Category Archives: English Teaching

Tanabata (Star Festival) Kids Lessons

Posted on July 7, 2013 by tokyofox

The 7th of July in Japan is known as Tanabata (七夕) which celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are only allowed to meet once a year on the … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

English Made In Japan Pt II

Posted on June 29, 2013 by tokyofox

It was in the news this last week that a 71 year old Japanese guy is suing NHK for mental distress caused by an excessive use of words borrowed from English. His complaint was that he couldn’t understand his own … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Teaching Kids To Read Via A Penalty Shoot-Out!

Posted on June 8, 2013 by tokyofox

You’d think that after the penalty heartbreak suffered by Leicester City in the Play Offs last month that the last thing on my mind would be more penalties but this is a game to be used as an additional resource … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dining Out: Caravan Sarai (Afghanistan)

Posted on May 30, 2013 by tokyofox

“Dictation being forced in Afghanistan…” is the opening lyric to the Pet Shop Boys 1988 hit ‘It’s Alright‘ (video still below) and the first time I’d really ever heard of the place not that I would have been able to … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Food & Drink, Middle East Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Using Songs In Adult English Lessons

Posted on April 14, 2013 by tokyofox

Following my recent post on using ‘Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)‘ in English lessons I have had a few enquiries about using songs as an additional resource. Not wanting to actually come up with anything new on this topic I have … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) In English Lessons!

Posted on April 4, 2013 by tokyofox

Having heard the song ‘Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)‘ mentioned recently on Scott Mills’ Radio One show for the final episode of the ‘24 Years at the Tap End‘ feature I remembered that I had actually burned this song onto … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TF Interview…..With Author Tim Andrewartha

Posted on November 22, 2012 by tokyofox

When he’s not eating pickled plums, grooming his sideburns or teaching the future perfect continuous Tim Andrewartha is a Tokyo-based writer who had his first novel ‘Vitality‘ published earlier this year. TF caught up with the man we call Tim Andrewauthor … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, English Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Spook-tacular Halloween (2012)

Posted on November 1, 2012 by tokyofox

Following on from the previous nights Halloween party in Ebisu I had to be up early to do a couple of kids Halloween Parties in Hibarigaoka with colleague and friend Lai-Keun. Last year we did a shattering three parties pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Star Wars | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Darth Maul Joins In The Halloween Spirit

Posted on October 29, 2012 by tokyofox

Darth Maul may have been cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace‘ but that didn’t stop the writers of ‘Star Wars The Clone Wars‘ resurrecting the character at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Hentai, Japan Life, Quirky Japan, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Reasons To Like Living And Working In Japan

Posted on March 9, 2012 by tokyofox

The inevitable response to my two Room 101 posts was “well, if you don’t like it then you should move” but that really is missing the point. People have a right to moan about wherever they live or the situation … Continue reading →

Posted in English Teaching, Japan Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments