2010年1月30日土曜日

平取和牛


 平取和牛を出してくれる「じゃんけんぽん」というお店に同僚と行ってきました。1時間半くらいかかるため、普段はなかなかいけませんが、ここのメニューは定評があります。平取和牛を使ったハンバーグは絶品です。あの肉の味が忘れられなくて、今日も来てしまいました。今回はハンバーグとエビフライのプレートを注文(ごはん・お味噌汁つき)。エビフライも意外にとろけるようなお味で、大変満足して帰ってきました。帰ってくるとシエスタじゃありませんが、ほどよい満足感と家の中に入ってくる日の光に癒されつつ夕方まで寝てしまいました。また行きたいと思わせるすばらしいお店です。

2010年1月17日日曜日

Center Test

Yesterday and Today, students took Center Test.I went to Tomakomai where they took the test to cheer on them.It was my first try to do that since I became a teacher. The drive to Tomakomai reminded me of my experience of taking a test 14 years ago. I strongly hoped everyone did their best.
After coming back home, I tried English section in the test. The result was 196 in paper and pencil test, and 48 in listening test. The lever seems to be lower than last year. There are still a few questions I cannot answer. That is a shame... For example, I do not know the phrase "talk out of" appeared in the paper and pencil test. Anyway, Center test seems to be much better, with authentic materials, sufficient vocabularies, and questions test takers' imagination are strongly needed to answer.

2010年1月13日水曜日

Tsuruga in Akan with coworkers


My wife and I went to Tsuruga, splendid Japanese style hotel and hot-springs, by Lake Akan, east part of Hokkaido, with coworkers. The total number of people who went there is ten, including a new born baby of my coworker! We took bathes, ate and drank until midnight. I had a lot of fun and charged a lot of energy. Tsuruga has a variety of hot springs in the highest and lowest floor of the building. Moreover, it is famous for dishes offered in smorgasbord style. We enjoyed both! Anyway, Tsuruga is highly recommended!

2010年1月9日土曜日

Teaching Training


I attended two-day-training from 6th and 7th, January. First day was for general teaching, and second for English teaching. Key note speaker on the first day was Shinichi Fukuoka, the most famous biologist now in Japan. As I have longed for the speech by him, having read two books written by him, I was able to enjoy his speech. His speech was interesting and insightful as well as his book. His speech style was quiet and calm, but it had something that attracts almost all audience.
Second day's speaker was Shigeru Matsumoto, who is also one of the most influential English educator in Japan. His speech was really clear to explain on next generation of English education. I was of course encouraged by his speech to implement more effective teaching to students who would undergo global competitive world using English. Surprisingly, such big name English educator seem to say similar (almost the same) thing about what we should do toward future English teaching. The school I am now working seems to be in line with the trend.
As a member of English teacher in the school and Hokkaido, and as one teacher standing very close to students, I would like to do my best this year.

2010年1月3日日曜日

Shogatsu2010



Happy new year!
We stayed for 5 days in Obihiro, and relaxed, ate Osechi(Shogatsu dishes), and watched a movie(AVATAR).I met several friends since my high school days, and moreover visited my friend's new house. It was very big and gorgeous!
It was precious time for me to stay in Obihiro and reflect my daily life in 2009 and make a plan in 2010. 2010 is my tenth year from my becoming a high school teacher. I would like to take several steps to develop my professional career, and also to establish a basis for my family life.