Contest #3: Where am I?

Here is our newest travel photo contest. I am very happy in this photo because I'm eating a very yummy local food. What country am I in? The only hint I will give you is that of the guidebooks I brought to class, this country was one of them. You don't need the name of the food...just guess the country. Each student gets only 1 guess each, since I gave you a good hint...

Where am I? 

Photo Contest Hint!

No one has guessed the location in Japan where I ate that lovely meal yet. Again, the hint is the tofu. Doesn't it look very silky? And surprisingly, it also has one of the same ingredients of a Big Mac bun!

Contest #2: Thailand Trivia

I have a new contest for you. We were talking about movies filmed in Thailand and some students answered "Anna and the King." Even though this movie is about Thailand, it was NOT filmed in Thailand. Why not? It's a difficult question, but you can find the answer on the internet. As usual, only the first correct answer will get the prize. Remember, the early bird gets the worm.

Blog #1: A Trip to Thailand

Blog Assignment: Thailand Trip

For your first blog, your assignment is to summarize the trip which you planned today. Write in the future tense where you are going to go in Thailand, why you chose each place, and what you are going to do there. Try to recycle some of the language from today’s article. For example:

We are going to spend three days on Ko Samui because I want to see what a lush green island looks like.

We’re going to Pattaya because I like nightlife, so I want to check out the riotous nightclub scene.

--Post your blog by next Wednesday, April 26th. Write at least 150 words.
--Remember to comment on at least 2 of your classmates blogs from the week before. This means that you will comment on their self-introductions. Next week you will comment on this blog.

The Meaning of John's Lucky 11

My blog has kind of a strange title, so I just wanted to explain it, even though I think it's self-explanatory. As you know, we have 11 students in this class, which I think is a really good number. It's one of the smallest classes I've had at Kangaku, so it will give you many chances to interact and communicate deeply with your classmates. So, with a class size of 11, I thought that both the students and the teacher are lucky, so I named my blog for this class "John's Lucky 11."

Photo Contest #1

Sometimes I will put little contests on my blog and offer small prizes for the winners. Since we will probably do a travel unit during this class, I will start with some travel pictures of mine. Look at the two pictures below. Can you guess where they were taken? (You can answer just one or both.) Of course one picture was taken in Japan and one picture was taken in another country. Can you guess where I ate this lovely meal in Japan? And can you guess in what country I took the picture of this strange animal?
If you know the answer, post a comment to this blog. Good luck!

Where in Japan did I eat this lovely meal? The hint is the tofu... 

Where is this strange animal? 

Welcome to Pre-Advanced Class!

Welcome to Pre-Advanced English and your introduction to blogs! I have only met you all once, but I already know this will be a great class. How do I know that? Because in the first class you all used English actively and weren't afraid to ask questions. If you keep trying hard like this, we can learn a lot of English and enjoy discussing many topics with each other.

Anyway, BLOGS are new for many of you. What is a blog? As we discussed last class, a blog is just like a journal or diary, but it's online. So, creating a blog will help you to improve your English skills and computer skills at the same time.

Here are the MAIN REASONS we are doing a blog:

* You also need to use English outside of class. This will give you that chance.
* It will help you to practice new vocabulary. We will discuss different topics in class, and then you will write about a similar topic for your blog. This will help you use new words.
* It will help your reading and writing skills. Writing the blog each week (and reading your classmates' blogs) will help you practice reading and writing.
* You can get to know your classmates better. You and your classmates will write many interesting things about yourselves on your blogs. This will help you all to become good friends and work well together.

Is that enough reasons for you??? I hope so. Don't be worried about creating a blog. If I can do it, you can do it! You might have some trouble at first, but me and your classmates will help you. Once you start doing it each week, it will be a piece of cake!
Good luck and happy blogging!!!