ステップアップ-STEP UP・アメリカ人講師 Jonathan ジョナサン

A decade of dialogue

2018年8月25日 (土)

Hi everyone! Hope you’re all enjoying your summer so far. It’s been a hot one!

So, this is my last journal entry at Step Up! And today is my last day at the school! After ten great years here, I’ve decided to take a job at a private high school here in Sapporo. After teaching thousands of students thousands of lessons, I can honestly look back on it all and say it was a great time. The school has grown over the years, and is constantly improving. I like to think that this is the best English conversation school in the city, if not all of Hokkaido. I’m going to miss it dearly.

I’d like to give a warm thank you to all of the great people I’ve had the pleasure of teaching, and all of the great people I’ve worked with at the school. It’s been a good run.

If you happen to see me in town (or on the slopes or a mountain top or the beach) make sure to say “hey”. I’m generally pretty easy to spot.

And, finally, don’t give up your pursuit of using excellent English! Life long learning – it’s the thing to do.

Take care and best of luck with all of your endeavors.

Sincerely,

Jon

Using your words well

2018年8月18日 (土)

Words are tools. If we use them effectively, we can accomplish great things. Even the simplest of expressions – “Thank you,” for example – can have a tremendous impact on people. This may seem obvious, but I think it’s good to be reminded of it from time to time. Words are tools – and the way we use them affects the future we build for ourselves. Think about a first date, or meeting, or job interview that didn’t go the way you wanted it to. Did you find yourself wondering if you’d said the wrong thing? Regardless of how sharp we look or how much we smile and nod, the words that come out of our mouths are ultimately the most influential elements of such encounters.

The same is true with writing. Think about those books or movies that had really good ideas, but bad dialog. Disappointing, right? Or a song that has great music, but terrible lyrics. Not worth a second listen. I think we all tend to forget how powerful language is. Even in the most casual of situations, saying the wrong thing – or not exactly the right thing – can cause unforeseen problems. So when using your native language or one you’re studying, remember to make sure the words you’re using are those that effectively express your thoughts. Easier said than done, I know. Here’s a mantra you can remember that should be helpful.

Short sentences, strong verbs.

But not just verbs – every word in a sentence is important. The better we use our words, the more effectively we’ll be able to communicate with one another. Trite, but true.

The dog days

2018年7月30日 (月)

We’re entering the “dog days” of summer. These are the hot, sultry days of summer’s peak temperatures – usually the hottest and most uncomfortable period of the year. But why “dog days”?

The ancient Greek and Romans noticed that during these hot months, the rising star Sirius (the Dog Star) could be seen in the night sky next to the constellation Orion. It is the brightest star in the sky during this time, so these people associated the Dog Star with the terrible heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy and even bad luck. This tradition of referring to hot summer days as The Dog Days of Summer has continued for centuries, and permeates contemporary culture now.

So remember to drink a lot of water during these oppressively hot days, and not to get angry at any dogs you may see as well ; )