甲子園二番町にある英会話教室
Alligator English
アリゲーターイングリッシュ
Alligator blog アリゲーターのブログ
December 2024 - Dinosaur fever
Every kid loves dinosaurs! And lots of big kids love them too. This year we made two trips to the Fukui dinosaur museum. Some of the displays are amazing. I especially liked the new item on display that shows well preserved fossilized skin. This illustrates how quickly the massive creatures must have been buried in a no-oxygen environment. Otherwise, the soft and delicate skin tissue would have deteriorated and not been fossilized. Check out the photos. This is another evidence for the flood of Noah as the cause of most dinosaur and other fossilization in geological history. The old story of the dinosaur dying and slowly being covered up by silt and dust just doesn’t fit the evidence. Of course, Hosea and I couldn’t wait to make our own DIY dinosaur and stick it up in the bush to scare the locals.
December 2024 - British council english resources
Although it is not well known in Japan, the most important official English test worldwide in the IELTS test. It is run by the British Council and is recognized by schools, colleges and Universities worldwide. It is much more communicative and balanced than the Eiken test, which over-emphasizes written text. The British council website hosts a great variety of English learning resource material, much of which is free. You can try out some of their stuff here.
Magazine zone | LearnEnglish You’re Hired | LearnEnglish The Last Tourist | LearnEnglish Video zone | LearnEnglish
November 2024 - New light on Old technology
It is the age of LED, there is no mistake about that! LED lights last longer and cost less to run. Yet are they better for our eyes? I decided to switch our main classroom lights back to filament lights recently. They are easier on the eyes, with less sleep-damaging blue rays. Plus, it was a good chance to make some new surfboard decorations for the classroom, and a fun project too!
November 2024 - study and food
In the last blog we looked at how sleep effects study. This time let’s consider food. I have noticed recently that a lot of students are so tired when they come to class that they are struggling to keep their heads up! I remember how it was after swimming in my university lunch break, without goggles, and then trying to stay awake through a mathematics lecture. The bobbing head syndrome doesn’t go away. I have started asking students about their diet when I notice a pattern of exhaustion. One reason for this could be lack of protein. In previous years I was teaching kids with ADHD, and I stumbled upon the ADDitude blog, where experts on ADHD and education give practical tips for parents and teachers of ADHD students. One of the important ingredients to stimulate the brain while learning is food. Especially carbohydrates and protein. Next time you find your student’s head bobbing, or maybe your own, it might be a good idea to think back on what you ate for breakfast. Our brains need energy, but too much sugar can have a detrimental effect on our concentration. Lack of carbs on the other hand can stop us from being able to study well. Protein also plays a big part in the learning process. ADHD experts teach kids about practically getting the protein they need each morning, with real examples like peanut butter, sausage, eggs etc. Once kids start stopping breakfast because they are too busy, you can bet that their learning performance will drop significantly. Let’s encourage kids to get plenty of protein in the morning to prepare for a good day’s learning.
October 2024 - study and sleep
This is one of the things that sets Japan apart! It seems as if the whole nation sleeps less than the rest of the world. This is true for workers, parents and children alike. I highly recommend doing a little research into the effect of lack of sleep upon study performance. According to MIT research (2019), there is a correlation between sleep and test scores. Most students probably expect that one who stays up late studying is bound to perform better in the tests than one who goes to be early (and studies less). The interesting fact is that the opposite appears to be true. When you are less tired, you perform better. Check out the following article for more information.
September 2024 - Eiken Tips #2 Words and Context
Thinking of taking the Eiken test? Here are some things to think of.
Passing Eiken at any level means learning, memorizing and recalling lots of words. Kids often buy the popular vocab learning guides. They are always big sellers at the bookshops. While they may suit some learners, I feel that they are a high hurdle for most others. The saying “It goes in one ear and out the other” is most appropriate here. What we learn by rote is often not really understood and lacks any context. Rather than rote vocab learning, it is far better to learn and memorize words in a natural context. It is the story, the situation, and the experiences which is all powerful to help students memorize anything. For this reason, I recommend reading lots and lots of fun novels, as well as current news and magazine articles in English (for the higher levels). The more variety of natural English we hear in context, the more we will be able to memorize come test day.
By the way, there is no better context than real conversation, about truly relevant topics. Kids who study English conversation have the greatest advantage when they study to communicate, rather than study to pass a test.
August 2024 - Eiken Tips #1 Follow the grade level!
Thinking of taking the Eiken test? Here are some things to think of.
*The Eiken Test basically follows the national Junior High school and High School English curriculum.
That means,
Level 5 basically follows the material covered in Grade 1 Junior High.
Level 4 basically follows the Jnr High Grade 2 material.
Level 3 basically follows the Jnr High Grade 3 material.
Level Pre 2 basically follows the High School Grade 1 material.
Levels 2, Pre 1 and 1 all contain difficult high school and University level content.
*Remember, Eiken includes not only English, but also content. This content is adjusted to age and grade levels for Japanese schools.
For this reason it is NOT RECOMMENDED for elementary students to take the Eiken courses above level 3.
For example, elementary students may be able to physically read passages about environmental and social
problems, but their understanding will be very limited and the kids generally find it boring and frustrating.
Although the student’s English level may be advanced, the pre 2 and above content is completely inappropriate for them. I have found this inappropriate content to be demotivating and detrimental to the overall English study.
On the other hand, students who have advanced English levels ought to be using age-appropriate native speaker materials that students in other countries would naturally use. It is much more interesting and much more effective!
Secondly, for advanced elementary students, the awkward and unnatural sentences contained in the Grade 5 and 4 tests should definitely be avoided! It is a waste of time to expose students to unnatural English material when they are fully capable of understanding native speaker materials.
Find out what kind of age-appropriate tests are available at Alligator English.
July 2024 - Introducing Oxford Reading tree
This year we have expanded our reading homework assignments with the introduction of Oxford Reading Tree. These funny and colorful books have been designed for use in elementary schools in the UK and worldwide. The characters are charming, the stories catchy and kids love them. Each week students take home a book of their choice to practice reading and then read it aloud in the next class. Along with Raz Kids, this is a perfect way to enjoy learning vocabulary as well as practicing pronunciation. Which book will you read this week?
![IMG_9407[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_94071-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9682[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_96821-150x150.jpg)
June 2024 - homestay and working holidays
Although during the COVID pandemic homestay programs were mostly cancelled, many students are now enjoying full homestay programs again.
Recently the most popular destinations for Alligator English students have been Australia (Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide) and New Zealand (Aukland).
Working holidays are also increasing in popularity again. Unlike in the past, when homestay and working holidays were often largely disorganized, there is now a solid support system in place to take care of students’ needs. Homestay and working holiday adventures are nearly always a positive and life changing experience. Talk to Geoff regarding the opportunities available in Australia and your English and other requirements.
![IMG_8775[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_87751-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9123[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_91231-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9114[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_91141-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9072[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_90721-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9070[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_90701-150x150.jpg)
May 2024 - Level up with Raz Kids
Beginning in 2023 All kids’ class students (and some adults too!) are taking advantage of the RAZ-KIDS reading program. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out here. www.raz-kids.com Raz Kidsを活用させてください！アリゲーターイングリッシュのキッズは無料登録！使い放題！
With over 400 books, each with clear illustrated text, Audio read aloud, and quizzes to test comprehension, this is a great online reading program for kids of all ages through to high school. Raz kids is highly interactive, with points earned for every task done and a shop with cool things to buy that kids love.
The greatest advantage of the Raz Kids system is that you can continue expanding your vocabulary in a fun and easy way.
![IMG_9726[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97261-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9727[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97271-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9728[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97281-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9729[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97291-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9730[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97301-150x150.jpg)
![IMG_9731[1]](https://alligatorenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_97311-150x150.jpg)
April 2024 - New 2024 Calendar
Alligator 2024 yearly plan 見る
２０２４年カレンダーです。教室が開いている日・休みの日をご確認ください。
January 2024 - New over 60s class has begun
Alligator English 2024年1月より 新クラス スタート！！
対象60歳以上 月2回、月謝5000円 無料体験あり
○カンタンコース「中学校以来、英語使ってないなぁ」という方向け
○久しぶりコース「しばらく英語で話す機会がなかった」という方向け
○会話を楽しむコース「英語で話すのを楽しみたい」という方向け
＊隔週 木曜日2:30〜、3:30〜、金曜日3:30〜、（第1、3週または第2、4週）
＊全コース コーヒーor紅茶付き
無料体験、お問い合わせはお気軽にジェフまでご連絡お待ちしています。
SMS/Tel 09098898893 alligatorkoshien@gmail.com
January 2024 - happy New Eiken!
Happy New Year!
This month many students are preparing for the Eiken test. Here at Alligator English, the Pre-2 Test is the most popular it seems. This year there has been a change announced for the Eiken Pre-2 test: The introduction of a second writing problem. In addition to the regular essay style question, students will be required to respond to an e-mail. Check out this example problem and model answer.
E-mail Question:
Hi!
Guess what! My uncle and aunt are going to take me to Disneyland next month. I wanted to go with my family this year, but my father’s job was too busy. Then my aunt and uncle offered to take me, instead. I am so excited but there is a problem. There are too many things to see in Disneyland. Do you have any suggestions about which rides to go on?
Your friend,
Alex
Model Answer:
Hi Alex!
You will have a great time in Disneyland! When will you all go? Do you like exciting rides or relaxing ones? You should go on the tea-cup ride. It is so famous. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Your friend
(Your name)
45 words
Breakdown:
In this model answer there are some key points to remember.
First: Write in e-mail style
Second: Make sure to answer the question that the writer asks you.
Third: Ask some questions (two is enough) to the writer about the topic.
You can write around 40 words,
Good luck to everyone!
november 2023 - homestay is making a comeback
I have so far been to 12 countries in my travels. I have stayed in many hotels. But one thing I can say for certain is: Nothing beats homestay! Whenever I visit another country, (and whenever possible) I will always try to arrange homestay accommodation rather than a hotel. Regardless of the conditions, the experience of living and eating with local people is amazing. When I was a teenager, I first heard the
word ‘homestay’. Sydney, Australia received many Japanese homestay students,
mostly from high school and universities. This trend became bigger and bigger
through the nineties. In the early 2000s, homestay was big business. The number
of people applying was so high it was hard to find enough host families. Then
after terrorism and economic crashes took their toll, the number of homestays
fell dramatically. Since the Corona Vitus pandemic has ended, homestay is becoming popular again. The number of homestay applications in Australia in 2023 has been double that of 2022. The Australian government is also encouraging people to rent out their spare rooms for international students for a tax-free income. As homestay becomes more systematic, the support and options will improve. A short stay in a hotel will soon be forgotten, but a homestay experience creates friends for life. If you haven’t tried homestay yet, why don’t you give it a go?
October 2023 - Playing old games in new ways!
This is one of my favorite games to play. It is called POP for Blends. It is a great way to have fun learning to read with phonics. During October we have been playing this and practicing blends. this is certainly a positive and happy truth to remember. There is another similar game with opposites cards. The best part of these games is coming up with new and fun ways to play them.
Traditional phonics and word games 'pop' and 'stacker crackers'
September 2023 - Taking the weather with you!
A person once commented on the rainy weather saying, “Miserable weather, isn’t it?” The other person responded “No, it’s just raining. You are the one who is miserable!’ That means, “Why do you blame your unhappiness upon the rain? You can be happy whether it is raining or not.” We shouldn’t let circumstances keep us unhappy. One of my favorite songs as a kid was, ‘Weather With You’, by the Australian/New Zealand rock group, ‘Crowded House.’ The song was very popular around the world and loved by nearly all Australians. The song is about a person stuck in his living room, who can’t get over his depression. The repeating line of the song is “Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you.” In other words, ‘You are the one who creates your mood’. This is a very simple thought, but also a very powerful one. We all struggle sometimes with sadness, loneliness or depression. But it is possible to change our mood. Why be sad? Life is precious. Why not choose to be happy? Even today, wherever you go, you can take the weather with you! In a world of darkness and gloom, this is certainly a positive and happy truth to remember.
AWaji Island and Shodo island
AUGUST 2023 - Learning from mistakes!
Isn’t it amazing! We humans never stop making mistakes!
Never a day goes by that we make no mistakes at all.
But, mistakes are not a bad thing. They can be our greatest
learning opportunities. At Alligator English I usually don’t allow kids to use
erasers. They always ask why. I tell them that the mistake is a record
of your learning. It is a good lesson. If you erase it, you waste it.
How do you react when you make a mistake? This will either help
you to learn, or stop you from learning.
Recently I made a new table for Alligator English. I wanted a
table that seated 6 kids, had a hard surface and looked great.
I set out to make it in March, but didn’t finish until July!
I made mistakes with the glue, the shape, the routering, the surface
the paint and the legs. Finally in the hot weather, the surface began to
peel off. So many mistakes. But a whole lot of learning!
I decided to make a new one. This time though, I have learned so many
good lessons. I can avoid the mistakes and produce a much better job.
Learning a language is going to be full of mistakes: Wrong words, wrong
pronunciation, wrong spelling and sometimes just the wrong answer!
As long as we take it easy and don’t worry about our mistakes, they
can help us along to road to fluency. If we worry about our mistakes
we won’t try to challenge hard sentences. We won’t give our opinion
or use hard words. That will stop us improving. Never worry about mistakes.
They can be our greatest teachers.
New Table. first attempt.
New Improved Table. Hopefully better.
July 2023 - Just talk!
Hi! Welcome to the Alligator English Blog. In this blog, I will post some helpful tips and insights from my own language learning experience (battle), and my time teaching English in Japan. If you find the road to fluency hard, don’t worry. It has to be that way. But it is possible so don’t give up!
Starting out.
Japanese was the first foreign language I attempted to learn. In elementary school and junior high school we had short terms of Italian, French, German, Japanese and Indonesian. I can say good morning, good evening and goodbye (and count to ten) in many languages. Amazing! But I don’t remember much more than that. Japanese however was the one language I could learn properly. When I decided to come to Japan, I began studying in Australia. It was so difficult to keep focused. There was no way to actually use what I was learning, no way to practice and no way to communicate. So, I fully understand how hard it is to learn a foreign language in your home country.
Geoff in 2000! Trying my hardest to learn Japanese.
Stepping out.
After arriving in Japan however, the process was so much quicker. I could practice what I was learning, hear it being used around me, and remember what I had studied. I had to work full time. I couldn’t go to a full time or even part time language course. So I found time during the week to study.
This was my strategy. Study the textbook at home. Write down the ideas that I really wanted to communicate. Have it translated and then memorize it. Then, in my weekly volunteer class, I would not use the textbook, just speak out all the ideas that I wanted to say and write down all the things that the teacher said in response. Then I would go home, look them up and start writing my next idea. You can look things up at home. But when you are with a teacher, that is the perfect time to communicate.
Speaking out.
So, here is my first tip. The most important thing is to communicate. Real communication with your own ideas! That is how you will learn quickly and memorize easily. Use your time through the week to make sentences with the words and expressions you have learned. Think of what you really want to say and look it up, write it down, and memorize it. It’s OK to translate it online if you need to. Don’t worry about mistakes. Talk! Talk! Talk! The teacher will correct you when you need it.
An English conversation class with a native speaker gives you that advantage that I didn’t have at first. The chance to communicate your own ideas and follow it into meaningful conversation. The chance to have correction where needed, or suggestions for a more natural way to say it. Make the most of your conversation class. You’ll find it much more fun and effective.
Geoff in Nara 2000.
real
effective
honest
right
considerate
parent support
communication
motivation
challenge
alligator English is committed to:
アリゲーターイングリッシュは以下を大事にします:
real
Alligator English introduces 'real life', modern and useful language that reflects modern society, business and culture. So often popular, commercial English programs and tests teach painfully out of date or unnatural English for the sake of easy marking and testing. we understand the reality that students need to do well in such tests, but the native speaking instructor is able to balance this with deeper, more natural and 'actually used' expressions that make real communication possible and fun. Don't settle for 'dumbed down' English. Get the real thing.
right
'Right' is more important than 'perfect'. Usually there are many words and expressions one can used to communicate an idea. In the Japanese classroom however, there is a lot of pressure to give the 'one correct answer'. Students cannot gain fluency because they feel that unless they give the perfect answer, they shouldn't speak up. When learning their first however, young kids make many mistakes without fear of being shamed or embarrassed. They simply mimick the native speakers around them and become fluent native speakers themselves. This applies to L2 also. We offer native speaking interaction and materials with a communication first, correctness later approach that ensures a more fun and speedy path to spoken proficiency.
communication
We speak, listen, read and write to communicate. The concept of sharing thoughtful information and paying attention to the communications of others is fundamental to effective language use. The greatest challenge facing language learning today is the disassociation of people with each other. The modern tech world has caused this problem to grow. We balance this by focusing on the need to have real communication with others. English proficiency is not gained by simply memorizing words and sentences, it is gained through real communication. Simply put, the more care we have for others and interest in what they say, the more we will remember and the more 'English' that we use to communicate will stick in our minds. Educational psychologists call this Schema theory. When semantic 'word' ideas are linked in the brain with cognitive 'thought' ideas, the brain responds quickly and understanding and output are greatly enhanced. Alligator English makes effective use of this important principle in every class by encouraging thoughtful, meaningful and personal interaction between student to teacher and student to student.
effective
Language learning is a long process and a great investment of time, effort and money. That's why it is essential to have an effective method. Effective means generating real improvement. A well thought out and structured program is the basis for this, as well as regular evaluation, practice and reinforcement. Students often rush through a lesson just to complete the task, or copy the ‘right’ answer without really learning the language content at all. This is especially true of Japanese school students compared to western school students. It is one main reason why L2 acquisition is generally poor in comparison. Alligator English will continually update and improve programs, style and materials to more effectively teach L2 based on individual class and student needs.
considerate
Alligator English is particularly considerate of the special needs of students and their individual learning styles. With 22 years of experience in all levels of education, Geoff knows well that students perform best at their own pace and trying to accelerate, slow down or manipulate this personal pace will only harm the learning process. In particular, I have noticed many great communicators were slow to learn how to read and write, yet amazing growth spurts occurred often in the 10-13 year age group. *It is also positive and helpful to teach various ages and levels together, as long as the focus is on learning and the student is encouraged to learn in their own way and pace.
motivation
Language learning, as with any other activity, requires great effort and perseverance. Without personal motivation it can be extremely difficult to successfully learn a foreign language in your home country. Some children are naturally motivated to learn and challenge themselves. Others are motivated by fun and encouragement. Still others are motivated by peers and competition. Any of the above provide power to the learning process. In the case that the student is not motivated at all, it is best to recognize this and leave language learning to a time when that natural motivation kicks in. We encourage students to take a break, or even wait a few years for this natural motivation to resurface. When it does, the results are amazing.
honest
As a business Alligator English seeks to provide a fully professional learning environment with high quality instruction and materials. I also seek to do this at the most cost effective price I can. Alligator English has given extremely economical lessons since we began in 2005 and will continue to do so. We will not charge unnecessary fees or seek to push unnecessary materials onto students for extra profit. This is also an important value we are committed to.
parent support
By long experience parental supervision of the lesson has shown a derogatory effect. The student must enter the native speaker’s world entirely for real progress to occur. The presence of the parent affects the student and teachers attention greatly in this regard. HOWEVER! Parental cooperation is greatly appreciated in monitoring homework, practice and online reading activities. Without this semi-daily activity, L2 acquisition will be a much slower and much less effective process.
