Hide’s Class blog has moved to a different site!

From April 2009, I have decided to set up different class blog sites for those classes I teach so that it will be much easier for me to maintain the blog sites. This does not necessarily mean that this blog is going to be closed.

As of today, this site is going to be called  ‘Hide’s English for Life Blog’ where I still continue introducing any useful English expressions, quoting interesting news articles mainly from the English-speaking countries, giving my thoughts on how to acquire English as a foreign language, and tips for studying English vocabulary & grammar.

Because of the above changes taking place, some of the categories that had been used have to go as of today. Hope some of the fainthful readers of this blog would be patient enought to stay with me for many years to come. Another change is that probably I would be writing some of th posts entirely in Japanese as this is much quicker for me to write about something related to Japanese culture.

学会の発表、無事終了しました！

This afternoon, I did my presentation at JALT National Conference 2008, which was held in Tokyo this year. The presentation was titled ‘Motivating Students Through Use of a Class Blog’. It was what they call a ‘short paper presentation.’ On the whole, the presentation went fairly well, but looking back there are so many things that could have been done ‘better’.

Anyway, now that I have finished my presentation, I feel somewhat quite relieved.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you in my classes on Friday.

From Tokyo with best wishes!

I have been in Tokyo since 31 Friday, which is Friday, to attend an academic conference (Gakkai or 学会) in Tokyo. Tomorrow afternoon, I am going to do a presentation in English about ‘Motivating Students Through use of a Class Blog’.　Ｗｉｓｈ me a good luck!

ブログ閲覧時の注意！

以下、ブログの閲覧方法に関して少し気付いたことを書いておきます。

（１）記事を閲覧するときは、それぞれの記事のタイトルをクリックして、記事全体を表示するようにしてください。そうしないと、記事の途中までしか表示されないものがあるからです。また、記事を全体表示しないと、リンクが適切に表示されない場合もあります。

（２）記事の全体を表示すると、記事の最後の箇所に返信用のコメント記入欄が見えてきます。

New image for the header!

As of today, the iamge used for the header of my blog has been updated into more of an autumnal theme. The original design is from a CD bundled with a book called ‘Japanese Traditional Pattern Collection 300’ or ‘Nihon no Dentoo-MoNyoo 300’ from the publisher ‘X-media’. The price of the book is 2,400 yen plus VAT. In the book, each image is annotated in both Japanese and English, which I think is a selleing point because the copy appeals to the visitors from overseas who may not understand Japanese but English. I really recommend this book to anyone who is truly interested in Japanese traditional patterns. Just looking at each image during my coffee break can be so relaxing and soothing.

Been away for a short break!

I have been away with my family for a short late-summer break and have not updated my blog in the last three days. As for the break, we all had a good time in Doogo Onsen in Ehime prefecture. The hot spring, food and the services were excellent! Now we are fully refreshed and recharged.

Too many kittens!

Arrived my parents’ home yesterday in the early afternoon. I drove all the way from Hiroshima for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. When I walked into the house, there are at least three kittens! They were so busy running around in the kitchen! In fact, this morning one of them broke a vase by knocking it off from a kitchen table. Also I noticed there are another set of three very young kittens, perhaps about two months old, in the annex of the house! They cannot yet run around like other kittens in the kitchen. Never thought I would come across so many kittens in my house this time!!! Well, they are all pretty, cuddly creatures that make you smile.

Scholarship Available at Keioo-daigaku

On this morning’s news, I have come across this article from Hokkaidoo Shinbun. The article itself is in Japanese. If you are serious about your studies and are interested in doing MA or PhD, look no further: Keioo-dai seems to offer very generous scholarship for hardworking postgarduate students. please click here: sholoarship at keioo.

Renewal of my blog design! (Summer version)

As of 7th May 2008, the design of my blog has been changed. It has become more ‘summer-like’ to reflect the sudden change of weather patterns recently. It is often felt like summer, and I thought why don’t I add a bit of summer theme to my blog site.

Pop辞書をお気に入りに追加する方法

ネットをブラウジングしていて、POP辞書を使って閲覧中の英語サイトの意味をすぐに確認したいときの方法は？この場合は、 リンクバーに登録された「ページヒント」リンクをクリックするだけで、すぐに使えるようになります。詳細は、ここをクリックして確認！