Hi from new members

Keiko Ishii

I started teaching English just a couple of years ago when I was in the graduate course of TESOL at Temple University in Osaka. I teach four adult students at home. One of them is a medical student with whom I have many opportunities to discuss medical topics extracted from English-language newspapers and also to study dialogues between a doctor and a patient. The other three are all housewives around 50 years of age who have not used English since they were in university.

What I am most concerned about now is how to motivate my students, especially the housewives. Basically, most of them need English only when they travel abroad. In spite of the few chances to be exposed to natural English, the housewives want to do something practical. My challenge to motivate them has resulted in me personalizing materials and activities. For example, I sometimes bring cooking into my English lessons. I really hope some of the LLL SIG members will give me useful advice on the motivation issue. I would also be happy if I could introduce something interesting to other members regarding activities.

Junko Sakoi

I am Junko Sakoi. I am not teaching now. My job is to design curriculum and lesson plans for English language classes. I think that making classroom instructions and lesson plans is really essential for effective teaching and learning for both teachers and learners of English. Therefore, I have focused on this job. I would like to develop better classroom curriculum, instruction, and teaching of English language in Japan.

Tom Anderson

I'm very happy to join this group as, at this point in my life, I consider myself an older learner (having hit the big 50 mark). I've been in Japan now for about 21 years. I come from Calgary, Alberta, Canada but am now a Hamako (honorary native of Yokohama). I've taught every type of student there is in just about every situation possible. Although I'm not working with older learners at the moment (I teach at Aoyama Gakuin University and Tokai University), I've taught housewives, business people, and retired folks over the years. I believe that in a graying society such as Japan, life long learning will become more and more important, so I hope that I can learn from and contribute to this group. My wife, Akiyo, operates her own translation business in our home and our daughter, Cathy, is in the fifth grade at a small international school. This summer I'll be taking her to Canada for the third time to join English day camps at the YMCA in Calgary. We have a black Lab, an Amazon parrot, and a budgie so our home is lively. I enjoy studying Japanese, reading, writing, doing aquasize (most of the people in the classes I join are older learners), skiing, watching good movies, and doing choral singing. I'm looking forward to working together with you all, and dozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu!

Noriko Miki

Hi, there. I'm Noriko Miki, a new member here. Let me introduce myself to you. I'm married and I have two sons. My husband is understanding, so I can study at university. I'm a university senior and have chosen English education as a lifelong study for senior citizens for my graduation thesis.

Mr. Ishida's book inspired me to study older learners and Curtis Kelly advised me to join this group. I'm sure I'll need the help of the LLLsig members in dealing with my thesis in the very near future.

Thank you.

Ryoko Unoura

Hello! My name is Ryoko Unoura. I work as an office worker in the daytime, and I study as a graduate student of University of the Ryukyus at night. I am majoring in applied linguistics, so I am especially interested in making a textbook for elderly learners.

In LLLSIG, I would be happy if I can get some information related to my interests, so if you are teaching English to elderly students or are interested in teaching materials for those people, please let me know.

By the way, my hobby is gardening. In particular, I am good at growing herbs. I make tea with fresh herbs, and people say it's delicious.