Smith's School of English Soap Box

Reflecting on my decision to buy the Smith’s Azamino English Conversation School (スミス英会話　あざみ野校).

Rob — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:41:25 +0000

In life, some decisions you make you regret, while other decisions you make there are no regrets. For me, I seem to have quite of few of these decisions on both sides (that I regret and not regret). The decision to start BASE Jumping is perhaps one that is both. Common sense would say “jumping [...]

Sightseeing in Kyoto.

Tom — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:15:17 +0000

During the Golden Week, I was visited by my family. It was their first time in Japan and I’ve decided to show them as much as possible in Kansai area. The idea was to do one-day trips in and around Kyoto. Most of the time we were able to be back home by evening, in [...]

Texbook Perfect Hanami Right Outside Our Window

Martin — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:36:52 +0000

A little late, I admit, but this year is a bit different. Yoko and I were down in Yoshino during Golden Week and some blossoms were still in full bloom at the top of the hill. This year 2012 has indeed offered a late and somewhat extended schedule for cherry blossoms viewing, and even as [...]

A Recent One-Point Homework of Interest : I wish I could _ because then I could _

Martin — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:50:21 +0000

I am happy to report that many of the students at Smith’s School in Kotoen actively and diligently participate in the 1-Point homework every week. Recently we had a popular one point using the present imaginary construct: “I wish I could ________ because then I could ________”. I’ve noted the most interesting submissions received and am [...]

2012 Kansai Area Smith’s Hanami （花見）Event at Osaka Castle Park （大阪城公園）

Derek — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:41:59 +0000

I always look forward to the annual Kansai area Smith’s School of English hanami event at Osaka Castle Park in Osaka. In addition to enjoying picnicking under pretty cherry blossoms with Smith’s students and others, it’s a great chance to catch up with other Smith’s teachers who I don’t usually see. This year, it was [...]

A Perfect Relationship Living In Japan Together

Martin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:25:50 +0000

Success at anything requires work, something which very few people would dare to argue against and something which I am in the process of doing a little more of these days! At the same time, work at maintaining successful relationships in our lives is equally important. On this point, Yoko and I are textbook successful. We [...]

Preparing Another Wine Tasting – Food Pairing Seminar Smith’s Kotoen ( スミス英会話　甲東園校 )

Martin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:30:06 +0000

The spring season is here in full swing and it is around this time many nice new vintages come available in the favorite wine shops. It is in the last quarter of the previous year that bottling and corking takes place in earnest and the subsequent spring coincides with increased interest in wine tasting and food pairing hours at the Smith’s School [...]

My Favorite Japanese Fast Food Chain CoCo’s (CoCo壱番屋) – Fujigaoka (藤が丘) & Ichigao (市が尾).

Rob — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:14:19 +0000

My favorite Japanese fast food Restaurant - Cocos. Cocos has to locations very close to Azamino (あざみ野) just a short trip down the Tōkyū, Den-en-toshi line (東急田園都市線) towards Chūō-Rinkan (中央林間) at both Fujigaoka (藤が丘) and Ichigao (市が尾) Station (駅).

A quick end to Ohanami (お花見) in Azamino(あざみ野 ).

Rob — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:03:22 +0000

Heavy rain and strong winds put a quick end to Ohanami (お花見) this year. Hopefully my Azamino English students (英会話) were able to get out to the Caritas Jr Collegeカリタス女子短期大学 area for one last viewing.

The UNIQLO (ユニクロ) clothing store at Eda Station(江田駅)

Rob — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:34:15 +0000

Eda Station (江田駅) UNIQLO (ユニクロ) a very nice and cheap clothing store. I highly recommend it to all my English students at the Azamino English Conversation School (スミス英会話あざみ野校) and it's only a short trip on the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi line (東急田園都市線).