Lifeforces Newsletter

http://www.lifeforces.org/newsletter/2011/Feb2011.shtml

Welcome to the February 2011 Lifeforces newsletter We are offering many workshops over the next few months. If you are interested in taking a class that is not listed, please contact us: hari@lifeforces.org tel/fax 03-3472-1714 or petya@tokyo.com tel/fax 03-3357-2067 Directions to Lifeforces locations in Shinagawa and Shinanomachi: www.lifeforces.org/directions.shtml To subscribe or unsusbscribe to this newsletter please email hari@lifeforces.org

Free Energy Share Meetings in February & March Sunday February 13th & 27th March 13th & 27th 18:00-21:00 Lifeforces 2, Shinanomachi, Free As winter ends and spring starts, come and relax with warm vibrations at the free Energy/Reiki Share! Meet new people and share experiences. Learn more about channeled energy/healing and how it can enhance your life. Contact petya@tokyo.com for more information Free S.U.N. Introductory Evening Click here for course description Offered with Japanese translation Wednesday 23rd February 19:00 - 22:00 Lifeforces #2, Shinanomachi, Free Contact petya@tokyo.com to book a place Workshop schedule: All of these classes can be taken by distance! Angelic Opening & Shielding of the Third Chakra level 1 Click here for course description Monday 7th February 19:00 - 21:00 By distance only Fee 7,000 yen Contact hari@lifeforces.org for more information Lifeforces in Singapore Click here for course description February 11th - 20th Contact hari@lifeforces.org for more information Awakening the Pineal Gland level 1 Offered with Japanese translation Click here for course description Wednesday 16th February 19:00 - 22:00 Lifeforces 2, Shinanomachi, Fee 7,000 / 9,000 yen Contact petya@tokyo.com for more information Drisana level 7 Click here for course description Saturday 26th February 10:00 - 18:00 Lifeforces 2, Shinanomachi, Fee 50,000 yen Contact petya@tokyo.com for more information Miraculous Vessels level 5 Click here for course description Monday 28th February 19:00 - 21:00 By distance only Fee 28,000 yen Contact hari@lifeforces.org for more information Huna level 5 Click here for course description Sunday 6th March 10:00 - 18:00 Lifeforces 2, Shinanomachi, Fee 28,000 yen Contact petya@tokyo.com for more information Drisana level 5 Offered with Japanese translation Click here for course description Sunday 6th March 10:00 - 18:00 Lifeforces 1, Shinagawa, Fee 41,000 yen Contact hari@lifeforces.org for more information

Sin "God loves us all, but he loves sinners more." Putting aside the question of whether there is God or not, why would this be? Sin is a concept created and defined by man, and different cultures and religions have different ideas about sin. So if sin is something 'wrong' maybe it is up to each person to decide how his/her life is 'wrong'. When we are 'on the path' or 'in the flow' we say our life is going well. When we have 'strayed' and things are not going as we would like it is as if life is throwing obstacles in our way. This is a good thing because it shows us that we are not on the path! If we did not feel pain when we put our hand in the fire, we would not know to do something else, i.e. take it out of the fire. So when life seems to be blocking our attempts to do something, this is a form of 'pain' telling us to do something else. In the TV series Star Trek, whenever the ship was approaching a dangerous situation, the captain would order a 'yellow alert' and the deflector shields would go up. If the danger increased, a red alert was issued and the weapon system brought on line. In other words, there was a response to a perceived difficulty. In our lives however, when something does not go right, we tend to dismiss it or complain about it - and then carry on as if nothing had happened, or try to force our way through. Perhaps the only 'sin' people commit is not following their own path. So when we stray, God sends a message in the form of a difficulty to help guide us back on our path. This is how God loves us all, but loves sinners more since he looks after them, which is something people on their right path do not need. Book of the Month: The 4-Hour Body While at Lifeforces we like to consider mind, body and spirit as a continuous whole, sometimes we suggest a book that focuses on only one of these areas. And how. The author, Tim Ferriss, brings together a host of techniques to lose weight, become fitter, improve ones sex life, sleep less and better, get stronger, and live longer. Wow. While this book cannot be considered a fitness bible in the standard definition, and should be read selectively, there are many interesting points and tips to living a healthier and happier life. Quote of the Month: “If there is sin against life, it consists in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.” Albert Camus

How to make Green Tea

How to make Green Tea - one of Japan`s many gifts to the world.

I`ve been drinking Japanese green tea for over 20 years and it is very healthy!

Dr. Andrew Weil reports that it is a great source of catechins which are antioxidants that inhibit cancer.

Moreover there are more benefits of Green Tea:

* Lowers cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease

*Protects against some infections

*Promotes joint health and stronger bones

*Reduces inflammation Read More

Meditation Is the Springboard to Astral Projection

Meditation Is the Springboard to Astral Projection

By Lizzy J. Brown

Have you ever found yourself wanting to find out more about yourself? Not personality wise but more what makes your inner person tick. What is that form that you take when you are dreaming, flying around in the sunshine over the ocean or levitating plates of spaghetti. This is called your spiritual body and yes you can take this form for a conscious spin while your mind is awake and not sleeping.

The key here to keep in mind is keeping the mind awake while your body is sleeping and yes this is possible to do. First start off by laying down in your bed or someplace warm, comfortable and quiet. Someplace that you can have no interruptions, and turn the ringer off on your phone. Then lay down and close your eyes and try to quiet your mind from the useral cares that run through your mind. Quiet and calm mind. If your mind starts thinking how you have to cook 12 dozen cookies for the annual bake sale, just caringly clear your mind back to quiet. After sometime of this you will totally relax and don't be surprised if you start seeing flashes of color or shapes in the dark blackness while your eyes are relaxed and closed.

Then you might be even surprised to start seeing 3-D shapes for instance a 3-D ball I sometimes see Lego toys which is strange because I am pushing 40. Also take notice if the blackness takes on a 3-D effect. Instead of a 2-D black, the darkness expands outward to an never ending expanse of space. Then you might see faces or voices flashing by just remember to quietly keep your mind awake. And if you calmly catch yourself if you fall asleep, this means you are close to Astral projection. And you might hear a loud noise or someone calling your name while you are meditating. Don't be alarmed, this is your unconscious trying to become consciously active with you. Strange I know but don't be frightened by these noises.

If you don't suddenly start floating in another room or out somewhere else, then don't worry. Astral projection takes practice. But the key is to get as close to sleep as possible without actually going in sleep mode. But don't just write off that you did not astral project. Recalling memory during an astral projection is tricky sometimes. And don't be surprised if you think you didn't astral project, get up out of bed and try to turn the door knob and your hand goes right through the door. This means you are astral projecting or Out of Body right at that very moment!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lizzy_J._Brown


http://EzineArticles.com/?Meditation-Is-the-Springboard-to-Astral-Projection&id=5102454

Love is all you Need

Love is all you Need

(Picture of White Heron by Richard Baladad)


After living in the Middle East for several years, Yemen (3), Egypt (2) and
Cyprus (l) I feel that the only way to combat terrorism is through education
and the ability to trust yourself. I loved the poor, Yemeni muslim people
and Afghanistan reminds me of them and it is especially like Yemen in
terrain and mountain size and color. I know there are extremists in all of
these countries, but they are a minority. Unfortunately, the easiest thing
in the world is to stereotype people. All Muslims are now the enemy.

Read More

Book Donations

Have books cluttering up your apartment? Donate them!

Donate them to a worth cause! A library in Nepal!


You can send the books to the following address:
Ashish Chandra Shrestha
Post box no: 20306
Kathmandu
Nepal


Thank you for your concern.

regards,
Ashish Prakash Community Library

http://www.pcl.org.np/

Left Handers

Left Handers

Left Handers, how are they different and how do they excel?

I often watch ice hockey. It is interesting how many of the great players shoot left--are left handed. Look at any sport and you will see that many of the stars are left-handed: tennis, baseball, lacrosse and others. (Pictured, My son, a southpaw)

Read More

英会話の学習方法について

Q1e) How can I improve my English? Part 1:英会話の学習方法について
by Kevin Burns
英会話の学習方法について by Kevin Burns, owner of Kevin`s 英会話スクール日本に居ながらにして英語が話せるようになるのはなかなか難しいことです。だけど、できないというわけではありません。英語を習うに当っては「ローマは一日にしてならず」という諺があてはまるのを忘れないでください。 Kevin & Friends 英語が流暢に話せるようになるには時間がかかります。英会話を習うのはちょうどクラシックピアノを習うようなもので、自転車の乗り方を覚えたり水泳を習ったりするのとは訳が違います。例えば水泳を習う場合はその成果が短期間に分かります

Read More

翻訳 - KES Translation Service

翻訳 - KES Translation Service
(See the English Explanation Below) KES　翻訳サービス ネイティブスピーカー（英語）と日本語を話せるスタッフがおります。あなたの翻訳文を正確にします。 翻訳をする人ケビンバーンズ、バーンズ郁美、須貝綾子 国籍　　カナダ、日本 eメール、手紙、契約書、会社資料、エッセイ、履歴書、推薦状、報告書、論文、学校の論文、ウェブサイトのコンテンツ、パンフレット、記事、マニュアルなど、なんでも翻訳いたします。 過去のクライアント富士フイルム、富士機器、内科医、GSユアサ、化成オプトニクス（現三菱化学）、諸星産業、たまご薬局、南足柄郵便局のスタッフ、など。 翻訳代金日本語から英語　漢字１文字につき５円英語から日本語　英単語１つにつき１０円 見積もりが必要であれば、メールでファイルを送信してください。
Read More

Need a Teaching Position in Japan?

Post your resume for free!


http://www.how-to-teach-english-in-japan.com/teach-in-japan.html

Motivating Japanese Students

Motivating some Japanese students to learn English is a challenge to say the least.
Here are some ideas for getting them to study.

Read More

Kevin`s has Finished Hiring

Thank you to all who applied. For the present time, we have finished hiring.
Be sure to check out our homepage to learn more about us and know about us before you
apply for future positions http://www.eikaiwa1.com



And for more information about teaching in Japan plus many job offers visit my
other site: How to Teach English in Japan

Teach at Kevin`s English Schools

We are hiring fulltime teachers to begin training in Feb.
2010.

We also need part-time teachers who live in or near the Odawara area now.

http://www.eikaiwa1.com/teach-at-kevins-english-schools.html

How to Teach English in Japan?

If you are hoping to teach English in Japan,
check out How to Teach English in Japan

Interviewing Prospective Teachers in Vancouver,BC this Summer!

Kevin`s English Schools of Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan will be interviewing
prospective teachers for April 2009 in Vancouver, BC this summer.
For more information about our small chain of Canadian owned schools visit our homepage: http://www.eikaiwa1.com
For an interview in Vancouver during summer 2008, Email owner
Kevin Burns at kevinsenglishschools@hotmail.com
Teach in a Canadian, Victorian style house, a small,riverside cottage like
school and downtown city school, all in a very beautiful area of Japan.
Near the mountains, the sea and Yokohama and Tokyo.

Contract With Kevin's English Schools

Contract With Kevin's English Schools

This contract is made by and between Kevin's English Schools 2659-4 Tsukahara, Minami Ashigara City,
Kanagawa Prefecture, 250-0117, Japan and _______________________. Hereafter called the teacher.

This contract will remain valid for the period of one year, beginning the______ day of______________ and ending on the _____of _________________________.

During the first twelve weeks probationary period of the contract, the teacher may be terminated by
Kevin's English Schools with two weeks written notice, for failing to perform his/her duties to the satisfaction of Kevin's English Schools. The twelve week probationary period clause can be waived if marked with an 'X'
here__X_. By marking the previous blank with an "X' Kevin's English Schools agrees to waive the probationary
period. (This is sometimes done for teachers with previous training and/or experience.

The teacher agrees to use his/her skills and expertise as an English teacher at Kevin's English Schools and cooperate with Kevin's English Schools in attaining its' educational goals.

Kevin's English Schools will renumerate the teacher and assist him/her to secure the proper visa status by guaranteeing her/his employment. After the probationary period, or if it has been waived, this contract may be terminated with one month prior written notice by either the teacher or Kevin's English Schools.

Kevin's English Schools shall pay the teacher a salary of 250,000 Yen/Month for up to 28 hours of teaching per week. Overtime shall be paid at the rate of 14,000 Yen/Month for work over 28 hours per week and up to 29 hours per week. Another 14,000 Yen/Month shall be paid for overtime work over 29 hours per week and up to 30 hours per week. A contract completion bonus of 100,000 Yen will be paid within two weeks after completing this contract.

The teacher agrees to attend school events approximately once per month. These school events
are paid for by the 250,000/Month salary. No extra salary is paid for attending these events unless
the teacher reaches overtime.

School events may be parties, picnics, hiking trips, staff meetings or other enjoyable activities. The teacher shall be paid for the cost of commuting to work. This will entail the payment of the teacher's public transportation costs. The teacher shall be paid train or bus fare to and from work.
The teacher will not be paid for transportation to and from Japan.

The teacher will receive ten working days of paid holidays in the summer and ten working days of paid holidays during the
Christmas vacation. Exact dates will be given to the teacher later. This means the teacher will be paid her/his usual
salary for these vacation days. The teacher will have two regular days off that may or may not be consecutive. For example.
The teacher may have Sundays and Wednesdays as regular days off. All Japanese national holidays are observed except for
a few on Mondays. The teacher will be given a list of which Mondays national holidays are work days.

The teacher agrees to never teach his/her own private lessons in any of our schools or school apartments, nor to allow anyone else to teach lessons within our schools or school apartments.

The teacher may teach part-time at another English school, as long as her/his work performance is kept to a high level, as deemed by Kevin's English Schools.

The teacher agrees to encourage potential students to study at Kevin's English Schools, and to promote our schools in general.

The teacher agrees to allow some events to be held in his/her classroom. This is required as the teacher is living in one of our schools. No pets are permitted in the school or apartment. The teacher agrees to keep the apartment clean and in good order. The teacher agrees to pay rent for the apartment of between 60,000-70,000 Yen/Month, and the following utilities:
_____All Utilities____________________________. The teacher pays her/his own telephone fees. The teacher does not have to pay key money nor a damage deposit for the apartment they live in.

This is to certify that this contract was signed this_______________day of____________, in the year,______________,by



______________________________ ________________________
Manager Teacher






1

Ayako Sugai, Assistant Manager

Pictured: Our Anne School in the snow.


Ayako Sugai is our Assistant Manager. She manages our store and schools.
She has worked for Kevin's English Schools for about eight years.
She really enjoys working our school.
She graduated from English professional school in Hon-Atsugi.
Even now, she is studying English to speak fluent English.

Chris Zanella

Chris Zanella graduated from University of California Davis.
He majored in Nutrition Biochemistry.
He teaches in our Anne(Sekimoto), Kamonomiya-Odawara and
our Tsukahara School, as well as our company classes.
Chris runs many events for KES and is a very devoted teacher.
He is looking for Japanese instructor.

Teacher Testimonials on Teaching at Kevin`s English Schools

Kevin and Ikumi are great people to work for. They let me experiment a lot with teaching ideas and in my first and most important year of teaching I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do. It was a great place to get started.

Jonathan DeNardis

Disclaimer:
None of our teachers were held at gun-point while giving their testimonials. That is just a vicious lie. Some though were poked with
little pointy sticks at times. We feel badly about that, but our
children are young and they didn`t know any better. That`s
our excuse anyway. Our lawyer has advised us not to talk about
this any further. The rumours about Chinese water torture are just
that, rumors.

Ian Slesinger on Teaching for our schools:

On a typical day at Kevin's English Schools you work from about 3pm to 9 or 9:30pm although some days are longer or shorter. You get weekends off which is nice, since you have to work Saturdays at most English conversation schools.

The job involves teaching a very diverse range of students in terms of age and ability level. I teach everything from preschoolers to business classes for engineers. This instills flexibility as a teacher and allows you to gain experience in many areas of teaching. It also provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate your preferences and strengths and weaknesses, which is helpful if you plan to pursue a career in EFL.

The majority of work tends to be with elementary students and junior high school students. The position would be apt if you enjoy working with children.

In most classes teachers use textbooks and supplement them with other games, songs and activities.

Working for KES you have freedom to develop your own teaching style and to try out new ideas. Kevin gives you a lot of control in designing your lesson plans and choosing material as long as you generally follow a core curriculum from the textbooks.

Special emphasis is placed on phonics and reading for children. The main textbooks we use are the Finding Out and English Land series for elementary school students, Side by Side for teenagers, and New Interchange and Cutting Edge for adults.

Sarah O`hagan on Teaching for Kevin`s English Schools

Choosing to work for Kevin's English Schools was the best choice I made in terms of my employment in Japan. It's difficult to decide which school to go with as there are so many out there - and most of them sound really good on paper, or when you speak with them on the phone. But I can guarantee you that this school is different than most and that's why I stayed with them for 3 years!

KES more than a school, it's like a tight-knit community. Teachers and students regularly go sightseeing, play sports, and go out for meals together outside of class time. Of course you are not required to do any of this, it just seems that's the way things unfold!

Kevin and his family warmly welcome new employees into their lives and are always there for you. Teachers need not worry about resources as they are provided. However, the great thing about teaching for Kevin is that he gives you the freedom to choose your own materials and textbooks, so long as they are reasonable.

The apartments KES provides for their teachers are clean, comfortable, fully equipped, and conveniently located. The rent is reasonable and, most importantly, there are no hidden fees or deposits (common among rental units in Japan) that can put you out thousands of dollars.

If you are looking for a casual yet professional teaching environment where you can form strong bonds with your students and other staff members then you should seriously consider Kevin's English Schools.

Chris Weber, Australia on KES:

As Kevin mentioned, I'm an ex-employee of his and we've become good friends too. He's a really great guy and as a boss he gives the teachers freedom to have their own teaching style and implement their own lesson plans (within reason).

At the schools there are many text books and materials to use, so you don't need to worry about having to start from scratch using your own materials.

I'm very glad that I worked for KES as my first job in Japan. I stayed with them for 2 years and only moved on because I wanted to see what it was like to work in public elementary schools. I often go back to the area around Odawara and now that I don't live there I appreciate even more what a nice place it is. It's near the coast and hasmountains and forests nearby, so the air is much cleaner than where I live now (the South of Saitama Prefecture, right near the Tokyo border).

I can't really give you any more advice except that my 2 years with KES gave me some great memories and certainly a better introduction to Japan than if I'd worked for one of the big companies like Nova etc, which have a reputation for being more like fast food companies in terms of the turnover of staff and students. KES is more like a family-run restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and more personal approach with students and teachers alike.

If Kevin and Ikumi do hire you, I have to give you my congratulations as I'm sure that you'll feel at home there.

Good luck

Chris

James Pelikan on Kevin`s English Schools

Dear Kevin- I was just remembering how you were a good boss to me, and I wanted to pass that thought on. I coudn't have been a better one myself. Please believe this. And I hope you and Ikumi are doing very well. Also, if you remember, say hi to my host families and Masahiro. with care, - James

Originally Posted at the forum for Kevin`s English Schools:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KevinsEnglishSchools In fact you can still find this post there.

"Kevin I know Nora from university and she raved about working for your school. I
have looked at your website and I am very impressed with what your schools are like.
I feel I would be a perfect match for a position with your schools."
--Name Withheld

Kevin`s English Schools, Serving Japan Since 1991

Kevin`s English Schools was established in 1991. We now have three schools in Kanagawa, Japan and teach over 150 students. Two of our schools are in Minami Ashigara City, and one is in Odawara`s beautiful Kamonomiya area.

Many schools in Japan are huge corporate enterprises, literally hiring a thousand teachers per year. Sometimes small is better!

We have a few teachers in very homey schools. We care about our students and teachers and from that attitude, we make money. We realize that the former leads to the latter.

In our schools it is common to find wooden tables and chairs. It helps to give the feeling of coziness we strive for. Teachers and students seem to enjoy the difference.

Kevin Burns and his wife Ikumi are both teachers. Ikumi not only teaches at KES, and at local junior high schools but she is the manager as well. Kevin teaches at KES and at Tokai University in Kanagawa.

About Us

"Share everything. Play fair...When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together."--Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

My wife and I established our first school in 1991: our Tsukahara School, and we now have four schools located in Minami AshigaraCity, Odawara and Hadano (Shibusawa Station.)

At these schools we have a huge collection of teaching materials,enough to rival or surpass many colleges and universities teaching EFL. All of our schools are equipped with a computer and students and teachers may use them. We have an EFL software library which studentsmay use at our schools. Students are also encouraged to borrow books,CDs and cassettes, from the small libraries we have at each school.

Most students come once or twice a week for 50, 60 or 90 minutelessons. As this adds up to only 8-12 hours per month or so ofEnglish study, we encourage them to use software, books, and videos athome. Slowly their time in the classroom and doing home study addsup, and reaches a point where there is noticeable improvement.

We have some classes for "returnees," or children who have lived abroad or speak English at home and are fluent or nearly fluent.

Pictured: Dustin Hoffman playing tennis with KES staff and students

In terms of curriculum, for the most part we allow our teachers to choose what teaching materials they will use. But for childrenaged 6-12 the first two texbooks they will use are Finding Out 1 and 2 by David Paul. If new students aged 6-12 can read well,then they can study in an existing class using a different textbook. So far we haven`t found a better method for teachingstudents to read than David Paul`s Finding Out method.

Teachers will betaking over existing classes, and they will need to finish the materials(textbooks etc) that were used by the previous teacher. Afterfinishing the previous teachers text, you would be able to chooseyour own textbooks subject to the approval of the manager`sIkumi and Kevin. We rarely veto a teacher`s choice however.

Currently, we use a variety of textbooks. The Finding Out series byDavid Paul is used in most of our children's classes. We alsoare using English Land in some. We also have the children read story books from our extensive collection. We supplement these texts with other activities encouraging speaking.

For adults some of the texts we use include: the NewInterchange series, Talk Your Head Off, J-Talk, Expressways, Passport and others. Some teachers use the many free articlesavailable on the internet as a point of departure for these classes. Many links to teachers resource sites can be foundin the forum for Kevin`s English Schools at Yahoo Groups:

We encourage all of our teachers to bring in materials which theythink are of value. If teachers use what they like, and believe in,what they are using, they will be happier about it, and will do abetter job of teaching our students. For this same reason we allowteachers to choose the next textbook they will use. We feel this alsomakes students happier too. They get more variety in their Englishlessons than if we dictated what book the teachers would have to useand how they would have to teach it.We don`t abide by the robo-teacher training method that some of theBIG schools in Japan espouse, of training otherwise good teachers toact like English teaching automatons; to take away their freedom toteach in the manner they think best, and to have them teach the sametextbook in the same way as all of their other teachers in Japan.While that leads to a uniform product for students, for teachers itleads to boredom and burnout. Perhaps that`s why the turnover ofstaff at the large chain schools is so high.

Indeed those schools offer exactly the same, very high pricedclasses to their students whether in Sendai or Fukuoka. Some studentslike that. Again some people like McDonald`s and some like a niceItalian dinner. But no one likes paying Parisien restaurant pricesfor a hamburger, yet that is what students frequently do, they aretaken in by the high priced advertising they see all around them.Sometimes small is better! Sometimes small means we care more aboutour customers, and our teachers; because if we don`t we go out ofbusiness.

Indeed, we try to offer an Italian dinner for the price of a familyrestaurant., and our prices and how you pay is very flexible. We arevery low pressure. Our company is not about sales, sales, sales. Wedo our selling by offering good teachers and good classes to ourstudents. Like the oldcliche, our classes sell themselves.

We try to keep our classes fun but every activity we do must useEnglish and have some kind of English goal, be it simply to practicequestions and answers or a more lofty one. Games are great as long asthey use ENGLISH and have a GOAL. Typically you would work 4-10PM with some morning classes twice a week or so. You may go off campus onceor twice a week to teach a company class nearby.

Currently our youngest students are three years old. Fuji Film and other large companies are located here, and many of our adult students tend to be highly educated professionals from companies like Fuji, engaged in various types of research projects. We also have homemakers and retired people studying here. You will teach a huge variety ofpeople and learn a lot about all walks of life in Japan just by teaching here.

Many of my friends are current or former students. I count myself lucky that I get to be paid for what I do. If you are the right kindof person,who enjoys people, enjoys teaching, is open-minded, and enjoys learning, then you willfind a position with our school chain rewarding.

In our children's classes we emphasize learning to read to a largeextent, as after they can read, they can do many things. Once theycan read, studying at home becomes possible. They can use a textbook in class which makes it easier to teach themand of course they can read storybooks. The ability to read in English opens upa whole new world. Those Disney books are now a possibility for littleHaruko, as is having a penpal. There is English all around us, evenin Japan, and now Haruko can read the signs. She can go on the internet to see her favourite Hello Kitty site in English. English becomes real for her and not some far off reality shecan`t understand. She is now experiencing it right in front ofher, and even she though she is only eight, realizes there is aworld outside of Japan that uses English.

Schools which don't emphasize learning to read from the start, tendto have students that are very parrot like and can regurgitate Englishon command but don't really seem to know what they are doing or why.Unfortunatelymany schools here are of this ilk. Students of these "repeat aftersensei" schools cannot read in my opinion. They can identify the word`dog` but cannot read `log` or `bog.,` because they haven`t beentaught phonics. We emphasize phonics very much in the first few yearsof study here., along with teaching all the other things one needs toknow.

We do emphasize learning to ask and answer questions, which areimportant to the children: "Do you like Pokemon?" Not: "How waswork today?"

Although we are one of the more reasonably and flexibly pricedEnglish schools here, English study in Japan is not cheap, and we needto havesomething tangible to show the parents after their children havestudied here for a year or more.

Indeed, English study is not like learning how to swim. With swimmingyou can take lessons for a couple of months, and then wow Mom and Dadwith your fantastic back stroke. This is not so when learning Englishof course. After two months of study you don't have much to show theparents. English study is more akin to learning classical piano thanlike swimming. It takes years to become fluent. Think of your ownexperience with high school Spanish or French. How many of us arefluent?

Now that I have depressed you, remember that all hope is not lost.Language study is really an art that one must spend years at. At riskof alienating our students and becoming destitute, we emphasize thispoint to all of our new students rather than hide it or white-wash it.Why lie to them? They should know what they are in for. We emphasizeit during our demolessons and in our classes. We also talk about it in Japanese in thearticle below, and on our front page in both English and Japanese.

We pride ourselves on honesty and doing our best to teach ourstudents. We don`t want to hide the truth of what students arecommitting themselves too behind glossy advertising.

We have two schools in Minami Ashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Oneof them is called Tsukahara School.

It has a pleasant river side cottage atmosphere, with an all woodfloor, and wooden tables and chairs from Italy. There is a gardenaround the school with many trees and flowers to add to this ambience.There is even a giant chess board in the parking lot, and we have anannual chess tournament there.

Our Anne School, is a large Canadian, Victorian stylehouse. This is where my family lives and we also have a classroomhere. All of our teachers teach at "Anne" at least one day a week. Itis a great place to teach and study! I think we may have some of thenicest English schools to study and teach in, in Japan!

All the materials for our Anne School were imported from Cloverdale, British Columbia. It has oak floors, and all wood tables, chairs and bookcases. It is alocal landmark. There is also a garden around it with trees and flowers.

All of our schools are pleasant places to work, where we havesuccessfully created an "at home" atmosphere in each of them. Thatsets us apart from many of the schools that think arbarite tables andvinyl chairs are invogue.

On the down side, it can be a lonely place to work in that you donot have co-teachers in the same school with you usually. If having alarge teachers room with many teachers to chat with is imperative foryou, we are not the best choice. However,most have found they reallyenjoy the freedom, with support that we offer. Several teachers havecommented we are the best bosses they had ever had. "You are there,but not looking over our shoulders all the time," is what one teachersaid.

You will see us at least once a week. You will be living a shorttrain ride away from fellow K.E.S. teachers so you can always visitthem too. You can always pick up the phone or Email us or anotherteacher to get together for a coffee or a beer.

We have no rule against socializing with students. We like it infact. It is good for them and fun for you too. It is up to you ofcourse whether you want to socialize with them outside of class time.

Why are English Conversation Schools Necessary in Japan?

English conversations schools provide a valuable and necessaryservice in Japan. Not only do we help to internationalize a veryinsular and isolated society, but we provide another opportunityfor Japanese citizens to learn English.

If the other institutions in Japan were truly doing a superb job at this, perhaps English schools would not be needed. However, the way English is taught in Japan, with the lack of innovation at many schools, make English Conversation schools a vital necessity for Japanese English learners, and indeed for the future of Japan.