“I got 99 problems” and COVID19 ain’t one.
ONLINE lessons available now.
* Requires download and installation of the free business meeting/conference application ZOOM
https://zoom-kaigi.com/sumaho-zoom-touroku/
Feedback up to now has been positive: “Fun”, “No stress”, “Better than I expected”
Call or email now to see what it’s all about.
– Perry –
Is this true??
Having some fun is part of taking care of yourself.
Take care everyone!
こんにちは、イクリプス英会話教室です。 夏も終わり、涼しい日々が増え、秋になってまいりました。 イクリプスでは教室カラーもハロウィンのオレンジが増えてきています。 冬になるとどうしてもカラーが無く気分的にも寒くなるので、花壇をリニューアル★ 少しずつですが、カラフルなお花が増えていく予定です。
イクリプスは小さなお子様から、大人の方までエイジレスで学べる英会話教室です。 レベルに合わせたグループレッスン、一対一のマンツーマンレッスン、セミプライベートのキッズレッスン、ビジネス、英検、TOEIC対策、これから留学する方、留学を終えて戻られた方など、さまざまなシュチュエーションに対応しております。 日系カナダ人講師のネイティブなEnglishで、本場の発音、リスニング力アップしませんか？ 無料デモレッスンにぜひお越しください！
Just a few updates:
I’ve been doing some teacher training on Thursday mornings with the fine staff at EGG Juku in Kemigawa.
They are a serious but friendly group that is focused on sharpening their English skills.
Our sessions are very productive (of course for me as well) and I think the students at EGG Juku are lucky to have such dedicated teachers.
Here is a link to their blog.
Also, I’m happy to report the reaction to recent changes of the layout at eclipse has been overwhelmingly positive.
I’ll continue to build and adapt to ensure that eclipse students are receiving the best possible experience.
Finally, thanks to Yusuke and Rumiko for making this possible – it was great to see Ryota Murata’s fight last weekend at the Ariake Colosseum.
It was a first to see live boxing and also the first time to visit that venue for both of us.
It was a not so happy split decision but the Olympic medalist displayed great class both in the bout and with his reaction to the result. I hope he meets success as he moves forward with his boxing career.
Well, just around the corner lurks Rainy Season and the wonderful wet weather and humidity that it brings. I hope you’re on schedule with countermeasures in your homes to keep things safe and dry.
Talk to you next time!
Took a four day trip to Kyoto with my wife Yuko, little sister Mayumi and brother-in-law Gary last week.
Can a stream of photos be cliche? Let me show you the ways.
The first three days were freakishly warm for late November.
The last day was very windy and cold. In fact, it snowed in Chiba the morning after we returned.
This line took hours. The ramen was good so all’s well, I suppose.
We saw beautiful kimonos,
and spectacular night illuminations.
So many people. Could only describe it as a zoo.
It was the very middle of high season for autumn colours.
No meaning, but the side profile reminds me of a lion.
Also, it was high season for tourists from all over.
At first I thought they were trash receptacles; turns out they’re for plastic bags for visitors to carry their shoes.
Not visible in these shots, but electrical outlets, display TV’s, (internet??) in and around most temples / shrines was off-putting.
It was easier than pie to get traditional looking shots.
Eikan-do was so crowded. Below, somehow, there are no people.
This is an interesting shot but it really requires post production work.
“Too bad it’s out of focus. Needs to be cropped and the washed out bits need to go.”
Everywhere you looked, the scenery was grand.
A view from the backyard.
A nice shot but a look at the waves of visitors immediately behind me might have been more interesting.
In summary, Kyoto was stunning in its beauty, the number of tourists packed into each attraction was staggering (literally), and the weather cooperated just enough to make it a very nice trip.
みなさんこんにちは。
Some special souls “gathered” at eclipse on Saturday night. (10/07/2016)
Or should I say ghouls?
We all said, uh, “Long time no see and Happy Hello-ween.”
Packed in like the subway we were – but that didn’t matter because “Charming Tomoko” and “Beautiful Tomoko” were both in attendance.
Yes, they were Raiders coming to draw blood at the Lost Dojo.
And draw blood they did!
We did games and activities in English; it was fun for everyone even though there were high levels and low.
The 戦場カメラマン。 My Warrior Princess.
“The nail that sticks up gets hammered down”. Still don’t know if I really understand that.
Things got scary for the finish as we transitioned to a Halloween theme.
Good things come to those who wait??
We finished off the evening at Mihama Base, a Inagekaigan’s ‘beer boutique’.
It was a spooky, good night. Really great to see everyone from FESS again, and so glad things basically went smoothly.
Thanks to everyone who came, and look forward to doing it again sometime!
みなさんこんにちは。
Another powerful typhoon a few days ago, this one fizzling out before it reached us.
Is that an, ahem, *wardrobe malfunction??
It’s becoming the repetitive theme this year. Rain,wind, storms.
Carrying on in the theme of the year (repetition), here are more animals for you.
“How did it come to this?” – Kings, that Once Were.
Nonchalantly crammed on to this makeshift brown pedestal.
Well, not exactly conceived to inspire whimsical images of rolling dunes of the Sahara is it, this display.
Considering the price tags, these things would be firmly secured behind glass barriers, at least in Vancouver.
(Save your clams or crack out the Platinum Card if you want to take one home.)
Some still get The Royal Treatment.
Speaking of The Royal Treatment and animals, one particularly special animal was just here in town for a few days, Dad!
Which meant we got the chance to visit Haneda International Airport for the first time, basically.
Autumn, along with the 2020 (!) Olympics was on display.
Not sure if it was temporary or permanent, but there was a huge traditional wooden bridge and Samurai sword fights forming an enclave of sorts in the otherwise modern facility.
No kidding, it was massive.
Of course I wanted in on the action.
Seemed only fitting to have something traditional for lunch.
If not for my massive head, you might get a better idea of the actual size of that bowl.
Meet the Dad.
Did the school pass inspection I wonder?
Smiling, that’s a good sign.
A few days goes by very quickly these days, so it seemed very soon that he had to leave for his next destination, Thailand.
Says he’ll be back in a year or two.
Well, looking forward to next time.
And with that, we’ll see you next time!
みなさんこんにちは。
The calendar says “September”, but the weather shouts “summer”.
Sometimes the heat makes us a little crazy.
ニャップル。
A gag recycled from my facebook. Nobody laughed the first time, so not sure why I posted it here again.
Slow news day I guess. Summer going to be slower than others.
Oh now I remember, we’re talking about animals today.
A few weeks ago, I learned about the Japanese idiom 狐の嫁入り . Straight translation “a fox’s wedding”
It means “sun shower” which in my mind requires further translation.
Translated further it means: rain and sun at the same time (my understanding).
Here it is:
A fox is getting married today apparently.
Many cultures around the world believe fox characteristics are cunning, tricky, sly.
In Canadian culture foxes are mainly seen as sexy, good looking, attractive (a little sly too, of course)
Is she a fox, or a fox? How about him?
As you may know, I have a pet cat at home. He’s a very cool cat and I love him.
How are cats represented in pop culture then?
It does seem difficult to truly capture “cat” within the medium of novelty goods.
I mean, they’re just cats!
Cute for sure, and they look like cats. But to capture the essence of “cat”?
You could easily exchange these cute cats for any other poker faced creature for the same effect. Or could you.
For emphasis, here are some birds, literally.
I can use “literally” any way I like since it’s literally my blog.
OK on to more even more complicated animals then.
The kind humans of Omotesando hold an annual parade of sorts that I knew nothing about until a few weeks ago.
The internet reveals that it’s called the Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival
Catchy.
Large groups from all over the country (of between 40 and 200?) with beautiful costumes and big smiles come together to perform their highly choreographed routines, set to blaring traditional music from huge sound trucks (plastered with advertising from corporate sponsors) leading the way.
The costumes are fantastic.
Each group is followed by a man waving a flag for the group.
There is a distinct stylistic sensibility behind the waving.
Had to watch out for those trees, power lines and traffic signals. Sometimes actual people too.
So, humans can really put on a great show.
How does that compare to our animal friends?
Oh China.
Not a bad watch really but well, I guess I hope the animal and human performers have decent union packages.
みなさんこんにちは。
Well the Olympics are done. Safe to say Rio did a fantastic job with this version of the Summer Games?
さてリオオリンピックも終わりましたね。
リオでの安全な夏のゲームの開催も素晴らしい出来だったと思いま
Sweet bumper sticker on that Ferrari.
Japan made a splash in the medal count as well as a splashy appearance in the closing ceremonies, the prime minister making his statement disguised as perhaps the most famous modern Japanese cultural export.
日本は獲得メダル数に並んで、
マリオに変装した総理大臣の登場や、
“Can you believe it? Not a single call. My agent’s pissed.”
The world got a glimpse of the future and the past at the same time with a spectacular display of cutting edge technology and iconic cultural images. Well at least the world that has TV’s.
世界は、最新技術と象徴的文化のイメージの素晴らしい表示で、
Meanwhile, people in Japan carried on with their usual lives, spending time with friends and family, enjoying summer events like beach BBQ’s or camping trips, or traveling around famous spots in the country or overseas.
一方、日本の人々は普通の日常を過ごしていました。
Not necessarily in that order, for me at least.
Who are we kidding. Summer’s all about homework!
One family at least made a trip to the 5th station on Mt. Fuji, from where they brought me this:
あるご家族の皆さんは富士山の五合目まで行った時のお土産を持っ
Tell me you don’t want one too.
It’s a pen! It’s a samurai!
Remember this guy?
He was always one of my favorites, actually.
What more could you ask for? Obviously, I’m super happy to now own a samurai character as well as a new pen since you can never have too many of those, but there’s more.
あまり他のお店で見たこともないこの珍しいサムライペンがとても
(Made in?) Japan + Pen = ジャペン (JAPEN)
Stick that in your homework and pipe it. Or something like that.
The manufacturers of this particular trinket decided to top things off with a (not so subtle?) DAJARE.
If you like, please leave your favorite examples of DAJARE in the comment section below.
生産した会社のちょっとしたダジャレが。。。
もしあなたのオススメのダジャレがありましたらコメント欄へどう
みなさんこんにちは。
Walking for physical health. Walking to clear your mind. Walking for adventure. Walking for communication and healthy relationships. Walking for work. Walking for a cause.
健康の為、頭の中をスッキリさせる為、冒険に出る為、
ウォーキングには様々な理由がありますね。
My sign: I SLEPT PAST NOON AND ATE FRUIT PANCAKES
For most of us, walking is the first major accomplishment we make as babies and then one of the most natural things we can do.
私たちにとって、
But everyone knows walking takes time, at least when you don’t have somewhere you must go. And we’re all short on time. Right?
でも、みなさんも知っている通り、
Make haste! Haste we must make!
I’ve been walking around random places almost every day lately with Yuko, my wife. Not so far, not so fast, usually at night, but sometimes in the daytime. An hour here, a half hour there, once in a while maybe more than a few hours.
私は最近ナイトウォーキングを妻と行くようになりました。
How long you been up there?
It quickly becomes clear that when you’re walking to get somewhere rather than walking for just walking, you miss mostly everything.
あなたが何かに向かって歩いている時はそこに向かう事ばかりで、
Thanks for flashing that thing in my eye.
The other day we were in Tokyo at Hibiya Park and were surprised to see so many people still playing Pokemon.
先日、私たちは日比谷公園を歩いてた時に、
Yes it was surprising (I thought that would have been done by now) but we also found a path in the park lined with tall sunflowers. I’d forgotten that sunflowers grew that high.
本当にビックリ！（もう流行りは終わったかと思ってたので。。。
Honestly, could you call them anything else?
Walking longer distances is easy too if you’ve got suitable shoes and enough time. It’s also nice if there’s an interesting café for a pit stop along the way.
時間とスニーカーがあればどんなに長いウォーキングもとても簡単
If only I could match this cafe’s most elegant ambiance with equal conversational skills.
So I reckon making time to walk around a bit is the best and easiest thing we can do to feel happy.
私たちにとってウォーキングはとても簡単に幸せを感じる事が出来
That’s the deal though, a day is 24 hours no more no less.
There’s a whole wide world out there somewhere, I swear.
In the end is missing a bit of TV really that big a sacrifice?