Q & A

Thank you all so much for your comments. Looking back over the earlier blog entries, I realised people started asking questions that I haven’t answered yet. So here is a list of answers up to this point:

Do the lessons get repetitive? Is it a case of "Previously on 24"?
Dad

It depends. There’re over 200 different lessons so it is possible for me to do new ones every day. However, it depends on the students. For example, if you have a class of four, and one of them has done a lesson a few days ago, it’s not fair to do it now. Due to this, it can mean choosing a lesson you taught only a few hours ago. Nevertheless, each lesson has so many different activities and ideas that you can always find new and interesting ways to teach a topic.

Your blog is amazing, and it sounds like you are enjoying being in Japan…What are you missing from England?
Love from Andrew your cousin

Missing from England? Hmm, baked beans, jacket potatoes, The Times, cinema, Double Deckers. That’s about it. AND ALL OF YOU, OF COURSE!

Do all students come from Japan? Do they travel far to the lessons? What do they hope to do with the English? Do they get confused with different Western accents?
Dad

99% from Japan; a few from Korea, China. They don’t need to travel far because there is a NOVA branch by every train station. The bigger the station, the bigger the branch. Mine is quite large. The branch I mean. Some use English for work, some want to travel. Others are just interested. Plus, it helps with movies, books, internet and so on. To be honest, many of the students don’t like the Australian instructors, but more because of the slangy words they use. Oh, and they don’t like the Scottish accent. They can’t understand it. Then again, neither can I.

If you’re on the other side does that mean you've gone over, is it dark on your side of the moon?
Anon

No! It’s always light here. It gets light at about 4 a.m. and I can’t work out why.

Hi Phil - Andrew wants to know if you've seen any Sumo wrestlers walking down the street and where do they buy their nappies?.
Eric

No, not yet but the sumo season starts around June, so I'm getting tickets soon. Expect photos.

The blossom is amazing. Do you know if they produce cherries?
Dad

I hear they do, but I’m not sure when. I think the best of it has passed now, until next March.

Is it difficult getting matzos* in Japan?
Mum

No, the Kosher deli is at the end of my road.
(I haven’t seen any)

Have u met Jackie Chan yet?
Oli

No, but does the dancing man count? Speaking of which…

awww that little man is so cute. You just wanna pick him up and hug him! Was he just randomly dancing in the street?
Tanya the Cuz

Yes, yes he was. He should be in the guide books.

*bread for Passover