満員御礼とオンライン講座提供

2022年度現在は夕方の時間帯が満席となりました。多くのお問い合わせ、ありがとうございました。
平日夕方の時間帯が満席となったのは家庭教師を始めてから、初めてかもしれません。中にはご希望の時間帯が合わず、ご指導できない方もいらっしゃいました…、本当に申し訳ございませんでした。
コロナ禍で始めたオンラインレッスンでも続けている生徒もいらっしゃいます。いつもお世話になっております。
これから少しずつ対面レッスンに戻っても宜しくお願い致します。

そしてもっともっと何ができると考えてみました。

満員御礼感謝としてUdemyオンライン講座作りに挑戦しました！Udemyコースだといつでも好きな時間に受講でき、学習期限もありません。
つまり、いつでも復習をすることができます！

そして英語発音に苦労している方に大人に向けフォニックスについて動画コンテンツをたくさん作りたいと思います。
初めは大人に向けフォニックスコースです。

期間限定に無料受講できます！

シンガポール人の英語講師直伝【大人の英語フォニックス発音訓練】入門・初級編

2022年度も精いっぱい頑張ります！！
宜しくお願い致します。

コース紹介

申し訳ございませんが、現在満席となりましたのでお受けできません。

楽しく英語に慣れ親しんでいきたい学生の方
シンガポールで日常会話が話せるようになりたい主婦の方
職場で伝えたいことを英語で表現できるようになりたい社会人の方

2コースを提供します。
１．出張訪問レッスン
３・オンラインレッスン

日本での英語指導の経験者がご提供しています。 教師プロフィールはこちらまで

皆様からよくお問合せのあるご質問をQ＆A方式でまとめています。どうぞご参考にしてください。よくあるご質問

こちらのお問い合わせフォームかEメール（ichi05ichie★gmail.com ★->@）よりお気軽にお問い合わせください。

Hungry Ghost Festival 中元節・鬼節

Updated 14 August 2018!

In 2018, the 7th lunar month starts from 11 August to 10 September with the Festival happening on 25 August.
Check out what are the 30 things you should not be doing during this time!

Experience the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore

You may have seen people burning paper in bins or lighted candles along the streets. Well, these are some of the things the Taoist and the Buddhist believers do during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

From August 3 to August 31 2016, it is the 7th month in the Lunar calendar. This month is known as the Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) in Singapore. I would say it is probably most similar to the Japanese お盆.

I find it difficult to explain in my own words in Japanese, so I googled and found this:

農暦７月15日は、道教でいえば“中元节”、仏教でいえば“盂兰盆节”（yu lan pen jie）、民間の通称では“鬼节（gui jie）”と呼んで、いずれも故人や祖先を祭る節句です。
中国の言い伝えでは７月、地獄の大釜の口が開いて、あの世の鬼魂たちが現世に舞い戻って彷徨します。祭る子孫がある鬼魂は帰る処がありますが、子孫が途絶えてしまった鬼魂たちは往き場もなく街を徘徊します。この鬼魂たちが現世の人間に悪さをしないようにと、家々では祖先の鬼魂を祭るとともに、街を彷徨う無縁の鬼魂たちも同じように弔い済度を促す行事がそもそもの中元節です。
日本のいわゆる“お中元”は、親しい人お世話になった方への贈答の意味合いが濃くなっていますが、本来は中国の北魏（386年～ 534年）時代に始まった道教の“中元节”の名残り。祖先を祭る“お盆”の風習は、中国の南北朝（420年～589年）時代に盛んになった仏教の“盂兰盆节”の名残りです。

You can read more from suisui.ne.jp 

I remember when I was young, the celebration was bigger. There would be staged Chinese opera and songs shows (歌台 getai) in almost every neighbourhood in Singapore. Nowadays, these shows are only in the old neighbourhoods where many elderly Singaporeans live such as Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, etc.

Still, check out the events you can experience below!

Experience the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore

And better still, take note of the superstitions (迷信) that some of us Singaporeans believe. We are mostly careful during this period. Don't say I haven't warn you!

11 Hungry Ghost Festival Superstitions


Feel free to discuss with me the differences between the Japanese obon and the Hungry Ghost Festival during our lessons or simply drop me an email!

Chinese New Year 2017

チャイニーズニューイヤー2017

いよいよ、またチャイニーズニューイヤーの時期が来ました。皆様、どういう風に過ごすつもりですか？

去年、このブログで旧正月について少し紹介しましたが、今年は子供英語で使っているYouTubeビデオを紹介したいと思います。

去年の記事はこちらまでお願いします。

こちらのビデオは旧正月の由来と習慣を説明します。

こちらのビデオは十二支の話です。

ラストは今年のシンガポールのチャイナタウンの映像です。今年は酉年ですね。チャイナタウンに飾っている巨体なニワトリをまだ見ていない人は是非ご覧に行ってください。：D

A new year and a new start

In 2016, I met many new people.

To everyone I met in 2016, be it only once or many times in a week. (haha :D)

Thank you so much! I learnt a lot through in every interaction that we had. And I hope I was of help in creating good memories in Singapore for you.

昨年中は大変お世話になりました感謝の気持ちを込め心より御礼申し上げます。
今年もどうぞよろしくお願い致します。

Wishing everyone good health, happiness, and success in this new year and always. Happy 2017!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

It has been a fruitful and busy year!




It's a 3-days long weekend Christmas holiday this year. If you are still wondering what to do for Christmas, here's an ultimate guide to help you! Whether you are single or looking for something to enjoy with your family, there's something for everyone!

The ultimate guide to Christmas in Singapore

2016 Dumpling festival

The dumpling festival also know as the Dragon Boat festival falls on June 9 this year. Most Singaporean Chinese celebrate this festival by doing only one thing - eat dumplings.

My grandmother is a peranakan (Malay and Chinese mixed heritage) so I actually grow up eating my grandmother's handmade nyonya dumpling.

If you are interested in the story behind the dumpling festival and the different traditional dumplings we have in Singapore, check out last year's post here --> シンガポールの粽

This year, I'm going to introduce the premium and new flavours of dumplings here in Singapore. Check it out!


6 Places In Singapore To Get Dumplings For Dragon Boat Festival

Have you tried any or are you interested in trying any?

Feel free to discuss during our next lesson or drop me an email!

Recommended books for Japanese EFL learners

My students often ask me what fiction books I would recommend them to read. I have thought hard about this question. Because I am not reading Japanese fiction books myself. I find it difficult to understand the sophisticated proses writer use in storytelling.

Therefore, up to now, I have always told my students that maybe it's good to start with non-fiction books in topics you are interested in. For e.g. housewives may pick up books on cooking, travel guidebooks, flower arrangements, etc. Working adults may be interested in financial management books, public speaking, etc.

But recently, I think perhaps learners can start off with the English translations of Japanese classics. It will be a familiar storyline but understood in a different language will give different feelings and emotions. A good one to start off will be Botchan by Natsume Soseki.

Natsume Soseki books translated into English


What do you think? Any recommendations and suggestions are highly welcomed by email:)

シンガポール・エアショー2016

The Singapore Airshow 2016 is open to the public on 20th and 21st February so hurry book your tickets now!

一般開催期間
2月20日と21日　9:30～17:00

展示飛行のスケジュール　 (Acrobatic Flying Display)
10.30am ‑ 11.10am
2:20pm ‑ 3:00pm

アクティビティ
パイロットサイン会
キャラクター写真会

Singapore Airshow 2016 - Tickets

チャイニーズニューイヤー

中国系シンガポール人がチャイニーズニューイヤーをどうやってお祝いするんですか？

初日と2日目は新しい服を着て、親族をそろってお祝いしたり、食事をしています。15日目までに親戚や会社の同僚や友達などの家へ行って集まって、お祝いすることができます。この期間に既婚の方は独身な方や年配の方（自分の親、祖父母）にアンパオ（お年玉のこと）をあげます。
町にもとくにチャイナタウンやショッピングセンターなどセールとイベントが行います。

国中が盛大にお祝い！シンガポール「チャイニーズ・ニュー・イヤー」 - Peachy - ライブドアニュース

Challenge Yourself!
For intermediate to Advanced learners, try finding out about Chinese New Year in Singapore in the English article below.
Chinese New Year

So, why red? 

なぜ赤ですか？

むかし「年」とよばれる凶悪な怪獣がいました。
毎年、年末になると山から下りてきて、
家畜や人を食べてしまいます。
ですが、大きな音と赤い色を恐れるので、
村の人は爆竹を鳴らし、「年」を追い払いました。
またお年玉の入った赤い袋で子どもを守り、
成長を祈願しました。
ひとびとは赤いもので家を飾りましたとさ。

Organized Life and Spaceより

boxing day

Today, December 26th, is Boxing Day.
What do you do on this day? I know some stores like Uniqlo had a Boxing Day sale this morning. I know many people sleep in because they stayed up late on both Christmas eve and Christmas day, celebrating and feasting.

For Japanese people, perhaps today is the starting of major cleaning in the house (or do you start even earlier?) as you prepare to welcome the New Year.

But, do you know that Boxing day is not related to any religion?
I certainly didn't. I have always thought that it is related to Christianity like how Christmas is.

For advanced learners, check the following link out:
What is Boxing Day and how did it get its name?

ハロウィン

When I was in Japan, I was surprised at the attention and coverage given to Halloween by TV programs, shops and shopping malls. There were many Halloween events and parties for the young and old. Children see it as a chance to become princess and superheroes or their favourite anime character. I think yokai watch will be very popular this year?

In Singapore, Halloween is not as widely celebrated as compared to Japan. Maybe clubbing to a Halloween theme night among the young people or a trip to the USS Halloween night. That's about all, I think. No home decoration and definitely no cosplay dressing for children.

This week, I talked about Halloween with my students and hear about their views about the following article:

No tricks: Halloween all the rage in Japan as costume play

Do you agree?

For my very young students, we had fun learning about Halloween and listening to Halloween songs.

Happy Halloween! Whether you celebrate Halloween or not, I hope you have a great weekend!

Hari Raya Haji

For intermediate to Advanced English learners:

7 differences between Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa

To tell you the truth, before I read this article, there are many things I do not know about Hari Raya Haji.

Now I know, Muslims do not feast nor visit their relatives on this day, unlike Hari Raya Puasa. Instead, livestock is sacrificed and the meat is offered to the people in need.

I am not sure if my Japanese skills are good enough to translate this article into Japanese. If anybody likes to help, feel free to email me! You will be credited!

中秋節

Do you know about the Mid-Autumn Festival?

September 27 this year is the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Singapore, it is also known as the Mooncake festival or the Lantern Festival.

In my adult English classes this week, students frequently asked me the following questions:
What do Singaporeans do on Mid-Autumn Festival?
Why are mooncakes selling everywhere?
Takashimaya has a mooncake exhibition where many hotels and shops come together to promote their mooncake.
In Chinatown, why are there so many lantern decorations?

We also discussed the different things we do in Japan and Singapore on this day.

I think the following article in Japanese correctly describes the festival in Singapore. You can learn about the festival and it is definitely a good chance to talk about it with your Singaporean friends, in English!

この機会を使い、シンガポールの知り合いと中秋節について英語で語り合いましょう！

シンガポールの中秋節 | シンガポールナビ


This time, it is also the best chance to spot the supermoon. The moon will be the closest to Earth and thus, it will appear up to 14% bigger than usual. Unfortunately, like Hong Kong, Singapore is not the best place to catch the supermoon. According to the article below, North or South America would be the best places. 

Rare supermoon lunar eclipse makes for auspicious Mid-Autumn Festival - but will Hong Kong get a good view?

教材

8月に購入した教材の一部はこちらで見せます。これからのレッスンで役に立つと思います。英語で楽しめながら学べましょう！Let's enjoy learning in English! :D

very, too, enough

Are you able to use these 3 words: very, too and enough in the correct situations?

Let's try in the following test-like game!

Very, Too, Enough Difference, Free English Grammar Game

Were the questions difficult enough for you?

Were the questions too difficult for you?
Were the questions very difficult?

無料動画で英語を学ぶ

This website was recommended by one of my students. I took a look and 2 of the youtube channels that I frequently use in my lessons are listed: BBC Learning English and Business English Pod.

So, I have to agree with the writer that these two channels are highly recommended especially if you want to be familiar with different accents.

無料動画で英語を学ぶ。英語上達のためのおすすめyoutube番組まとめ

Simple tenses - Present & Future

Something I always come across:

Kate: So, what are your plans for the weekend?
Student: I go to the zoo on Sunday.

[I will go to the zoo on Sunday.][ I'm going to the zoo on Sunday.] are better for bringing the idea across. Why?

The American English at State Facebook page provides lots of learning resources. It is a good way to remind yourself of the common usages of English or to learn them if you have not. All these while browsing your facebook! I do use a lot of their resources as they draw out the differences simply and clearly.

So, do take and look and like their page if you find it helpful!

「英語を学ぶ」のではなく「英語で楽しみながら学ぶ」

前この記事を読んだ後心に響きます。ここで紹介します。

そうですね。「英語を学ぶ」のではなく「英語で楽しみながら学ぶ」ですね。文を作るのは確かに難しいですが、モチベーションと興味を持ていれば、楽しめますね。

英語教師との面談で教えられた「単語を覚えるより大切なこと」

Not just learn English, but enjoy learning IN English.

I share the same opinion with the author and her words enlightened me on how I should express this view.

With or without the 'in' makes such a huge difference. Language learning is not only about memorizing vocabulary but to make meaningful sentences with these words. Many say that is the hardest part, but if making sentences is fun and interesting, you are enjoying it.
Interest and motivation make the hardest things enjoyable (:

英語初級の主婦の方に

外国人のご近所さんに話が掛けられたら、緊張しますか。
そして、何を言われても「Yes]か「No]と「Thank you」くらいしか返事しますか。この本を見つけました。フレンドリーな談笑を作れるように簡単な表現を教えてくれます。英語初心者の主婦方に役に立つかもしれませんので、ここでお勧めします。

CD付 スティーブ・ソレイシィのトッピング英会話

I find this book to be useful for housewives. I feel that many Japanese housewives feel nervous when their foreign neighbours talk to them. Feeling unprepared, they usually reply with a simple "Yes" or "No", followed by a "Thank you" to end the conversation. This book helps to extend that conversation and expressing friendliness so that one would not come across as abrupt or aloof.

Would you want to give it a try?