Hi everyone,皆さん、おげんきですか。

In my classes, apart from regular learning activities of speaking, reading, listening, writing and dialogues making/speaking with use of the course book, “Genki 1”, the classes learned conjugation of verbs (negative forms, past tense), that of adjectives, esp. i-adjectives etc.

For one-to-one weekly lessons with my new student who finished up to the middle of “Genki 2” at other place in the past and who can write/read over 500 Kanji letters, we use “Japanese for Everyone” (we began from the middle of that book). Probably we will start using “Basic Kanji Book, Bk. 2” for her further Kanji acquisition later.

Related to culture/society of Japan, I gave information of the following:
1.  News from NHK World (online news, 11.1.2011) Toyota Motors unveiled a next generation hybrid cat that features solar-powered air conditioning, at the Detroit Motor Show that week. The car has pug-in hybrid that can be recharged at home. Solar panels on the roof can power the car’s air conditioner. Japan is exporting it technology of “Shinkansen” bullet train to India. India is planning to make high-speed railway networks at 6 sections in the country. Japan pledged financial aide for India’s infrastructure buildup. The article also says Japanese bullet train has never had a major accident in its 45-year history.

2.   A recent MX magazine showed a picture of monkeys that are enjoying outdoor hot spring “onsen” with snow around in a popular tourist area in Nagano prefecture.

3.  There are 2 Japanese speaking Christian churches. They are one in Crows Nest and at Northside Baptist Church; the other is at Wesley Mission at Pitt St, City. Anyone will be welcomed; it will be great if you can meet interesting and nice Japanese people there.

4.  The magazine of a fitness club, Fitness First (Jan-Feb. 12, p. 21) has an article of Prof. Paul Taylor. He states learning a foreign language or how to play a musical instrument are the best things to do for human brains. Similarly, a few months ago, I heard the medical expert’s comment on a major commercial radio, AM station. That was learning a foreign language (and culture) is one of the best things to do to avoid becoming senile when people are getting old. So, learning a foreign language has great value and merit for anyone!

Japanese Teacher, Toshiko Jackson

4.2.12