Dear Dr.Armstrong

Dr. Armstrong, this is Naho Otani, sending message from Mana' s blog.
Two weeks ago, my google account was taken away by somebody else so I can't log in to this blog.
I've send you two emails, two weeks ago and last week on Tuesday,did you see my email?  If my email isn't sent to you, how should I work on blog?
I'm sorry to make you confused.

Last class

Yesterday was the last IE class. When this class started, I was really worried if I can keep up in this level as I had never studied abroad or had attended an international class in a Japanese school. I couldn't speak at all as I hadn't spoken English for a long time. However, there was no need to worry. As the classmates encouraged me and helped me with my English skills, I was able to brush up my English. I really appreciate the people who supported me, especialy with the speaking skills. I think my skills are way better than before. How can I thank you all. Through this class, I understand that I've got to study more harder.  So, I will study English more this summer!! And I will brush up my skills. I just can't believe this class ended. I really enjoyed!!

Dear (Fri 3,4) core class

I`m kind of sad that IE3 is over. I really enjoyed being in this class. All my classmates have different kind of personality and it was fun listening to their opinon every week. I was really busy because we had a lot of homework but I think this served as a stimulus for my English study.

I am glad to meet good friends! Thank you!
Also, thank you Mr. Armstrong for teaching us!

Otaku Culture

1. otaku: I agree with the definition.
2. moe: I thought it means "favorite" or "love".
3. cosplay: I agree with the definition.
4. tsundere: I thought this word is used in people who are usually cruel but sometimes show a nice side.
5. burriko: Trying to be too girly to attract boys attention.

IE class

I can’t believe IE class is over. I really want to say a big thank you to the people who always encouraged me and helped me with my English skills. It meant a lot to me! Now I decided to study more English during summer vacation and when the next term starts, I want to be able to communicate more with my friends in English. Thank you everyone!!

Otaku Culture

I enjoyed watching the two guys explaining the words Otaku, Moe, Cosplay, Tsundere, and Burikko. However, I thought Tsundere wasn’t exactly how we use it. It’s used when you can’t express your own feelings because you are too shy, and you say something that is slightly mean.

I think the guys explained the Otaku culture clearly, and I also thought explaining other country’s words was very difficult.

Logorama

Setting: In the United States

Conflict: The police was trying to catch Ronald Macdonald, but happened to break down the buildings.

Message: we are usually attractive to things that have brands but not everything is always good.

Brands: Stop & Shop, Pringle, Shoney’s Inn, Walker, GMC truck, Lego, Randy’s donuts, Pizza Hut, Betten, Esso, Perry, Emi, Best Western, Avis, Basseni, Spin, Enerdy, Smart, Kfc, Sprite, Pepsi, Haribo, My first, Miko, Purina, Evian, Mac Donald, Wega, Nickelodeon, Burger King, Starbucks Coffee, Dunkin Donuts, Wilson, Hollywood, Domino’s Pizza, Milky Way,etc

The Otaku Culture

Otaku- I agree to it, but I thought more should be added to it.

Moe- I can't say anything about it, because to be honest I really don't know the meaning of moe. But I guess his definition made me kind of understand the meaning.

Cosplay-Almost agree. I agree that cosplay is wearing an costume, but I don't think everyone who cosplay's has to role play as their favorite character. I've tried cosplay before but that wasn't because that was my favorite character or anything.

Tundere- Agree

Burikko- to act cute, trying to act cute to get attention to boys, acting as someone who you are not, are I think better meanings.

last IE class

Today was our last IE class.
Can't believe we're not gonna be gathering together again.
Thank you all for being good friends with me!!

I can't believe today was my IE class:(
But I had so much fun with the people I met.
I'm going to miss being with them.

crowded

Not only trains but also Shinkansen is very crowded Friday. There are many people standing because there is no seat left. I was lucky to find a seat but I feel sorry for the one's who can't sit for a long time.

TEST!!!

How many test do you have next week? I'm really worried about it!
We are going to have IE Listening test!
I'm really worried.

IE3

Today is my listening test in IE3 listening class. I hope I pass this class.

IE listening test

It's Friday morning and I'm having an IE listening test from now.
Gotta give it a try

Fireworks

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow because I'm planning to go see the Hachioji Fireworks.

According to the weather forecast as for now, it says that there is a high chance of rain!

Oh no!

Can't wait:)

During the first week of summer break, I am going to be a staff for the children's tennis camp! I am so excited! I won't get paid for it but I'm looking forward to spending time with little kids:)

Things I want to do during summer break

1. Volunteer work
2. Make a foreign friend
3. Go to Disneyland
4. Meet friends in Shizuoka
5. Find a job
6. Go shipping
:)

oops forgot about OTAKU

Otaku = A person with obsessive interest, particularly in anime, manga, and video game or a person who hangs out at Akihabara every day.

moe = moe is a pink fuzzy warm feeling you get inside when seeing and encountering fantasy characters.

Cosplay = wearing a costume and roleplaying in your favorite characters.

tsundere = icy hot. In other words, when someone can’t express their true feelings, one may come off rude or inconsiderate.

 

burikko = Faking ones cuteness

Ok so in my opinion, the definition of otaku, moe, cosplay, tsundere are legitimate. However, burrkko may have been misunderstood. The definition of burikko that I came up with is a person who acknowledge their own cuteness. I don't think it's faking ones cuteness. They believe that they are cute.

Yayyyy!!

It has come to my attention that the first semester is nearly over... which means.. that we have summer BREAK within a week!! my summer break is packed with exciting schedules, man I can't wait!!

School

I can't believe first semester(?) is ending already!
Time flies by so fast...

Summer Vacation

My sister who is 3 years younger than me is in New York right now.
She is staying at a host family's house and studying at school for 3 weeks.
She's so lucky to have this opportunity because I bet it's going to be so much fun!
I want to go abroad!!!

Last IE Core

Today was the last day of IE Core class.
Everyone was very nice and it was such a fun class.
Thank you everyone and Mr. Armstrong !!

Cheating

This is a link to the video on cheating for our final presentation, the audio is louder on YouTube so please enjoy ..... http://youtu.be/0SD9-8r7WZs

Final Presentation

Today is our final group project. We will either be rewarded for our creativity or lose grades because we did something completely different. All or nothing!

Writing skills

I am not good at writing a report. I wish I could write concise sentences and make readers curious about its themes or problems. I want to improve my writing skills in both English and Japanese through many chances to write sentences.

Logorama

Setting: Somewhere looks like America.

Conflict: Ronald McDonald causes a trouble, and suddenly a huge earthquake happens.

Logos: McDonalds, HARIBO, KFC, Big Boy, Pizza huts, Apple, Pepsi, NASA, Milky Way

Mirage

Main Character: A cyborg who needs water to live.

Where: A dark city.

Conflict: He found a fruit filled with water, but a fish was in it.

New Problem: As he took water from it, the fish was dying.

Ending: He puts the fish into his body.

Message: I think this film expresses human ego.

Varmits

Main Character: A creature which looks like Mickey Mouse.

When: In the future.

Where: A beautiful field.

Problem: The field changes into a dark city filled with black buildings.

Message: I think this film shows us what we have destroyed and how precious it was.

Transgender Power

Main Character: Suttirat Crystal Simsiriwong

Where she works: A cosmetic shtore in Thailand.

Conflict: Being a transgender enabled her to enter a pub.

Solution: She decided to show on TV to let people know about this problem.

What happened next: The circumstance changed.

WOW

I am so sorry for posting blog 4 times in a row. I'd better go now, because I have to watch gekku. Don't get me wrong, I do not like YAMAPI. Bye, Mr. Armstrong! It was so fun being in your class. Thank you. Good night.

Gasshuku

My kohai in the high school brass band have headed to Niigata to practice for the competition. We could not go to all Japan just by two points, so I hope they can go to all Japan this year. Do your best, my kohai!

My favorite song

My favorite song is "SHAMROCK" by UVERworld.
It gives me a lot of power.

The other day

The other day, Tomomi, Yuri, and I went to the Indian Curry restaurant at Center-gai after school. It cost about 800 yen and we dipped what you call "nan" into the curry sauce. It was delicious. After that we went to karaoke for an hour. It was so short, so I hope we can go karaoke much longer next time!

Tomorrow is the last IE core

Oh, please let us all pass this course and go to the seminar. We beg you. We all love you. We did our best in media discussion, book report, and this blog! We are all busy but we all did our work hard! Please give me A+. Oh Lord.

things I have to do

There are a lot of things  I have to do and I feel tired these days.
But summer vacation is coming, so I'll try to do my best.

Report

On the weekend, I did my report that is dued today. It was pretty hard for me as it was my first time doing a report in Japanese. As I didn't have any examples, I did it on my on way. I hope I get good evaluations.

Exam

I couldn't do my best for the exam I took yesterday. I spend a lot of time preparing for it but couldn't do well. Anyway, I have more exams to take this week. I must prepare for them.

I only have......

1653yen for this month.
I guess I'm not gonna be able to eat eels for doyou-no-hi.
Too bad.

Dance competition

I had a dance competition yesterday.
I couldn't win, but I enjoyed very much.
I think I need more practice.

Hello!

Hello everyone!Good Morning!
It's cool these days compared to last week.
I'm so happy because I can sleep without the air conditioner on.
But I used them too much before so I'm really worried how much it'll cost this month!

eel ;)

I started working part-time at an eel restaurant last week.

I chose an eel restaurant because I really love eel. The restaurant is called Ichinoya and is located one minute from my house.

Working at Ichinoya is quite tough but it's worth it because I am surrounded by the smell of cooking eel and sometimes they allow me to eat a little.

22nd of July is a day called 土用の丑の日(doyo-no-ushinohi). On that day, it is said that we should eat eel to overcome Japan's horrible Summer.

If you want to eat delicious eel in a relaxing Japanese style atmosphere, come to Ichinoya ;)

Speech by Yamamoto Taro

I was just listening to a speech by Yamamoto Taro at the Ikebukuro Station.
It was my first time seeing a real politic making a speech with my own two eyes, and I actually found it interesting that I stood there for 30 minutes listening to his speech!

Table Tennis

On Sunday, my family and I played table tennis.
As test is coming up, my table tennis circle holds activity until August.
However, I couldn't bear just studying for test, so I suggested to my family that we play one last weekend.
Well, I enjoyed it pretty much, and I'm looking forward to playing one with my circle after test!

Sagamihara Campus

Have you ever been to Sagamihara Campus?

Yesterday, I went to Sagamihara Campus at Fuchinobe for my club activity of Aoyama Kids Company.
We couldn't borrow usual classroom for our meeting, so our member visited to Sagamihara.
It was my second time, but I always envy the large space.
Although Aoyama Campus is closer to my home, it's too small for all the students.
The Cafeteria is unbelievably larger than here at Aoyama.

After we had a meeting, we went to Italian restaurant close to the station.
It was really fun!
I really feel comfortable when I talk with the members.

Report

Right now, I'm struggling to write a report.
It took me more time than I had expected, and I don't know when I'll be done...
I have to study for tests, too...
Tons of works to do, and I'm totally exhausted.

Test

Got many reports that needed to be done and also I need to get prepared for the first exam in Uni.
I have pretty much no idea what to do for it.

Favorite

Do you have any favorite TV programs?
Usually I don't watch TV because it's sometimes noisy, but I love watching travel programs.
I especially love the ones of NHK because it's really quite and the best part is that the people traveling is invisible and it makes me feel like I'm traveling.
It makes me so happy and relaxed that I sometimes fall asleep but it's not that I'm bored!

Summer Vacation

I'm going back to Fukuoka this summer.
I can't wait to meet my friends and family!
Do you have any plans for summer vacation?

Back!!

Saturday night, my sister came back. I met her for the first time in two months. I was surprised to see her difference from last time. Too bad but, she left yesterday. It was a really short time.  I might cannot see her until Christmas. After seeing her, I thought that I need some exercise like her. As I do not belong to a sport club, I must work by my own. But I have no idea what I should do.

Summer

It's too hot. I can't stand this anymore. I want to go to a place where I can spend comfortably. I need some rest. I don't feel like going outside in the sun.

Shizuoka

It was a like two weeks ago, but I had a chance to go back to Shizuoka and hang out with my family! My sisters and brother are growing so much bigger, and so I was a little sad that I didn't always get to see them..I can't wait till summer break till I get to see my family again:)

Hey Hiroshi!

My email address is ariel97us@yahoo.com. What's up?

Drop me a message ASAP.

Disneyland!!

I'm really excited for Wednesday because I'm going to go to Disneyland with the ESS members!!
I personally like Disneysea better because the attractions are more scarier than the ones in Disneyland and they are not childish, but I think Disneyland is more fun when you go with a large group.
In Disneyland, I love riding on the Space Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain.

Which do you like better, Disneysea or Disneyland?

Glee

For all the Glee fans.. It must be so shocking that Cory Monteith was found dead yesterday. I wonder what will happen to Glee?

Dr. Armstrong

Does anyone know Dr. Armstrong's email address?

I need it as soon as possible. Is it ariel97@yahoo.com??

Hajimeteno Otsukai

Do you know a TV program called Hajimeteno Otsukai?
In this, children do an errand for their parents all by them selves.

The kids are so cute because they work really hard to do anything.
Even things we can do easily, they have trouble doing it.
It sometimes make me cry when they cry and when they finished and finally met their parents.
I wonder how it feels if they were my own child. lol

Their would be a 3 hour special tomorrow from 7.
I really recommend you watch it!

Soccer Game

Yesterday me, Mika and Natsuki went to a soccer game.
We were able to go because Natsuki's dad gave us the ticket for us.
I really appreciate Natsuki inviting me!
It was really fun!
The game was Kashiwa Reysol vs. Kashima Antlers.
We were cheering for Kashiwa Reysol.
At the first half Kashima Antlers got a point and we were afraid that we'll lose.
However at the last half Kashiwa Reysol got 2 points and we won!!
It was really exiting when they got goals!
We stood up and high-fived with each other and with people around us!

Natsuki, thank you for inviting me :)

Friday

Kana came to my apartment on Friday and we had a sleep over! We had a nice time chatting and we also went shopping at Parco in Shibuya and had biking for dinner.  It was really delicious so I recommend that everyone should go to the biking restaurant in Parco someday.

To Miyuki

I'm also thinking of doing a part-time job at a cram school since I want to have a teacher's license.  I hope it would be a good experience to you to teach children there!

This Wednesday...

This Wednesday, I'm going to my friend's house and spend the night at her house in Saitama.  I'm able to do so because I don't have school on Wednesday and Thursday.  I'm so excited because I haven't seen her since the graduation ceremony of high school!

The Otaku culture

I think most of them were the difinition that Patric Galbraith said, except tsundere.  I think tsundere means people who are usually cool, but sometimes shows that he or she cares about the special person.

Dear Vishnu

I 'll totally go!
But, I'll be in Ehime after the 12th of August.
So, when are starting?

Want a castle? Go get it!

I WANT TO GO TO NUESCHWANSTEIN CASTLE!!
Isn't it so beautiful?

Did you think you want to have it?

Well, this castle is not in sale but the is a chance you can get a beautiful one!

You'll regret if you don't go to the link. lol

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-awesome-castles-you-can-buy-right-now-2012-10?op=1

Shyun Oguri

I bought this book the other day. 

This is a book of Shyun Oguri!

I love him so much!!

He's often on the magazines but he doesn't publish his own books that often.

Actually he only publishes once in 10 years.

Reading this book you can get a lot of information back the stages, movies and dramas.

I really like him because he is cool and he is good at acting.

I recommend this book because you'll be able to find out why he's so good at acting.

Futsal

I love my futsal club!
In my futsal club, there are only freshmen so it's really free and we're all friends.
It's too bad I couldn't go yesterday because I was too busy.
Today I handed in the last homework for this week and I'm really relieved and I guess I'll be able to go next time!

Otaku culture

These are my definitions of otaku words.
Moe: a feeling when you see an cute thing
Cosplay: to dress up like your favorite animation character
Tsundere: someone who always act cool are a little mean, but actually their not inside
Burikko: to act like you are cute. mostly to attract men.

Otaku culture

Otaku- I think there are more types of interests that otakus have.

Moe- I think it could be used to real things too.

Cosplay- I think it is a good definition.

Tsundere- I don’t know when you would know that the person is tsundere.

Burikko- Good definition but I think young people are sometimes burikko too.

The Otaku Culture

otaku- I agree with this definition. However, I think train otaku could also be one of the common kinds of it.

moe- I don't understand what a "'pink' fuzzy warm feeling" is. I think it is an another way of saying "like" or "love" in Japanese.

cosplay- I would change the definition in the following way; wearing many costumes and roleplaying by just a one person, usually trying to become a character that they like.

tsundere- I am for the meaning. Yet, I would say that it's usually people who are shy.

burikko- I think youngsters could all so be burrikko.

The Otaku Culture

Otaku- I think people who are obsessed in idols can also be an otaku.
Moe- A lot of people use these words. But I don't get it. I think I cannot agree with this definition.
Cosplay- I agree with the definition. People sometimes seem to desire to become what they like.
Tsundere- Poeple who are usually cool in front of people but is actually shy.
Burikko- People who try to be attractive and cute.