エコールひばり Experience

Hello Students.

We are offering a new Eiken 5th Rank Preparation Class from April at our Kotesashi branch school. This class is on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.

We also have an Eiken 5th Rank Preparation Class on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. as well.

Children who are interested in taking the 5th Rank test in June 2018, please inquire with any staff member.

I hope you take this opportunity to really challenge yourselves on improving your English skills.

Aloha.
Andy

The teachers and staff hope that all of you had a wonderful and relaxing winter vacation. Were you able to eat any New Year's food? Have you finished all your homework? Did you receive any greeting cards?

The teachers and I are really looking forward to teaching our students. This is going to be a great year, isn't it? It sure it.

See you in class!

Andy

Good Afternoon Students.

Ecole Hibari will be having its Eken Junior tests on February 3, 2018. The following tests will be available.

The Bronze Test will be held at 2 p.m.
The Silver Test will be held at 11 a.m.
The Gold Test will be held at 10 a.m.

Students who are interested in taking these tests, please contact your teacher or any staff member.

There are previous tests that students can borrow. I advice you to start practicing from now.

See you in class.

Andy

Good Morning Everyone. (It is 7:30 in the morning.)

Yesterday, November 19th, Henk, Yumiko, Motoyo and I took six children to Inokashira Park Zoo in Kichijoji. We had such a wonderful day under the sun (a little chilly).

As a teacher, I was quite satisfied that all of us could conduct the trip almost entirely in English! The children were able learn new things.

I really loved the boxed lunches (obento) that the kids brought with them. They looked so creative. When I was a child growing up in America, I would only bring a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, and milk (in a brown paper bag) on my excursions.

At the zoo, the children displayed their beautiful arrangement of food in decorative little plastic boxes. They also brought all types of snacks (oyatsu). I took many pictures of their obento so that I can show my friends in the States.

Anyway, that is all I can write for now. I must get ready to go to work.

See you later.

Andy

Hello Students.

Henk and I would like to invite our students to the zoo on November 19th, Sunday. For those who are interested, please talk to any teacher or staff member.

The entire trip will be done in English. This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to practice your communication skills!

Come and join us for a fantastic and memorable time.

See you.
Andy

Hello Everyone.

We are excited to announce the start of a new Reading and Writing Class in Kotesashi. For those children who are in the third or fourth grades of elementary school, you are invited to participate in trial lessons in September.

Trial lesson day/time: Monday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.
Dates for trial lessons: September 4th, 11th, and 25th.
Teachers: Peter Bohannan and Motoyo Usami

Please inquire with our staff for more information. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.
Andy

Hello Everyone.

I would like to talk about one of my Reading and Writing classes. There is a class on Saturdays with two students in the second grade of elementary school. This class started from this year May.

I am using the Sing, Spell, Read, and Write curriculum. Basically, at the initial stage, I am using songs for students to remember phonics. Music is one of the best techniques for children to develop rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation. The children are also using two books called, Off We Go and On Track

Right now, the students are learning how to write both the capital and small letters. Teaching children penmanship is vital in good writing skills. Sitting at the table with your feet planted on the floor is important to show children the correct way in writing well. Good posture while holding the pencil with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger is also vital in mastering this skill.

Last night's class was fun. I video taped the children singing the Phonics Song. I was amazed how much they improved in just a month. They were able to identify the sounds for the 26 letters of the alphabet correctly. When I replayed the video in front of the children, they were able to see themselves smiling and having fun while singing. They performed wonderfully. I was so proud of them.

I cannot wait to teach them again next Saturday!

Bye for now.

Andy

With more emphasis put on reading and writing in junior high schools and high schools, it is vital for students to learn these two skills at an earlier age.

Ecole Hibari will be starting a class focusing on reading and writing from this April. For those students who are interested in trial lessons in March, please inquire with any staff member.

Hope to hear from you.

Andy

Hello Everyone.

On March 29, Wednesday, we will be taking our Ecole Hibari kids to the zoo! I am so excited. For more information, please talk to the staff.

Aloha.
Andy

Hello Everyone. Andy here.

I want to thank all the children and parents who came to Ecole Hibari's Family Picnic Day on October 23.

This was the first time we had ever held a picnic and it was fantastic.

We started at 10 o'clock in the morning. At first, all the students, teachers, and staff introduced themselves in English.

The first game played was called The Farmer's Game. Two teams were created. The idea of this game was for the children to run and put on a shirt, a long scarf, and a cap as quickly as possible. The child then ran around a cone and proceeded to take off each garment and ran to the next student. The next student then continued this process until all students on each team had done the same thing. This game was so much fun to witness. I wish you were there to see this.

The next game was called Freeze. Students played as a group. Music was used for this game. As a song was played on the CD player, Henk and I shouted out commands (run, jump, kick, and so on) for the students to perform. When one of the teachers yelled, "Freeze," the children had to stop and not move while still in the action that was last performed. The song then started and another teacher called out different commands and then yelled, "Freeze" again. The part I loved best was when the kids had to continue "smiling" for three or four seconds without moving. I was rolling with laughter and so were the parents.

These were only some of the events that we enjoyed throughout the day.

Oh yes! I almost forgot. the children brought their own lunches. We ate together and shared enjoyable stories with one another while eating on a beautiful, sunny day.

This was a great day! I hope we can all do this again.

Thank you for reading. Until next time. Bye.

Andy