New Term at E-Style!

Hi everyone,

As a new fiscal year (新年度) has already (既に) started and a new school year (新学年) is scheduled to begin next week, a new term (新クール) at E-Style is set to start, as well. It will be a ten-lesson term (with one week off for Golden Week) running from this coming Monday, April 7th to Saturday, June 21st. Please be sure to check out the LESSONS/FEES page of this website for a detailed explanation (詳しい説明) of our classes and prices if you are interested in studying English conversation with us this fiscal/school year.

Jack and I hope to see you at E-Style next week!

Sincerely,

Alan

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello to all the green onion and coffee lovers around the world,

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I would like to thank all of the students who have kindly brought a variety of (色々な) treats to E-Style this week not only for Jack and me, but for their classmates, as well. I hope that the green onions (ネギ) in your udon are as heartwarming as the loving bubbles in your morning cup of joe (朝のコーヒー). 

Your chocoholic teacher,

Alan

Happy New Year (and Hanukkah, too)!

Happy New Year! 

And Happy Hanukkah, too!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick blog entry to wish all of you a Happy New Year and some of you a Happy Hanukkah, too. For (なぜなら), the first day of 2025 is also the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, which started at sundown (日の入) on December 23rd. It is extremely rare (極めて珍しい) for the Festival of Lights to continue into the New Year.

Jack先生 and I are looking forward to (楽しみにしている) hearing all about your New Year's holiday when we see you back at E-Style next week. Until then, take care, stay warm, and enjoy all of your favorite traditional Japanese New Year dishes (おせち料理), especially Sanuki-style rice-cake soup (お雑煮), with white miso and sweet-bean-paste (餡) mochi!

Happy holidays,

Alan

 

As we wrap up 2024, . . .

Hi students,

Please remember that E-Style will be closed for the next two weeks. Lessons will resume (再び始まる) on Monday, January 6, 2025.

As we wrap up (終わりにする・締めくくる) 2024, Jack and I want to thank all of you for studying English by taking classes at E-Style and/or by reading this blog. We are looking forward to seeing (and teaching) you in 2025, also known as (～としても知られている) Reiwa 7 or "The Year of the Snake." 🐍

Wishing you all the best for the New Year, I remain

Your devoted teacher,

Alan

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

60s Psychedelic Junior High School Student!

Hi Music Lovers,

I would like to introduce (紹介する) you to a brand new (真新しい) YouTube channel called "60sサイケ中学生."

As the name implies (示すように), the site is run by a junior high school student who loves psychedelic rock and roll. He plays a mean guitar (ギターを上手に弾く) and even introduces the songs. 

If you have a chance, click on the following link to check out one of his first videos: "If Jimi Hendrix had played Jumpin' Jack Flash."

In tune,

Alan

P.S. Can you guess what the connection is between "60s Psychedelic Junior High School Student" and E-Style?

和十 do?

Hi again fellow linguists,

In May, I told you about how the students in my beginner (入門) classes learned to pronounce (発音する) "Where did you go?" like a native speaker. Actually, along with "Where 十五？" I have also written the following on the whiteboard at E-Style from time to time (時々): "和十 do?" 

Just like with "Where 十五？",  after a little practice (練習) my students have been able to pronounce "What did you do?" (あなたは何をしましたか) like someone born and raised (生まれ育ち) in the U.S.A. We have also practiced the same pattern using other verbs. Here are some examples:

• 和十 eat? (何を食べましたか)
• 和十 buy? (何を買いましたか)
• 和十 study? (何を勉強しましたか) 

Of course, everyone's answer to the last question is always "English communication!" (Ha-ha). Anyway (とにかく), once again, mixing kanji with English has enabled my students to improve (上達する) their skills in a fun way.

蛾打五、

Alan

P.S. I have got to go. → I've gotta go. → Gotta go. → 蛾打五

P.P.S. Generally speaking (一般と言えば), Americans pronounce the letter "t" like "d." That's why I translated (翻訳した) "Gotta go" as 「蛾打五」and not 「蛾多五」.

Autumn/Fall is the season for studying English!

Hi students,

There are several expressions (表現) used to describe autumn/fall (秋) here in Japan. For example, we say 食欲の秋, 収穫の秋, 芸術の秋, スポーツの秋, and, of course, 読書の秋. But because of cultural differences, these expressions can be a little difficult to translate/interpret (少し翻訳・通訳し難い) into English. Perhaps the easiest way is to use the sentence pattern "Autumn/Fall is the season for 〜." Here are some examples:

• Autumn/Fall is the season for eating.
• Autumn/Fall is the season for the harvest.
• Autumn/Fall is the season for art.
• Autumn/Fall is the season for (playing) sports.
• Autumn/Fall is the season for reading.

By the way (ところで), a new term at E-Style will start this coming Monday, September 9th. So, perhaps another useful expression using the above pattern might be the following:

Autumn/Fall is the season for studying English!

Jack and I hope to teach you English conversation this autumn/fall.

See you at E-Style,

Alan

Where 十五？

Hi fellow linguists,

The other day (この間) in one of my beginner classes, I wrote the following on the whiteboard: "Where 十五？" At first, the students looked at my mixture of English and Japanese and didn't know what to make of it (それをどう考えたら良いか分からなかった). However, after reading it aloud (それを音読したら) at native speed and then very slowly, everyone could understand that "Where 十五？" was actually "Where did you go?" 

Native speakers often use contractions (短縮形) in their conversations. An example in Japanese is「そりゃ」for「それは」. Some common English examples are "gonna" (going to) and "wanna" (want a / want to). "Where 十五？" is a little different because there is no way to write it out exactly (正確に) as it sounds. "Where'd you go?" (contracting "where" and "did") is probably the closest, but it is still not perfect.

This is a rare case in which Japanese fluency can help one's English. Because by reading the kanji for "fifteen" after the English word "Where," my students were able to sound just like native speakers from the U.S.A. And by practicing it over and over, they were also able to understand the question even when I asked it at "native speed." In no time (すぐに), not only had my students improved their communication skills, but they had also had a little fun in class while doing it.

Time to 五,

Alan

Ready to Leap!

Hi leap-year lovers,

2024 is a leap year (閏年), a.k.a. (～としても知られている) an intercalary year or a bissextile year. Today, February 29th, is known as "leap day" in English, or 閏日 (うるうび又はじゅんじつ) in Japanese. Since the earth's orbit around the sun is not exactly 365 days, we have this extra day once every four years (4年度に) to synchronize the calendar with the astronomical year, a.k.a. the solar year (太陽年). 

Ready to leap into March,

Alan

P.S. The term "a.k.a." is an abbreviation (省略、短縮) for "also known as."

You Say You Want a Resolution!

Happy New Year!

Hello students of English,

I hope that you have been enjoying 2024 so far (今までのところ). 

Classes at E-Style resumed this past Monday, January 8th. All this week, I have been asking my students what their New Year's resolutions (新年の抱負[誓い・決意]) are for this year. I am happy to report that several people answered "I resolve to improve my English." In this sentence, the word "resolve" is the verb form (動詞の形態) of "resolution." In Japanese, "resolve to 〜" is 「〜を決心する」while "improve〜" means 「〜を上達する」. 

As I have resolved to continue to help you improve your English, here is a list of some of the most popular resolutions in the United States:

• I resolve to lose weight (痩せる).
• I resolve to exercise more (もっと運動する). / I resolve to get in shape (体を鍛える).
• I resolve to quit smoking (たばこをやめる).
• I resolve to quit drinking (酒をやめる). / I resolve to drink less (酒を控えめにする).
• I resolve to make money (お金を稼ぐ). / I resolve to save money (お金を貯める).

Good luck in achieving (達成すること) all of your goals in 2024!

Resolutely yours,

Alan

As this year fades out . . .

Dear students,

Just a quick blog entry to remind you (思い出させるため) that E-Style will be closed for two weeks from tomorrow. Our English conversation classes will start up again (再び始まる) on Monday, January 8, 2024.

As this year fades out, Jack and I would like to thank you for attending classes at E-Style and/or for reading this blog in 2023. We wish all of you a happy and healthy New Year and look forward to continuing to help you achieve (達成する) your English-speaking goals in Reiwa 6.

See you in the Year of the Dragon 🐉,

Alan

Happy All Hallows' Eve!

Greetings ghouls (食屍鬼達)  and goblins (小鬼達),

I hope that your treats outweigh your tricks (あなたのもらうお菓子の量があなたがするいたずらの数を上回る) this All Hallows' Eve (万聖節 [諸聖人の日] の前夜 = ハロウィーン). In western countries, children are usually told "Don't take candy from strangers" (「知らない人からお菓子をもらうな」). Halloween, however, seems to be the exception to the rule (規則に対する例外), for kids are allowed to go trick-or-treating with the specific goal (具体的な目的) of getting as many goodies (美味いもの) as possible from neighbors that they don't even know. One year, I went trick-or-treating for nearly four hours, venturing into other neighborhoods (思い切って他の近所に入った). I got so much candy (which in the States includes chocolate bars, caramel, and nearly anything sweet) that I was enjoying treats until the end of December! 

So, have fun, stay safe, and be sure to get as much candy as you can! Happy Halloween!

Ghoulishly yours,

The Woolfeman

The Month of Leaves

Hi Leafers,

Here we are in August, which I already knew (既に知っていた) was the hottest month of the year in Japan. What I didn't know (or had forgotten) was that its old name was Hazuki, written in kanji as 葉月. Comprising the characters for both leaves (葉) and month (月), the literal meaning of Hazuki (葉月の文字どおりの意味) is "the month of leaves." 

Although it doesn't feel like fall now, in the old Japanese lunisolar calendar (太陰太陽暦), the beginning of autumn (立秋) was on or around August eighth. As autumn brings the changing and falling of the leaves, the eighth month of the year is traditionally (伝統的に) known as Hazuki.

Falling for autumn,

Alan

P.S. Hazuki is also used (sometimes with different kanji) as either a family name (名字) or a given name (下の名前) here in Japan.

Happy 半寿, Sir Paul!

Hi Beatle Ed (and fellow Fab Four fans),

🎵They say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you🎵

Although it is not my birthday today, it is, in fact, Sir Paul McCartney's!

Born on June 18, 1942 (1942年6月18日生まれ), "Beatle Ed" turns 81 today (今日81歳になる). In Japan, one's 81st birthday is known as Hanju (半寿と知られている). The term comes from the kanji character for "half," which is made up of the numbers 8 (八), 10 (十), and 1 (一). If you multiply (かける) the first two numbers and add (足す) the third, it equals eighty-one: 8 x 10 = 80 + 1 = 81.

Setting mathematics aside (数学はともかくとして), I just wanted to wish Macca a Happy 81st.

Happy Hanju, Sir Paul!

All the best,

Alan

Riddle Me This

28 Days

Hi riddle lovers,

Recently (最近), I have been asking my students riddles (なぞなぞ) in class. Trying to answer these puzzling questions (不可欠な問題) is an excellent way (素晴らしい方法) to exercise the brain (脳を働かせる・鍛える). Naturally (当然), trying to solve (解く) riddles in a foreign language (外国語) is an even bigger challenge!

So, as today is the last day of February, and since it is not a leap year (閏年ではない), riddle me this (このなぞなぞに答えて): 

How many months of the year have 28 days? 

Check below for the answer!

Good luck,

The Riddler

28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days       28 Days   

P.S. The answer is "12" or "All of them" because every month has at least (少なくとも) 28 days!

P.P.S. If the question had been "How many months of the year have only 28 days?" then the answer would have been "1 (February)."

Special 8-Lesson Term

Hi students of English,

A special 8-lesson term will begin at E-Style this coming Monday, January 30th. Feel free to contact us (お気軽にご連絡ください) if you are interested in studying English conversation over the next few months. The five levels offered at our school are as follows:

• Kids (キッズ [小１〜６])
• Beginner (入門)
• Elementary (初級)
• Intermediate (中級)
• Advanced (上級)

For a detailed explanation of the classes (授業の詳細な説明), please check out the KIDS and LESSONS/FEES pages on our website.

Jack and I hope to see you at E-Style.

Sincerely,

Alan

Opening the Mirror

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone,

How was your New Year's break? Mine was great! Although I didn't do anything special (I just stayed in Kagawa), I did enjoy spending a relaxing two weeks with my family. I also enjoyed eating delicious traditional New Year's dishes (おせち料理), including Sanuki-style rice-cake soup (お雑煮) with white miso and sweet-bean-paste (餡) mochi!

I had a similar dish (似た一皿の料理) this evening called zenzai. This Western-Japan version of the traditional Japanese dessert called shiruko is made with a mixture of sweet bean paste (餡子), crushed (潰した) azuki beans, and rice cakes.

The rice cakes in the dish are kagami mochi, the Japanese New Year decoration traditionally displayed (飾れている) until broken (割れた) in a ceremony held on January 11th called kagami biraki, which literally (文字通り) means "opening the mirror." The broken pieces of the rice cakes are then cooked and added to the sweet porridge for a yummy winter treat.

Just warming up,

Alan

All the best!

Dear students,

Please don't forget (忘れないでください) that E-Style will be closed for the next two weeks. Lessons will resume (再び始まる) on Monday, January 9th, 2023.

Thank you for studying English by reading this blog and/or coming to classes at E-Style. Jack and I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year and look forward to seeing (and teaching) you in 2023.

All the best,

Alan

Three Square Meals

Hi professional and amateur nutritionists (栄養士),

Have you ever heard the expression "have three square meals a day"(三度三度の食事をきちんと食べる)? If so, then you may have wondered why square (正方形) is used in reference to (に関して) breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The noun (名詞) "square" refers to either the shape (形) or to an open public area (usually in the center of a city or town) where people gather (広場). 

However, the adjective form (形容詞刑) can mean honest (正直な), straightforward (率直な), equal (等しい・平等な), and fair (公平な). To win a match "fair and square" (正々堂々と) means to win honestly, without cheating (ずるをせずに).

As for meals, the adjective "square" means "full, solid, and substantial (十分な、がっつりした、栄養がある)." This is why this particular shape is used when referring to a hearty meal (ボリュームや栄養がある食事).

Getting full,

Alan

P.S. A common myth (神話) is that "square meal" came from the British Royal Navy because their meals used to be served on square wooden plates. This is an example of folk etymology (通俗語源). In reality, the term originated in the United States in the 1800s and had nothing to do with ships at sea.

🎵Trick or Treat (Smell my Feet)🎵

Hi Trick or Treaters,

When I was in elementary school (小学校時代), my friends and I went trick or treating every Halloween. And every year, throughout the neighborhood (近所全体に), we sang the same song as we knocked on people's doors. It went like this:

🎵Trick or treat (お菓子くれんかったらイタズラするで)

　  Smell my feet (私の足臭ってみ)

      Give me something good to eat (美味しいものくれ)

      If you don't, I don't care (せんかったら、別にええわ)

      I'll pull down your underwear! (お前のパンツ下ろすけん)🎵

Happy Halloween,

The Woolfeman