LETTER FROM HAPPY ENGLISH SCHOOL Oct. 21st 202
Hello, how are you? Have you been infected with mycoplasmas or streptococci? It seems that these bacteria are rampant after the pandemic. It is said that we have become more vulnerable to infections due to too much sterilization during the COVID-19 crisis, where we were less exposed to a variety of microorganisms. It is ironical that our immune system grows stronger when we coexist with bacteria and viruses, which help us train our immunity to prevent diseases.
Recently, I have explored some online lesson sites, and I even plan to go to Singapore to learn about the language schools there. As you know, I always strive to find the most effective ways for each student to improve their English. Right now, I am particularly interested in daily online lessons and short study abroad programs.
As for daily online lessons, English learners benefit from using the internet, because whether the learners like it or not, they can be exposed to English every day, anytime and anywhere. Everyday practice makes a big difference, doesn’t it? We continue to practice day in and day out, making English practice a part of our daily routine. Gakken’s kimini, which I heard of from one of my elementary students looks good because it covers the practice of four skills and offers face-to-face interactions with fluent Filipino instructors, follow-ups, reviews and tests. However, there is no denying that the program is boring. It offers the same patterns of practice over and over, which are important, but students especially ones without much motivation may get bored easily. If I could, I would like to introduce some useful parts of the program to boost every student’s English proficiency in our lesson.
Why am I going to Singapore? Because I have a Singaporean friend there and I want to see him after a long time. I thought it would also be great to visit some English language schools with the goal of sending some students to study there, especially senior adults, who do not need to study English to get good grades nor to use it at work. Most students say that they do not have many opportunities to speak English, so studying abroad will certainly place them in situations where they need to use the language.
Motivation, tenacity, necessity, interest, personality and capability are all important factors regarding studying English, and I would like to enhance each of these aspects in my students as much as I can.
少し秋めいてきました。マイコプラズマや溶連菌になっていないですか。
コロナでのステイホームやソシアルデイスタンス、消毒、手洗いで、いろんな菌にさらされることが少なくなり、皮肉なことに免疫力が落ち、感染力の低い病原菌にかかる人が増えているようです。
パンデミック中はonline lessons が盛んでした。最近ある生徒が取り組んでいるonline lesson のことを聞き試しに無料体験レッスンを受けて、とても体系化されていて、何度も繰り返しの練習ができ、いいように思いました。しかし、online lessonは原則孤独で単調で続けるのに根気がいります。選んで答えることはあっても実際に書く練習もありません。そして結局するのもしないのも自分自身が決めることなので、しばらくしないと続かなくなってしまうということがよくあります。もしできれば、onlineでの利点をHappy English Schoolのレッスンにも取り入れて、相乗効果を図ることを考えています。
また10月29日から11月1日にはシンガポールに行きますが、向こうの英語学校を視察してきます。そして特に成人シニアの短期語学留学を企画したいと考えています。それは、学校や仕事で英語が必要でないながら自分のために英語を学習している方が多いからです。できるだけ、生徒に英語を使うことが必要な状況をたくさん提供したいという思いがあり、その一環として、英語を使う様々な機会を作りたいと考えています。