Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, December 19

100

After a warm-up about "Childhood memories," we went through the questions in Unit 11, p. 60.

Homework:

Write 6-8 sentences, discussing the differences/changes in society and lifestyle in Japan between your childhood days and now (such as fashion, technology, behavior, attitudes, etc.) Be prepared to discuss in groups next lesson.

300

We opened with a lengthy discussion about "Mistakes and Accidents," then ran through the previous week's homework about Compromises, on p. 76.

Homework:

Choose a situation from the "Sharing My Ideas" section on p. 77, and be ready to present your best "compromise" advice in groups next lesson.

200

We started off with a discussion about "Sleep, Dreams and Nightmares" and then finished up Chapter 18 (The Dangers of Credit Cards).

Homework:

Please start Chapter 19 (Young Men: No Girls, No Money) and do the "Vocabulary Support" on p. 77 and the reading on p. 78.

400

The class started off discussing the "Mistakes and Accidents" questions worksheet, and then we finished up Lesson 13 pp. 82-83.

 

Homework:

Please complete pp. 84-85 from Lesson 14, and do the reading on p. 86.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, December 12

100

After some small talk we reviewed last week's homework and shared charity thoughts and ideas in groups.

 

Homework: Review the questions on page 60 and be ready to discuss.

300

Used Barry's worksheet as a guide for further discussions on gender roles. Went through the dialogue and comprehension questions on page 73-4.

Homework: On page 75, Extending the Topic A and in Culture Corner rearrange the tips by importance into your own list.

 

200

 

Checked the homework then did an activity where students were assigned a dish from around the world that they didn't know. They were asked to research it and then explain it to fellow students.

Homework: Page 73-4 Vocabulary and reading.

 

400

Checked the reading on page 80. Students had questions about Israel and middle east history and so we discussed that most of class.

 

Homework: Page 82-3 from Writing with Idioms through Vocabulary Expansion

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, December 12

100

We spent a lot of the class going through a "Moods and Emotions" discussion activity. We then spent the last part of the class working in pairs through the questions from Unit 11, on p. 60. Homework: Please prepare a brief presentation (8 - 10 sentences) about one of the following 3 topics:

a) my grandparents and me

b) my childhood days and now

c) technology then and now

and be ready to give your presentation in groups next week.


200

Spent the majority of the class on the same "Moods/Emotions' discussion questions.  We then went over Susette's homework about favorite restaurants, and reviewed the vocab on p. 73 (Lesson 18).

Homework:

Please read p. 74 and complete parts 3 (Active Outline), 4 (Comprehension Questions) and 5 (Critical Thinking) on pp. 75-76.


300

We spent ALL class discussing Isaac's Gender Role questions as preparation for Ch. 16 (A Woman's Place). Lots of great group conversation.

 

Homework:

Please do the reading for Ch. 16 on p. 70 and answer the "Check Your Understanding" questions on p. 71.

400

Everyone seemed to enjoy discussing the "Mood/Emotions" questions in their usual lively manner. We finished the class by polishing off Lesson 13.

Homework:

Please complete the Key Concepts, Active Reading, and Words in Context sections for Lesson 14, pp.84-85, and do the reading on p. 86.

You and your friends and family are all invited to the LEO Christmas Party! Please sign up on Saturday or contact Gordy at gordy@otemae.ac.jp

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, December 5

Homework:

Level 100

Please read and answer questions on page 60.

Level 200

Please read and answer the questions on page 73 in preparation for the new chapter.

Level 300

Please read page 70.

 

Level 400

Please complete pages 82 & 83.

 

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, December 5

Class 100

We started with a quick catch up session as usual. The students then presented their “modern thing” homework from last week. We then did some picture descriptions of unusual products before the students came up with an infomercial style ad for a randomly assigned product. All went very well.

Homework

Please list the 5 most serious world problems from Task 1 on page 54. Also, please do Activity III on page 56.

Class 300

 This class was very lively as usual. After a catch up, we compared our answers from last week’s HW. I gave the students a sheet with prompts comparing women to men which we used to form the basis of our discussion. This was more than enough material to see us to the bell and beyond.

Homework

Please finish the worksheet (part B) and prepare to discuss your answers next week. Also, please read the text from the next unit on making compromises.

Class 200

We started with an adaption of the informercial activity used in class 100. We went through the text and discussed the topic (fast food) and some language issues encountered during the reading.

Homework

Please complete the questions on pages 67 & 68 and prepare to discuss your answers.

Class 400

The reading proved difficult for some of the students. I gave the class a copy of the translation and answer key so that we could spend as much class time as possible discussing the issues rather than explaining the vocab. We exchanged stories about our own sporting memories, especially with regard to coaching. We also discussed what sports should be added or removed from the Olympics.

Homework

Please read the text on page 80 (a translation has been provided for your reference) and prepare to discuss next week.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 28

Level 100

 

After a lengthy warm-up activity, we reviewed their answers for the Activity I questions on p.49.

Homework:

 

Please complete the "Your Modern Thing" section of Activity II, p. 50, following the example above, and be prepared to discuss your answers with a partner next week.

Level 300

 

We did a "Gender  Roles" questions sheet and then spent the rest of the class going through pp. 70-71 in Unit 16 (A Woman's Place).

 

Homework:

Please complete Part A of the Extending the Topic section with alternative answers and be prepared to discuss next week.

Level 200

Completed the questions on p. 60 (Free Music). More difficult for them than usual, lots of questions asked, but seemed to go OK.

Homework:

Please complete the Vocabulary Support section on p. 65 (16. Fast Food and Health) and do the reading on p. 66.

 

Level 400

Full house in this class, everyone on great form. We spent half the class on Isaac's "Gender" discussion questions, then (mostly) polished off Lesson 11...lots of questions ran us over the bell a tad.

Homework: Please complete the "Key Concepts" section on p. 72, Lesson 12 (Good Sports).

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 28

100

 

They did a great job on Pages 50-51.

 

Homework:  Please do the Review and Reflection on Page 53. Also, please answer the questions in Activity 1 for Unit 10 on page 54.

 

200

 

We finished the questions at the top of page 68. Good work!

 

Homework

Please complete the Writing and Class Discussion questions on page 68. Also write about your two favourite fast food restaurants- why you like these places and what's your favorite food there.

 

300

 

We had a wonderful debate. Terrific work!

 

Homework

 

Please complete page 69 sharing my ideas.  Also begin Unit 16: Complete the reading on page 70 and Check Your Understanding  on page 71.

 

400

 

We finished the unit and had a great discussion like usual.

 

Homework

 

For Unit 13: Please complete pages 78-79 and the Reading on page 80.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 21

100

 

Homework: Review the questions from page 49 and be ready to discuss

 

300

Homework: Prepare a hypothetical time capsule for people 500 years in the future with the 10-15 items that best represent what life was like in the years 2000-2015.

200

 

Homework: Finish up activity 5 and be prepared to debate both sides of the issue. Look through the questions in Activity 7 and be prepared to discuss

 

400

Homework: pg70-1 from Writing With Idioms through Vocabulary Expansion

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 21

100

Please do page 50 for homework. 

200

Please read pages 65-66.

300

Please list some reasons either team A or team B,  Next week debate (page 68).

400

Page 75, 76.  Reading for information and Word Forms.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 7

Level 100

Homework:

Please complete Activity II, p. 45 in preparation for next week. Also, please review and practice the A/B (customer and shop staff) conversation handout and be prepared to do a more free-form role play next lesson.

Level 300

Homework:

Please choose one of the topics from the "Sharing My Ideas" section on p. 69 and prepare a brief presentation to give in groups next week.

Level 200

Homework:

Please complete the Vocabulary Support on p. 57 and do the reading on p. 58 for Lesson 14 (Free Music).

Level 400

Homework:

Please make sure to complete the Key Concepts section on p. 66 and the reading on p. 68 in Lesson 11.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, November 7

100

Please read page 49 in preparation for next class.

200

Choose any countries national flag and tell us what the colours represent (their meaning).

300

Please read page 66 in preparation for the next class.

400

Please do Word Forms on page 70 and Using Key Concepts & Vocabulary Expansion on page 71.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 31

Class 100

We had a quick catch up and then got into a clue swapping activity based on Haloweeny words. We moved on to the textbook and shared and discussed the answers the students had prepared from the discussion questions on shopping. We then worked in groups on a shopping vocab exercise.

 Homework: Please write a conversation between a customer and a sales clerk. Try to use as much of the vocabulary covered today as possible. Prepare to read through your conversation next week in pairs/groups.

 Class 300

 We started by talking about Halloween and its sudden popularity in Japan. We chatted about scary experiences, ghostly encounters and good horror movies. The students then discussed their answers to Isaac’s assignment from last week on difficulties foreigners might experience adapting to life in Japan. We moved on to unit 14 on immigration. I had prepared some discussion questions on the topic which took us up to the bell.

Homework: Please prepare some notes on the role technology plays in your life as preparation for next week’s topic.

Class 200

After a quick chat about Halloween in Japan we did a similar clue swapping exercise to the one used in class 100. We discussed some of the questions from the textbook on cosmetic surgery. We then looked at a Breaking News article on the use of Photoshop in ads and magazines. We finished off by looking at some body idioms - cried my heart out/ keep an eye on etc.

Homework: Please do the vocab exercises on p. 53 and read the text on p. 54 for next week.

Class 400

Like 300, we started by talking about Halloween and its sudden popularity in Japan. We chatted about scary experiences, ghostly encounters and good horror movies. This branched off into a discussion about the afterlife and reincarnation.  We then discussed the textbook topic of governments making apologies.

Homework: Please complete the opinion survey on War: What is it good for? and prepare to discuss next week.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 31

Level 100

Went through the discussion questions in Activity I, p. 44.
 
Homework:

Please complete Activity II, p. 45, both Tasks 1 and 2.

Level 200

Started Ch. 13 (Colors). Reviewed pp. 53-55.

Homework:

Please prepare your answers for parts 6 & 7 on p. 56 and be prepared to discuss them in pairs or groups next week.

Level 300

After warm-ups, we covered pp. 62-63 of Unit 14. Immigration is proving to be a controversial but lively topic.

Homework:

Please prepare answers to both A and B parts of the "Extending the Topic" section on p. 64., and be prepared to discuss them with your classmates.

Level 400

Polished off Lesson 10.

Homework:

Please complete the "Key Concepts" section for Lesson 11 on p. 66 (Public Apologies), and do the reading on p. 68.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 24

Level 100 Homework:

Please prepare answers for questions on p. 44 of Unit 8 (You, Shop Owner) and be ready to discuss your answers with a partner next week.

Level 200 Homework:

Please complete the Vocabulary Support section for Ch. 13 (What Colors Tell About You) on p.53 and do the reading on p. 54.

Level 300 Homework:

Please complete the reading on p. 62 (Unit 14: Save Our Country) and answer the "Check Your Understanding" questions on p. 63.

Level 400 Homework:

Please complete the "Making Questions" section on p. 64 and "Using Key Concepts" and "Vocabulary Expansion" sections on p. 65 ( for Lesson 10).

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 24

100

As per Jeff's suggestion, after a quick warm up, I gave students time to prepare and practice for both roles in the job interview activity from the unit. Then in pairs students did the role play changing roles.

Homework:
Review the questions from Unit 8, pg 44 and be ready to discuss.

300

In groups students shared their travel itineraries as in chapter 12. After reviewing some of the points together as a class, i gave them a few discussion questions and let them at it.

Homework
Prepare an answer and be ready to share: What are the biggest challenges or difficulties new international residents face in Japan (please focus on cultural challenges)?

200
AFter a warm up activity, answered and discussed the reading about plastic surgery, then went through the exercises up to Class Discussion section on page 52.

Homework
Read and prepare to answer pg 52 Class Discussion

400
Checked homework then worked on a Breaking News article relevant to the unit they just did.

Homework
Do the Fill-in-the-blanks section of the handout.

A Special Event this Saturday!

Hello everyone, 

I hope that you are having a great week!

This Saturday, October 24, Otemae will be hosting an international conference on Hansen's disease from 13:30-16:30 in the Cell Forum at the Sakura Shukugawa campus. There will be a lot of international guests so if you are free, you should come meet them, learn about new cultures and practice your English, too. 

I hope to see you there!

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 10

Level 100

Did a "20 Questions" card game activity that went down really well. We then went over Activities I and II on pages 38-39.

Homework: Write 3-4 sentences to complete Activity IV, about your "Strong Points." Feel free to use the vocabulary from Activity II on p. 39.

Level 300

After a warm-up activity, we got into the textbook, covering pp. 54-56. Usual fun, enthusiastic group.

Homework: Please do Steps 1 and 2 on p. 57, and be prepared to discuss/ explain your plan in groups next lesson.

Level 200

Did the "20 Qs" card game activity again, then went through the rest of Chapter 11 (pp. 47-48).

Homework: Please complete the "Vocabulary Support" section for Ch. 12 "Plastic Surgery" on p. 49 and do the reading on p. 50. 

Level 400

Started off with a discussion activity and then spent the rest of the class working our way through Lesson 10 (Virtually Better), reviewing the reading, covering Reading for Information and Listening for Ideas on p. 63, and Writing with Idioms on p.64. Lots of questions about vocabulary and grammar.

Homework: Please complete the Making Questions, Word Forms, Using Key Concepts and Vocabulary Expansion sections on pp. 64-65 for next time.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 10

100

Homework:Please make sure you have your six questions ready (Activity 3, page 39), for next week.

200

Homework:Read pages 49-50 in preparation for next lesson.  

300

Homework:NIL

400

Homework:Please read through pages 64-65.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 3

Level 100

They did a great job on the second pair work of the Activity 1 questions for Unit 7.

Homework: Please write the questions for  page 39 Getting Ready Activity 3 and Complete Activity 4 on Page 40 about their Strong Points. 

Level 200 - We finished reading and comprehension questions. Please start next week with the #5 Opinion Question on Page 48. They should be doing a lot of pair/group work next lesson with all the discussion questions.

Homework: Please complete Page 48 - #5 - the Opinion question and # 6 Writing and # 7 the Class Discussion Questions

Level 300

Lots of vocabulary questions. A lot of the vocabulary in this book uses idioms and colloquial English so they often have those questions plus others. We finished the Comprehension questions.

Homework: Please complete What do You Think on Page 55 and the Activity at top of Page 56. Also  please complete the Sharing My Ideas writing activity on Page 57.

Level 400

We finished up Lesson 9. 

Homework: Please start Lesson 10 - Do the Key Concepts, Active Reading and Words in Context activities on Page 60-61. Also, please complete the reading on Page 62. Also please do the Comprehension Exercise on Page 63.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, October 3

Class 100

After a quick catch up, we practiced describing jobs with a half-crossword activity. The class were then given a worksheet with short statements from young people about their priorities in choosing a job and were asked to suggest a career for each after a group discussion.

Homework:

Please prepare to discuss the questions on p.38. Also, please complete Activity II: Task 2 and Activity III on p.39.

Class 300

We checked the accuracy of some common travel expressions (e.g. off the bitten track) and made corrections where necessary. We then started discussing the topics raised the textbook. We talked about our own experiences of culture shock and tried to think of some of the difficulties facing foreigners hoping to assimilate into Japanese culture. Finally, we looked at some idioms containing the word 'home'.

Homework

Please review any new phrases and words from today's class. 

Class 200

We started with a catch-up chat before explaining some health vocabulary with a half crossword activity. We then completed the first 8 (of 20) statements about our own eating and exercise habits and general health. We moved onto the textbook next and went through it, stopping for explanations and short discussions. We compared anti-smoking measures in Japan to those of the USA and European countries.

Homework 

Please complete statements i - p on the worksheet for next week's class. Also, please complete activities 3 & 4 from the textbook.

Class 400

We started with some group discussions on stories that have been in the news this week. The Volkswagen scandal came up and led on to a class discussion on electric cars and Tesla Motors. We went through some of the text on the U.N. and the groups helped each other with vocabulary explanations. 

Homework

Spend a short amount of time reading through the text of lesson 10. Think about the topic (video games & virtual reality) and prepare to discuss issues relating to it.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes-Saturday, September 26

Level 100

We had time to start on p. 38 (Unit 7, Job Seeker). 

Homework: Please write answers for Activity I, questions 1-8 on p. 38, and be prpepared to discuss your answers with a new partner next week,

Level 200

We had time at the end of class to review Chapter 11, Ex. 1, Vocabulary Support on p. 45.

Homework: Please read the article on p. 46 and answer the questions on p. 47 (3. Active Outline and 4. Comprehension Questions).

Level 300

Talked a bit about "national pride" and discussed the "Getting Ready" questions for Unit 12, "No place like home" on p. 54. 

Homework: Please read the dialogue on p. 54 and answer the "Check your Understanding" questions on the top of p. 55.

Level 400

We went through the "Key Concepts" section on p. 54 (Lesson 9).

Homework: Please do the reading on p. 56 and then complete Active Reading on p. 54 and Words in Context, p. 55.

Shukugawa OCC Saturday Classes- Saturday, September 26

All classes started with distribution of course outlines, schedules and a brief explanation of what to expect for the semester. There were 2 absences total and the those handouts are with the attendance book in the drawer ready to be passed out when they do show up next time.

In classes 100 and 200 after the introduction, some discussion about "the best day of your summer vacation" and getting to know new students a bit, we played an Odd Word Out game and then a beginner's version of the game Taboo.

Classes 300 and 400 were much the same except more group discussion time recapping the holiday, no Odd Word Out and a more advanced version of Taboo.

Students seemed to really enjoy the challenge of expressing ideas while being limited in what they can say.

There was no homework assigned, but I asked all classes to take a gander at the first assigned chapter in their respective books to familiarize themselves a bit with the topics.

Itami OCC Saturday Classes - Saturday, July 18

Level 100

We went through a "Cultures Quiz" and then finished up with them going over their summer plans homework with 2 different partners. I reviewed the situations and expressions in the "Travel Woes" section on pp. 35-36.

Homework: Please think of one more travel problem for each of the 4 different situations on pp. 35-36 and review the expressions in the "Useful Language" boxes on those pages.

 Level 200

We spent a big chunk of the class doing a "Summer" discussion exercise, then finished with a dry-run rehearsal of their speeches. I ended up with some advice about presentations.

Homework: Practice (and practice and practice) your presentations!

Level 300

Busy class, finished up chapter 9 Sharing My Ideas p. 45 then went through Unit 10, pp. 46 -48. 

Homework: Please prepare a brief presentation about a personal milestone in your life, either past or future (as explained in the "Sharing My Ideas" section on p.49). Practice and be ready to present to your classmates next week.

Level 400

We spent the majority of the class on a fun "Summer" discussion activity. We closed the lesson talking about next week's presentations. Per the students' request, I expanded their topic range to include various "social problems." 

Homework: Prepare for your Global (or Social) Problems presentation.