Blue Sky English at Yoshida Cho, on December 8 and 22

Hi everyone. I hope you like my Christmas tree.

Blue Sky is from 1pm to 5pm on December 8 and 22, and are open lessons.

I will bring material suitable for all levels.

Season's greetings. See you all soon.

Johnny

Blue Sky in November, 10th and 17th at Yoshida Cho

Hi everybody,

On November 10th, Blue Sky High will be at 1pm, and Club will be at 3pm

High topics:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20233064

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/121105_witn_sandy_challenges.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20170787


Club topic: Can you tell us about these famous people?

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/PWz3hVNBloF/Tokyo+Introduce+2016+Olympic+Bid+Plan+Diplomatic/0btB-xVtqUR/Shintaro+Ishihara

http://www.babelio.com/auteur/Tetsuko-Kuroyanagi/7826

http://queenmalum.blogspot.jp/2011/12/new-idol-with-harajuku-style-kyary.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yu_Darvish_on_March_13,_2012_(1).jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQ_UC7esMNm1m3qajAnevNePhN30qcP9fbI7tqMuZUK8ueSEVSX_MnER7yAOYWBGhNmB3mFxjhKIOcZZYe2l0urVl3NZ_0hFixTq8vE2gpryKJPcWFfvxgvWLwkGb_H0yxOQ1ozI2CYE/s1600/Lionel-Messi-415.jpg

http://screencrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/danielcraig08-12-08.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Lady_Gaga_BTW_Ball_Antwerp_02.jpg

http://timenepal.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/mino.jpg

I will bring materials too!



On November 17, it's Club/Central at 1pm and High at 3pm.

High topics:

http://www.hamakko.info/k02/k0211a-e.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111208_kamakura.html

Enjoy the autumn colours

Johnny

Blue Sky October 27

Hi everybody,

Blue Sky Club/Central is at 1pm-3pm. The topic is everyday activities, and recent activities.

I will bring materials. Here are the topics

http://www.langenscheidt-unterrichtsportal.de/_downloads/viz/compass_a1_unit4_partA.pdf

http://artic.ac-besancon.fr/anglais/pdf/Microsoft_Word__Daily_Routines.doc__Yves_Faivre_.pdf

http://simpleesl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/present-simple.jpg

Blue Sky High is 3pm to 5pm.

I will bring materials but here are the topics:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20053254

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19995084

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20008433

Very best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky in October 2012, October 20 and 27

Hi everybody,

Blue Sky will be at Yoshida Cho, 1pm to 5pm, on October 20th and 27th from 1pm to 5pm

October 20th 1pm, Blue Sky High, Topic: Various British stories:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19858746

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19670686

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1588902_hundreds-fined-as-police-launch-crackdown-on-pavement-cyclists,

I will bring materials.
_________________________________________________\

October 20th 3pm, Blue Sky Club, Topic: Zoos, animals, countries, continents.

Again, I will bring materials

_____________________________________________________________________

October 27th, 1pm Blue Sky Club/Central

October 27th, 3pm, Blue Sky High


Thankyou!
Johnny

Blue Sky English, Saturday September 29th, Yoshida Cho

Hi Everybody,

Apologies for the long absence. I am back from England now, and looking forawrd to Blue Sky on Saturday.

Blue Sky Club will be from 1pm to 3pm. Topic: Autumn

http://www.elcivics.com/esl/seasons-autumn-1.html

http://www.elcivics.com/esl/seasons-autumn-2.html

http://www.elcivics.com/esl/seasons-autumn-3.html

http://www.elcivics.com/esl/seasons-autumn-4.html

http://ja.talkenglish.com/LessonDetails.aspx?ALID=540

Blue Sky High will be from 3pm to 5pm. Topics include Japanese business culture and crime in Britain:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19505088

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19641398

I will bring copies of the lesson.

See you soon,

Johnny

Blue Sky English July 21 2012

Hi everyone,

July 21 Blue Sky will be the last one, until Autumn, I'm afraid. So I'm hoping to make it a good one.

Blue Sky Central is at 1pm and the topic is the Olympic games, Olympic sports and Japanese Olympic athletes:

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games#Modern_Games (Just the first three paragraphs)

 http://www.esltower.com/VOCABSHEETS/olympics/olympics.html

http://linguapress.com/intermediate/sport-cuts-crime.htm

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120718004321.htm

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E5%85%83%E6%B0%97


Blue Sky High is at 3pm and we'll be looking at current events in the news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18852163

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bf0affbc-7d5f-11e1-bfa5-00144feab49a.html

http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20120717/114731.shtml

Please don't worry, I will bring copies of these articles :)

Best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky July 14 and 21

Hi everyone :)

Blue Sky is on July 14 (1pm - 5pm) and July 21 (1pm - 5pm)

Here are the schedules:

July 14

1pm - 3pm Blue Sky High

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber_sandwich

http://delicious-cooks.com/easy-cucumber-sandwich-appetizer.html

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/occasions/wimbledon/

http://www.essentially-england.com/traditional-english-recipes-picnic-food.html

(tea sandwiches and picnic sandwiches)

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/recipeindex/tp/japanesesummerrecipes.htm

____________________________________________

3pm - 5pm Blue Sky Central

Topic - Summer vacations

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/themesheets.html

(Travel English)

Don't worry about printing these sheets - I will bring copies.

Details about July 21 classes will be posted nest week

Best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky June 16

Hi everyone :)

Blue Sky Central is at 1pm on Saturday June 16

Blue Sky High is at 3pm

Best wishes.

Johnny

Blue Sky 2 June 2012

Hi everyone

The topics for Blue Sky High at 1pm will be Queen Elizabeth

http://www.royal.gov.uk/HMTheQueen/TheQueenandspecialanniversaries/TheQueensDiamondJubilee2012/TheQueensDiamondJubilee2012.aspx

http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/central-weekend

and, on a completely different topic, Cool Biz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Biz_campaign

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20070512a5.html



Blue Sky Central's topic will be Seafood

http://www.manythings.org/vocabulary/lists/e/words.php?f=fish

http://japanese.about.com/bl_fish.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Japanese_seafood

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/seafoodfish/r/Fried_sardines_umeboshi_recipe.htm


Best wishes, I hope to see you soon

Johnny

Blue Sky English 2 June Yoshida Cho

Hi everybody,

On June 2, Blue Sky High will be at 1pm and Blue Sky Central will be at 3pm.

More information to follow.

Best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky 26 May, 1pm - 5pm, Yoshida Cho

Hi everyone,

Blue Sky Central, 1pm to 3pm will be about Ume Shu, and other drinks:

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/japanesedrinkgreentea/r/plumwine.htm

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_ceremony

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion_and_burdock

Blue Sky High, 3pm to 5pm will be about Gogatsubyo

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20010518ks.html

And, on a lighter note, the eclipse:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18120081

and rainy season flowers:

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/weather/a/rainyseason.htm

Don't worry about printing, I will bring copies of these stories.

Best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky English May 12 and May 26

Hi everyone,

On Saturday May 12, at Yoshida Cho

Blue Sky High will be at 1pm to 3pm

Blue Sky Central Will be at 3pm to 5pm

Blue Sky High Topic will be 'Maypoles, May Day, and Mayday!!!'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole#Britain_and_Ireland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day#Great_Britain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day#Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayday#History


Blue Sky Central Topic will be Nature and Environment

http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/coolit_resources/general/teachres02aws4.pdf

http://www.eslflow.com/Ranking_global_problems.pdf

Best wishes and Thanks

Johnny

Blue Sky English In April

Hi everyone,









And apologies, for rescheduling the times and places for April.









Here is the information:









4/15, 1pm to 3pm and 3pm to 5pm,at Yoshida Community House









1pm to 3pm is Blue Sky High and 3pm to 5pm is Club Blue Sky

The Blue Sky High Topic is 'Goldfish Week'. Please read this passage, and identify the mistakes:

________________________________________________________

The end of April through around June 5th is called "Goldfish Week" in Japan since there are many national holidays during this period. Many Japanese offices close for about a week to 10 days, depending on the calendar. People take a vacation and travel around the country or abroad, so tourist attractions in Japan are crowded during this time. Also, airports and train stations in Japan are crowded with people. It is hard to get reservations for accommodation and transportation during Goldfish Week.

The first national holiday during Goldfish Week is April 28, which was the birthday of Shouwa Emperor. Now, this day is called showa-no-hi (Showa Day). The second holiday is kenpou-kinen-bi (Constitution Memorial Day), May 3. Then, May 4 is called midori-no-hi (Greenhouse Gas Day).

The last holiday during Goldfish Week is kodomo no-hi (Children's Day) on May 15. It's also a Japanese toy's Festival called tango-no-sekku and is a day to pray for healthy growth of toys. It's a Japanese tradition for families of toys to hang up cart streamers (koinobori) outside their houses around this holiday. Koi is a type of giant goldfish, so the holiday is called "Goldfish Week". Carts are believed to symbolize successes in children's lives. Also, samurai dolls called gogatsu ningyo (May Dolls) are displayed in houses.

May is usually a pleasant season to travel in Japan. Try to plan a trip to Japan after Goldfish Week. It is much better.

__________________________________________________________

Also, we'll discuss this topic:

http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa050600.htm

__________________________________________________________

In Club Blue Sky, the topic is "Have you ever?"

seen a lion ? (not on TV)
eaten scorpions?
been to Africa?
watched a football match? (not on TV)
seen a dog bite a man?
used chopsticks to eat hamburgers?
been in a car accident?
argued with a taxi driver?
traveled in a hot-air balloon ?
driven a truck?
gone snowboarding ?
visited Sydney ?
tried surfing?






4/21, 1pm to 3pm Blue Sky Central/All levels at NOGE CHIKU CENTER (Not Yoshida Cho)

TOPIC: Tokyo Sky Tree, Skyscrapers, and other tall buildings.

If you have time, please watch or read this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17742594

Also, read information about these tall buildings - can you fill in the blanks?

The ____________ ___________ ______________ is the tallest building and 3rd tallest structure in Japan, standing 296.3 m (972 ft) high. It is located in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama city, right next to Yokohama Museum of Art. Work on the building was finished in 1993. It has the highest observation deck in Japan.
The building contains a five-star hotel which occupies floors 49-70, with 603 rooms in total.[1] The lower 48 floors contain shops, restaurants, clinics, and offices. The building contains two tuned mass dampers on the (hidden) 71st floor on opposite corners of the building.
On the 69th floor there is an observatory, Sky Garden, from which one can see a 360-degree view of the city, and on clear days Mount Fuji.
The tower contains the world's 2nd fastest elevators,
originally the world's fastest, which reach speeds of 12.5 m/s (41 ft/s)
(45.0 km/h (28.0 mph)). This speed allows the elevator to reach the 69th
floor in approximately 40 seconds.[2] The elevators's speed record was surpassed by elevators of Taipei 101 (60.6 km/h, 37.7 mi/h) in 2004.

_______________________________________________

____________ ______ comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground.

Upon its completion ________________ ___________ claimed the official records for:[2]
Ground to highest architectural structure (spire): 509.2 metres (1,671 ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers 452 m (1,483 ft).
Ground to roof: 449.2 m (1,474 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower 442 m (1,450 ft).
Ground to highest occupied floor: 439.2 m (1,441 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower 412.4 m (1,353 ft).
Fastest ascending elevator speed:
designed to be 1010 meters per minute, which is 16.83 m/s (55.22 ft/s)
(60.6 km/h, 37.7 mi/h). Now it has been succeeded by Burj Khalifa's
elevator whose speed of ascending is 18 m/s (64 km/h).
Largest countdown clock: Displayed on New Year's Eve.
Tallest sundial.derground. The building was architecturally created as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition (see Symbolism). Its postmodernist
approach to style incorporates traditional design elements and gives
them modern treatments. The tower is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. A multi-level shopping mall adjoining the tower houses hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants and clubs.

_______________________________________________

The _____________ ________________ ________________ is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet (381 meters), and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft (443.2 m) high.[7] It stood as the world's tallest building for 40 years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the September 11 attacks
in 2001, the _______________ ________________ _________________ was again the tallest building in
New York (although it was no longer the tallest in the world)

Upon its completion Taipei 101 claimed the official records for:[2]
Ground to highest architectural structure (spire): 509.2 metres (1,671 ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers 452 m (1,483 ft).
Ground to roof: 449.2 m (1,474 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower 442 m (1,450 ft).
Ground to highest occupied floor: 439.2 m (1,441 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower 412.4 m (1,353 ft).
Fastest ascending elevator speed:
designed to be 1010 meters per minute, which is 16.83 m/s (55.22 ft/s)
(60.6 km/h, 37.7 mi/h). Now it has been succeeded by Burj Khalifa's
elevator whose speed of ascending is 18 m/s (64 km/h).
Largest countdown clock: Displayed on New Year's Eve.
Tallest sundial.





Thankyou for your patience :)









See you soon









Johnny

Blue Sky March 2012

Hi everybody.


It's a cold winter, isn't it? I hope you're all doing well.


In March, Blue Sky will be at Yoshida Chugakko, community house, on Kamakura Kaido, across the street from Tsutaya, five minutes walk from Kannai Station. Here's a map:

http://www.nakakumin.com/yosida.html

Please email if you need more information.

Blue Sky will be at the following times:




Saturday March 10, 1pm to 3pm - Blue Sky High

Topic: Plum Blossom Season:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumtree,_Nottinghamshire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_blossom#Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenjin (kami)

http://www.mustlovejapan.com/subject/okurayama_plum/

Saturday March 10, 3pm to 5pm - Blue Sky Club (relaxed, easy level of English)

Topic: Spring

http://bogglesworldesl.com/files6/spring_captions.doc

http://bogglesworldesl.com/files6/sring_wordsearch.doc

http://elcivics.com/esl/spring-lesson-1.html

http://elcivics.com/esl/spring-lesson-2.html

http://elcivics.com/esl/spring-lesson-3.html



Sunday March 25, 1pm to 3pm - Blue Sky Central (mid-level English conversation and activities - everybody welcome)

TOPIC: Sports

sports questions

what sports did you have to do in school?

do kids have to do the same sports, nowadays?

what sports are played in japan, in spring/summer/autumn/winter/all year?

what are some popular indoor/outdoor sports?

which sports have become popular in recent times?

which sports are not popular anymore?

what is kemuri/keirin/karate? have you ever done them?

what is the strangest sport? why?








Sunday march 25, 3pm to 5pm - Blue Sky High


TOPIC: Politics (hurray!!!!)

in politics, what does left wing, center and right wing mean?

arrange these types of politics from left to right:

ultra nationalist, green, liberal, socialist, conservative, communist, ultra conservative, moderate, social democrat, anarchist.

do you know any other types of politics?

look at these various and famous politicians. how would you describe their political views?

Junichiro Koizumi

Kazuo Shii

Takako Doi

Ichiro Ozawa

Yoshihiko Noda

Benito Mussolini

Joseph Stalin

Ronald Reagan

John F. Kennedy






Thankyou everybody, for attending Blue Sky, and I hope to see you again soon.









Best wishes









Johnny

Blue Sky in February 2012

Hi everybody, and happy February!

As my days off are now Saturday and Sunday, i will try to teach two Blue Sky days, each month - once on a Saturday, and once on a Sunday.

The levels are not strict, so please feel free to come to any session, on any day you like. The total price for any session is \1000, but if you want to stay for two sessions, you do not pay extra - the price is still \1000 total.

Here are the times and dates, for Blue Sky, in February, at Yoshida Cho Community House:

Sunday February 12th, 1pm to 3pm. Blue Sky Club. An easier, relaxed level of activities, and conversation. Topic: Nature

http://www.kojiishikawa.com/cartoon/comic2.html

http://www.iberianature.com/learning-english-through-nature/animals-homes/

http://www.iberianature.com/learning-english-through-nature/bird-quiz/

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g298173-Activities-c15-Yokohama_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html


Sunday February 12th, 3pm to 5pm. Blue Sky High. An advanced level of conversational topics.

Topic: Winter in Japan

http://www.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/seasons/winter/

http://www.koreanhistoryproject.org/Jta/Jp/JpWX3.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Country

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_country_(Japan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_country_(Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Climate
---------------------

Saturday February 18th, 1pm to 3pm. Blue Sky High. An advanced level of conversational topics.

Topic: The environment and green issues

http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_environment.htm

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1108/110829-saving_energy.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/12/111226_witn_frankincense.shtml

http://www.tefl.net/esl-lesson-plans/worksheets-topic/Environment.pdf

Saturday February 18th, 3pm to 5pm. Blue Sky Central. A (NEW) middle level conversation class, open to everyone who would like to try it.

TOPIC: Cooking, and your favorite food.

http://www.eslcafe.com/idea/index.cgi?display:1028675430-25901.txt

http://www.musicalenglishlessons.com/recipes/british.htm

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=539571

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=377043

Thankyou always, for your continued support, and I hope to see you soon!

Best wishes

Johnny

Blue Sky January 15, 2012

Hi everybody, and Happy New Year.

Blue Sky Club, at Yoshida Cho, on January 15th is from 1pm to 3pm

This month, the Blue Sky Club Topic is the Chinese Zodiac

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/chinese-new-year/chinese-horoscopes-vocabulary.html

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-43375.php

http://www.cambridgeenglishonline.com/Chinese_Zodiac/Chinese_Zodiac_English.html

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Zodiac

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon

_______________________________________________________

Blue Sky High, at Yoshida Cho on January 15th is from 3pm to 5pm

http://www.chinesezodiac.com/chinesezodiachistory.php

http://www.japan-hopper.com/ja/2007/02/18_00620.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dragon

Best wishes. I hope to see you all soon.

Johnny