. Use your imagination!

More Omiyage

I highly recommend Kogyokudo, the stationary store on kami tori, for omiyage. The section for Japanese paper actually has three tables of things. Also, a fude and ink set so you can teach your host brother or sister how to write Japanese is another great idea. It shouldn't be expensive, it should be something that you can share with the family in an enjoyable way.

Swallow nest renovation

CA270104.jpg
Originally uploaded by joe tomei.

This is at a beauty salon near the jietai base in kengun. The shop renovated (in japanese, you say refo-mu suru) but because there was a swallow's nest, they built around it. I thought it was kind of sweet, what do you think?