Pronunciation

OK as requested lets try "PRONUNCIATION" practice.

We will start with L vs R.

Try saying the words on this list

until you can hear the difference.

Remember L is a smooth sound like a bird would make

and R is a rough sound like a tiger.

Good luck.

rice – lice

leaf – reef

lock – rock

lamb – ram

lead – read

lie – rye

lake – rake

light – right

lick – Rick

lay – ray

lip – rip

lion – Ryan

lace – race

lamp – ramp

leek – reek

link – rink

leap – reap

look – rook

locket – rocket

load – road

lap – wrap

limes – rhymes

locker – rocker

lute – root

lane – rain

lung – rung

limb – rim

boring – bowling

lot – rot

belly – berry

flee – free

law – raw

Jerry – jelly

fly – fry

wrong – long

row – low

A little bit of Hawaii.

Here are some photos I took while we were in Hawaii. Delicious food and beautiful scenery, what more could you ask for? :)

Nachos with chilly.Ribs!!
Sea turtle beach.
Hawaii sunset by our hotel.
Vietnamese curry.
Taiwanese pineapple rice.

Any requests?

We want to know what you would like
us to write about on our blog.
So please comment and tell us what you would like to see.
Anything is ok, don't be shy.
Thanks

Baby (farm) animal names

As requested here are some
names we use for "BABY" animals.
Lets first have a look at some
"farm" animals. They are all mixed up
so you will have to try and match the pairs.
Please post your answers and
I'll let you know if you are right.
-Phil

HMMMmmmm.....???

There are only four words in the

English language which end in “-dous”:

horrendous, stupendous,

and hazardous are three.

What is the last one???

How well do you know us?

We decided to have a little test to see how well our students know us! Can you figure out which teacher said each of these statements?

1. ''I collect many things as my hobbie.''
2. ''I sing in a band.''
3. ''I use to work in a rat research laboratory.''

4 More Days!!

Have you been watching?? There are only 4 more days of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics!! If you have been keeping score, the United States have been cleaning up!! They currently hold first place with 26 medals!! Tomorrow is the game I have been waiting for: woman's hockey gold medal event; Canada vs. U.S. Should be very exciting!!

Here We Go 'round the Mulberry Bush

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth.
This is the way we brush our teeth,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face,
Wash our face.
This is the way we wash our face,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we comb our hair,
Comb our hair,
Comb our hair.
This is the way we comb our hair,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we put on our clothes,
Put on our clothes,
Put on our clothes.
This is the way we put on our clothes,
So early in the morning.

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning.

parlez vous francais?

If cow meat is "Beef"

and pig meat is "Pork"

what is DEER MEAT...???

BUSH TUCKER...???

Lets have a look at some words we use for

"TUCKER" (or "food") in Australia.

They are all mixed up so try to

match the words to their meanings.

Riddles of the week!!

1. What nut has a whole in it?

2. What month has 28 days?

Ahoy Me Harties!

Today's Tongue Twister is
"I was born on a pirate ship."
Now if that's too easy for you
try holding your tongue and saying it.
Much more difficult yeah?

I'm not feeling very well today,

I think maybe I have caught a cold

(I have a sore throat).

Rachel also feels bad.

What do you do in Japan when you feel sick?

In Australia we eat chicken soup and take lots of Vitamin C.

Please give us some advice about what to do to feel better.

Thanks

Phil

Words of Wisdom

Here is another proverb.

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

What do you think it means?

Vancouver Olympics 2010 !!!!!

The Olympics have finally started!! Did you see the opening ceremony?? It was amazing! Are you interested in the Olympics? I sure am!!! So far Canada has 4 medals!! Australia has 1 medal!! Japan has 2 medals!! America has 8 medals!! Good luck to all countries but I think we all know who I am hoping for haha :)

Aloha!!

We are back and missed you all SO much! I hope you had a good study week :) I have jet lag right now and am having a hard time keeping my eyes open haha Have you ever suffered from jet lag? What did you do to recover?

Saint Valentine's Day

As I'm sure you all know, February 14th was Valentine's Day! In North America it is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, chocolates and greeting cards (known as Valentines).

A Valentine for You

A final note!

If you are looking for something to do while the school is closed, how about reading some old posts and leaving some comments!!! How exciting!!!

I realized that I only showed you how to leave an anonymous post and many of you want to put your name! I'm very sorry about this (Motoshi) and I will now show you how to put your name!

1.) Click the select profile option and scroll down to Name/URL and click it.

2.) Then type in your name under the Name: option and click continue.

3.) After you finish typing your comment and click Post Comment a new screen will pop up. Next COPY the word verification letters into the empty box below the colorful letters, and click Post Comment.


That is it! Thanks again for all the wonderful comments!! They really make your teachers happy :) Lets enjoy posting comments together and chatting in English :p

A short break

The school will close tomorrow (February 7th) and will open again on Tuesday February 16th. As most of the staff and teachers will be taking a vacation to Hawaii.

We will miss you all very much but its only one week so we will see you again soon.

Take care.

Oh and here is an awesome song that makes me think about Hawaii, it's by one of the greatest surf guitar bands EVER "The Ventures" enjoy.

Nursery Rhyme of the week!

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!!

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed.
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'

4 little monkeys jumping on the bed.
1 fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'

3 little monkeys jumping on the bed.
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'

2 little monkeys jumping on the bed.
1 fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'

1 little monkey jumping on the bed.
She fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!'

Who is what now...?

This weeks IDIOM is

"UNDER THE WEATHER"

E.g "I'm feeling a little under the weather today."

What do you think it means?

Is it .......
A) To feel cold.
B) To feel Sad
or
C) To feel sick.

Sapporo Snow Festival Begins Today!

As we get ready for the warm sunshiny days in Hawaii, up in northern Japan the annual Sapporo snow festival is beginning today! It lasts from February 5th to February 11th. Have you ever traveled to see the beautiful snow sculptures? Do you love the snow like Rachel or do you hate the cold like Yoshio?

Check out these AMAZING sculptures!!!

Aussie Slang

Today's "SLANG" is from Oz (Australia). In Australia we have many unique words and phrases. So lets have a look at "ABBREVIATION" which is when we make words shorter. E.g Television = TV or "Telly" in Oz. Barbecue in Australia is a "Barbie", football is "Footy" and a cockroach is a "Cocky" but sometimes a cocky could be a "Cockatoo" which is a big beautiful bird with a yellow Mohican.

Abbreviation is also very popular in Japan, like "Famima" for Family Mart or "Macdo" for McDonald's. (In Australia we say "Maccas" for McDonald's)

Can you tell us some other "Japaneses" abbreviations?

Riddle of the day!

1. How do you spell mousetrap?

2. What letter of the alphabet has got lots of water?

3. Why is the letter ''A'' like noon?

How to post a comment???

I realize that maybe some of you do not know how to comment on our posts. Never fear I will show you how; there's only 5 simple steps!!

1.) First find a post you think is interesting.....
2.) Click on the comments link......

3.) Write your comment or answer or interesting fact about Japanese culture or an English question!!!......
4.) Then type in your name or click on the anonymous drag-down feature......
5.) Finally click Post Comment! That is it!! Good job, we are proud of you :]

Thanks for reading!

Tongue twister of the week!!

Whether the weather is cold,
Whether the weather is hot,
We'll weather the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not.

Happy Setsubun!

Good luck for the year everyone. We hope you enjoy your makizushi.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

On February 2nd groundhog day is celebrated in Canada and most of the USA. It is believed that on this day a groundhog will come out of his burrow and tell us how much longer winter will last. He does this by coming out of his burrow and looking for his shadow. If he doesn't see his shadow he will leave the burrow and winter will soon end. However, if he does see his shadow he will return to his burrow and winter will continue for 6 more weeks.

Words of Wisdom

Here is a "PROVERB".
Proverbs are old sayings that have
an important message to teach us.
What do you think is the lesson this
one is trying to tell us?
Can you think of another similar proverb in Japanese?
"Smooth seas
don't make
skillful sailors."