How being able to speak Japanese has changed my life in Japan
I’ve been wanting to write this little post for some time. It’s not aimed at people who are perfectly happy not using Japanese whilst living in Japan (which I think is perfectly OK). It’s aimed at those considering studying Japanese. My hope is that it provides at least one person with a little inspiration. It’s […]
How much does a university education cost these days?
I can tell you, because today I got a statement from the student loans company. This is the total of four years of loans that have to be repaid – it excludes all the (non-repayable) grants that paid my tuition fees. That’s this much in a few other currencies: It is increasing on a monthly […]
Opening of Steiner Academy Hereford
(the narration starts about half way through the video. More videos here) Just a quick note to say how happy I am that. following years of negotiations with the government, on Monday, the Hereford Waldorf School became the Steiner Academy Hereford – the first Steiner school in the UK to be funded by the government. […]
Another CELTAesque weekend
Yesterday, being a Saturday, I went to uni. The previous day we’d been given the option of either watching a teaching practice video on the Friday, or of going in on the Saturday morning and watching it then. Four of us chose the latter option, as we felt that it would be a good way […]
CELTA: nearly half-way there
A poster I created to help get students in the mood for learning the second conditional: “If I won a million pounds I’d…” (the building featured houses about 5 classrooms that we teach in). Wah. Shatterficated. That’s what I be. We’re now almost half way through CELTA. The pace hasn’t let up at all, really […]
CELTA: 25% down, 75% to go
We made it. First week of CELTA complete. 25% down, 75% to go! The Wikiepdia description is turning out to be spot-on: The full-time four-week course is very intensive, and students taking it must be prepared to dedicate all their waking hours to it for the duration. Even the part-time version of the course can […]
Merhaba! Nasılsın?
In this morning’s first class we were treated to the most extraordinary experience. It was absolutely captivating, and made me forget all about the scary half-naked man at the bus stop 30 minutes earlier who had thrown bricks at a carpet-delivery van containing three men, one of whom had briefly emerged with a long iron […]
a brief hello
The way things are shaping up I think there will be very little in terms of blog activity from me this month. Or any other kind of activity, other than working towards gaining my CELTA certificate. It’s incredibly intense. from 9.30am to 6.30pm (7pm yesterday) the 16 of us are either in our classroom being […]
Degree result
Google Alert: Information Commons, Sheffield (tee hee) I worked out what I got for my degree the other day. Whilst grades aren’t officially published until the 14th July, with the results for all but one of modules (language) having been announced, it’s not hard to tot it up. I’ve guessed my mark for the language […]
LTEA Conference 2008: Long Live Inquiry-based Learning!
It’s now the day after the closing of the LTEA (Learning Through Enquiry Alliance) conference 2008, and my head is beginning to clear. I attempted to write about my experience of this event last night, but I was “all conferenced out” as fellow student ambassador Barbara put it – my mind was just a sea […]
The end is nigh (in a good way)
Well, this is it then folks. In 12 hours and 29 minutes I’ll have finished my final exam on this four year degree course. That will be a big relief. And probably a little surreal – the venue is Sheffield Wednesday Football Club (I hope the pitch isn’t too waterlogged, or the papers will get […]
Above the architecture section
Today, like yesterday, and no doubt tomorrow too, was a good day. I feel some important memories were made. It was also a very happy day, as last night my brother’s partner’s daughter gave birth to a very cute little boy – really great news – congratulations to all involved! Congratulations also to dear Michael […]
SeeChange Residential Event: Day 1
It’s been a fascinating day today. Following that early morning jog, I slowly got my stuff together and headed over to the Computing Centre, where I was to met a couple of university ‘colleagues’ for the 50-minute drive down here, the Derbyshire Hotel, from where I’m now staying for a couple of nights (all expenses […]
Going for it
About to press the magic lever (Starring Susie, and featuring my arm) Here we are then: the moment when I reached out and pushed the magic leaver that saw the my dissertation bound. Job done! Looking back on these past few days of hardcore writing I’m inspired. I got so much done – now how […]
Japanese stage debut
I’ve never been one for over-dramatisation… (an extract from a mini-drama staged in our Japanese speaking class today. Sorry about the poor camerawork. That’s the problem when one is on the wrong side of the camera – unless one has a psychic link with the camera and tripod it’s difficult to get it to zoom […]
Wanted: No Internet
It’s reached the stage with this dissertation writing where drastic action is called for. I need to go on retreat this weekend to write it. The only problem is finding somewhere that is affordable, quiet, and has no Internet access. Hotels are out on both counts. I’ve found a camp site, but it lacks a […]
My Life Purpose
One benefit of committing the story of one’s life to a blog powered by Google, hosted by some other company and then sent to you by email (and then burnt to DVD) is that when one turns 90, the chances are there will still be a copy of it somewhere. Why should that be important? […]
Spanners, deadlines, and night-time inspiration
Email from the parents: “No post for you from the embassy today either. They must be sorting out necessary changes in law for you to be made emperor” Having had a very long day, it was a great relief to get home last night. Managed to finalise the business plan and actually submit it 6 […]
A day in the life of Joseph Tame
Crikey O’reily. Talk about busy! Not a bad list of accomplishments for the day: 65 meaningful emails received 60 fairly meaningful emails sent Hair cut (meditation time as she wasn’t very talkative) Wedding invites redesigned & ordered Provided technical support for the folks having problems with Firefox Euthanasia Vocab learnt Enrolled on coaching course Had […]
Heading North, one last time
So this is it. I’m on the train for my last trip back to Sheffield. In seven weeks, it’ll all be over (that is, apart from one exam and my graduation). Just seven weeks. It’ll fly by. That’s kind of comforting, because I know that no matter how many things I have on my to […]
Total Success Institute
Great day today. Got that video submitted to the competition – I’ve had that lingering on my to do list for several months now. Then, it was wedding planning. Phone calls made, meetings arranged, all very exciting! Following that it was congrats to my *Twinkle*, who in the month of March saw sales in excess […]
Euthanasia: The debate begins
In a couple of weeks we’ll be asked to create a drama for our Japanese speaking class. The theme is Euthanasia. I’ve not given euthanasia much thought before now. But over the past couple of weeks I’ve come across a few programs on Radio 4 that have touched on the subject, including this morning’s Saturday […]
Bank Holiday stuff
Every time I come back to my parent’s house I make a point of a) eating mum’s home-made chocolate cake, and b) sorting through the stuff under my old bed to see what of my belongings can be given away. As time passes so it becomes easier to dispose of stuff, and it’s now reached […]
Phone call with a personal coach
Well, that was very interesting. I just had a 30-minute conversation with a life coach based in Thailand, worth $100, or $1000 depending on which literature you check. I paid $1 via Paypal. He’s published a couple of books, he runs workshops in various countries (including Japan), and has that vital appalling childhood story to […]
Another reason to study Japanese at the School of East Asian Studies
No, Sheffield University’s School of East Asian Studies isn’t paying my bandwidth bill, nor are my examiners reading the Daily Mumble (that wig and false nose suit you pretty well actually). However, the department has played a huge part in giving me the best possible uni experience ever – an experience which will shortly be […]
Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Decision made
I have a friend in Bristol with a Japanese wife and a child, who keeps a blog on which he posts updates about his progress in learning Japanese. This week, just like thousands of others around the world, he received the results of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, held every December. This time he didn’t […]