New Term at E-Style!

Hi students,

I hope that this blog entry finds you well and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Spring has officially (正式的に) arrived and with it comes a new term (新クール) at E-Style. Starting next Monday, March 29th, the 10-lesson term will take a break for Golden Week and run until the middle of June (６月中旬まで). Be sure to check out the "Lessons" page of our website for the new class schedule for both adults (大人) and elementary school students (小学生). Feel free to contact us if you would like to brush up on your English conversation skills (英会話能力を磨き直す) these next few months.

Jack and I are looking forward to teaching you this spring.

See you at E-Style,

Alan

Bird's-eye View

Hi nature lovers,

It seems that spring has arrived a little early this year, especially for this Japanese white-eye (メジロ). As the cherry blossoms (桜) are in bloom/blooming (咲いている), this bird (also known as a warbling white-eye) has been visiting my garden for the past few days. If you get a chance, please check out (見る・調べる) not only the beautiful flowers you may find in your neighborhood (近所), but the lovely guests they attract (引き付ける), as well.

In my tree,

Alan

Hello (and a hearty welcome) to 2021!

Dear readers,

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2021 finds you well. My family and I have started the year off right with a clean house and delicious food. Needless to say (言うまでもなく), the rice-cake soup (お雑煮) was made Sanuki style, with white miso and sweet-bean-paste (餡) mochi!

Although my New Year's holiday has been both relaxing and enjoyable, I am looking forward to returning to E-Style and teaching you English conversation next week. So with that, let us say "Hello" and give a hearty welcome (心を込めて歓迎する) to 2021! Here's hoping that it's a better year for everyone.

All the best,

Alan

 

Goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020!

Dear readers,

As this terrible/awful/horrible (酷い) year comes to an end, I can only say good riddance (厄介払い). This expression is used when one is glad or relieved that something bad is gone or finished (嫌な物が無くなって・終わって嬉しい又はホッとする). Sometimes we even use it about people. For today, though, let's practice by saying goodbye and good riddance to 2020. Hopefully, 2021 will be a better year for all. 

Looking forward,

Alan

Goodbye, Mr Bond!

Dear 007 fans,

It is with great sadness (悲痛な面持ちで) that I report the passing of (逝去の) Sir Sean Connery on October 31, 2020 at the age of ninety. He was the first and, for many, the best James Bond. For some, he was the ONLY 007. For me, he was a childhood hero.

Playing a variety of roles over his seven-decade career, Sean Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (助演男優賞) in 1988 and received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award (アメリカ映画協会の生涯功労賞を受賞した) in 2006.

A man's man who was knighted (ナイト爵を授けられた) by Queen Elizabeth in 2000, Sir Sean's services will be greatly missed. 

Goodbye, Mr Bond!

In mourning,

Alan

P.S. As a child, my favorite James Bond movie was "You Only Live Twice" (007は二度死ぬ), when 007 travels to Japan!

How do you get to E-Style?

Hello drivers, riders, and walkers,

How do you get to E-Style? For many students, the answer is either by car (車で) or by bicycle (自転車で). For some, the answer is by train (電車で) or by scooter (原付で). I have even had some students come by ferry (フェリーで). But what about those who walk to class? For them, the answer is on foot (徒歩で).

I have heard many students who walk to E-Style say that they come "by walking." Unfortunately (残念ながら), this sounds a little strange in English and is not used by native speakers. 

Of course, there are other ways to answer the above question without using "by" or "on." Examples include the following: 

• I drive (運転する)
• I ride my bicycle/scooter (自転車/スクーターに乗る)
• I ride/take the train/ferry (電車/フェリーに乗る)
• I walk (歩いて行く)

Regardless of how you get to E-Style, please be careful on your commute (通学).

Driving safely,

Alan

Semiprivate Symphony

 Hi summer lovers,

This season brings many things: Longer days; scorching heat (猛暑) with high humidity (高湿気); delicious shaved ice (かき氷); and, last but certainly not least (最後になりましたが、未筆ながら), cicadas (セミ).  

Recently, I have been able to enjoy the daily concerts of a semiprivate symphony thanks to the cicadas (セミのおかげで) in my garden. Although some of my neighbors (隣人) may think them noisy, to me the cicadas' performances represent the height of summer.

Inaudibly,

Alan