Finally, another podcast. I recorded this while fixing a late night snack. Thanks for being so patient while I was busy with college. I should have time to get another podcast out next week.Direct LinkHere's the "how to" video on stirring that I mentioned in the podcast. Thanks to japancast.net where I found it.
4/8/2006 | Download File (0.11 MB) - right click to download
I have some projects I'm working on in a couple classes. Presentations that I am "converting" for my blog, so You'll get an idea of what I'm doing for school this semester. With 3 literature classes, it's a lot of reading...a lot! Basically it's read and discuss, read and discuss, write paper, read and discuss. I thought I'd put up this video to hold you over. I found this along time ago and liked it. What I think is special about this video is the lighting effects. Whoever did the lighting is amazing. There's a scene a good ways into the video that has all the colored lights and stage lights flashing like crazy and "glaring" on camera. At first your first reaction might be to squint(it's alot like seeing tons of camera bulbs going off in front of you. But it's amazing because you don't squint. It's actually all quite pleasant. I don't know how he managed the right amount of filters and such but it's really cool.
3/15/2006 | Download File (0.02 MB) - right click to download
As you should be able to tell by now...I'm really interested in Japanese culture, and those of you that have been listening to the podcast, you know I plan on moving there after I graduate.I don't know how long it'll be before I see Tokyo(I'll be trying to settle a bit south of there, closer to Osaka) but I liked this clip.
3/13/2006 | Download File (0.02 MB) - right click to download
I'm very excited about this. Last semester I had the opportunity to propose developing a new type of curriculum for English. This is very preliminary and didn't even establish for what grade level, but what it did do is open up some doors. Of course there will be some things I can't do until I'm in Japan, but there's still a lot I can do now. I now have the time and resources to work on another project I've been thinking about. Developing some ESL curriculum. Particularly some curriculum for teaching English in Japan. I'd prefer doing this work in Japan, but I'm just too excited about it to wait until I move. Besides, there's a lot of groundwork I can lay before I go, that will speed up the process. One thing I want to do, that'll be a lot of fun(I think) is to use you guys/gals as my guinea pigs:) I started using writely.com to create some online content, and I will continue to update it and post it on this blog. It will require me to talk somewhat to explain a lot of the content and help you better understand it, but that's what podcasts are for, rigtht? What does this mean for my podcast? Well, it means I will be steering the content a little towards a Japanese audience, but it's still very important to keep in touch with an English speaking community. Initially I'll be talking(in the podcast) about some of the things I've mentioned here, and more. I'd like to establish some connections with people teaching english in Japan. I'm going to be getting some of the newer curriculum being used in classrooms right now. For now I posted a horrible mix of words and ideas in a recent document I created on writely.com These were random thoughts I just laid out the other night. I didn't really organize my thoughts so I know how unprofessional and childlike it seems, but that's part of the joy of sharing my work with you. You can watch it come alive and develop right before your eyes. So without further delay, here's what I've written so far. Integrations Into English MP327 minutes Powered by CGISpy.com
3/13/2006 | Download File (33.91 MB) - right click to download
Finally, another podcast. I recorded this while fixing a late night snack. Thanks for being so patient while I was busy with college. I should have time to get another podcast out next week.Direct LinkHere's the "how to" video on stirring that I mentioned in the podcast. Thanks to japancast.net where I found it.
3/8/2006 | Download File (0.06 MB) - right click to download
In this months Hiragana Times there's an article about a new English teaching method that has been garnering rave reviews in Japan. Professor Onishi who has a Japanese television show called "Haato de Kanjiru Eibunpou"(English Grammar Feeling By Heart) where he has been teaching english by throwing out the old boring grammar book. Instead of the traditional way of teaching the basics of grammar with a textbook, which has many students bored causing them to do poorly, Onishi uses what he refers to as teaching cores. "Every grammatical part has one core, one essential, fundamental 'intuition.' Once you get the core you can use it to learn other smaller derivative points. You don't have to build up usages or memorize any rules, you just attack the core. It's a very efficient way of learning"I have been looking around for info on the net. So far I've come up empty handed. If anyone knows any URL's or more info on this, I'd love to see it. I'm hoping to find an episode, clip, or even just some photos of professor Onishi or his show. I know that someone from NHK TV discovered him which had a great deal to do with him getting publicity. He's even having a series of new books published soon.Also the late post comes from a combination of being busy with school, and google's server temporarily down during the one shorthttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=20609135 time I actually tried to post. So I've thrown in a couple Quickclips to keep you all happy, and coming back. These are two clips of the openings to "Densha Otoko" a new popular show in Japan about an Otaku who meets a beautiful woman and she starts to like him. I haven't watched the whole series but I may.Have a good day and a great week!
