2008-07-11T16:18:50+09:00This blog provides information and schedule notifications of NIHONGO GYM Japanese school in Osaka. JUGEMhttp://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7832302008-07-11T16:16:18+09:002008-07-11T07:18:50Z2008-07-11T07:16:18Z

I'm sorry it's a bit late to post this. Professor Haig's lecture on Sunday was great and insightful! I uploaded the pictures of him and us I took on my facebook album. Please take a look.

YUKOschool event Professor Haig's lecture on Sunday was great and insightful!

I uploaded the pictures of him and us I took on my facebook album.
Please take a look.
]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7804192008-06-27T14:34:39+09:002008-06-27T05:34:39Z2008-06-27T05:34:39Z

講演 『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　 講師　ジョン・ヘイグ　ハワイ大学教授 Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig “A Kanji Authority Looks at Japan and the World of Kanji.” 7月6日（日）　11：00〜12：00 日本語スクールNIHONG...

YUKOschool event 『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　
講師　ジョン・ヘイグ　ハワイ大学教授
Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig
“A Kanji Authority Looks at
Japan and the World of Kanji.”
7月6日（日）　11：00〜12：00
日本語スクールNIHONGO GYMは、この素晴らしい講演を自信を持ってお届けします。講演してくださるのは、ハワイ大学マノア校東アジア言語文学部准教授、ジョン・ヘイグ博士。ヘイグ先生が見た日本、そして漢字の世界を、英語と日本語の両方で楽しく語ってくださいます。日本語を勉強中の外国人の方にとっては、大先輩から漢字学習、ひいては日本の言語や文化について聞けるチャンスです。日本人にとっては、日本語と日本文化の再発見となることでしょう。沢山の方の参加をお待ちしております。

●　日 時: 2008年 7月6日（日）　1１：00〜1２：00
●　会 場: 難波市民学習センターOCATビル４階　(四つ橋線なんば駅改札から徒歩３分、JR難波駅改札から徒歩1分)
●　入場料：　500円
● お申込み方法：　e-mailで参加希望人数・参加者氏名・代表者の電話番号を7/3(木) までにお知らせください。
講師のご紹介
ジョン・ヘイグ教授は、1978年、ハーバード大学にて日本語言語学を専門とし博士号取得。1989年、ハワイ大学マノアにてMBA取得。1976年以来、ハワイに在住しハワイ大学で教鞭を取る。また日本でも名古屋大学、山形大学、神戸大学、甲南大学で教壇に立つ。1997年には、7000漢字を収録した「ニューネルソン漢英辞典」の最新版を編集者として出版。日本語の長編小説も読みこなす。趣味はヨット。2002年には、NHK朝の連続テレビ小説「さくら」に、ハワイ大学の講義シーンで教授役として出演。
お問合せ
主催： NIHONGO GYM(日本語学校ニホンゴジム)
E-mail : info@nihongogym.net / Tel: 080-3816-0755]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7802692008-06-26T21:16:36+09:002008-06-27T05:32:33Z2008-06-26T12:16:36Z

講演　講師　ジョン・ヘイグ　ハワイ大学教授 『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　 Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig “A Kanji Authority Looks at Japan and the World of Kanji.” NIHONGO GYM Japanese School is proud to be host...

YUKOschool event 『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　
Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig
“A Kanji Authority Looks at Japan and the World of Kanji.”

NIHONGO GYM Japanese School is proud to be hosting this special lecture by Dr. John Haig, an associate professor of the Department of East Asian Languages and　Literatures at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Haig will be speaking in English and Japanese on the advantages and intricacies of kanji as well as his interesting experiences in and about Japan. This will be a great opportunity for learners of Japanese to get an insight into, not only how to study kanji, but also into learning the Japanese language and culture. For native Japanese, the lecture may help you to rediscover the wonders of your own language and culture.

● Date and time: 6th July, 2008　Sunday
1１：00〜1２：00
●　Place: Namba Municipal Learning Center, 4th Floor, OCAT building (3 min. from Yotsubashi Line Namba Station and 1 min. from JR Namba Station)
● Admission: 500 yen
● Reservations: Please notify us of the number of people attending, their names, and your phone number by email to info@nihongogym.net by Thursday, the 3rd.

●Lecturer
Dr. John Haig received his PhD in Japanese Linguistics from Harvard University in 1978 and an MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1989. He has been teaching at the University of Hawaii since 1976 and has also taught at Nagoya University, Yamagata University, Kobe University, and Konan University. Dr. Haig was also the chief editor for the latest edition of the New Nelson Kanji English Dictionary which was published in 1997. He is an avid sailing enthusiast and is also very much into reading lengthy Japanese novels.

●Inquiries: NIHONGO GYM Japanese School
E-mail : info@nihongogym.net / Tel: 080-3816-0755

Even if you can't come, please spread this to anyone who might be interested.]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7762572008-06-06T19:41:14+09:002008-06-24T04:51:27Z2008-06-06T10:41:14Z

Have you read my last post about the JLPT revision? Now the details of the test have been released in English. Please check out this website for details!! Wow! This is really big news! More than anything, there will be a new level between 2 kyuu and 3 kyuu...

YUKOJLPT info Now the details of the test have been released in English.
Please check out this website for details!!

Wow! This is really big news!
More than anything, there will be a new level between 2 kyuu and 3 kyuu. The levels are called N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5.

And from 2009,
Level 1 and 2 tests will be held twice a year in July and December.
So this means if you fail in December you don't have to wait for another year.
However, by the same token, you can't slack off!
(^_^)



]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7722202008-05-20T15:01:41+09:002008-06-24T04:55:33Z2008-05-20T06:01:41Z

From next year (2009), the JLPT will take on a new form. How?　Let me explain. As far as I know, the information has only been published in Japanese at this point. This is the newsletter about teaching Japanese published by Japan Foundation. The artile sa...

YUKOJLPT info How?　Let me explain.
As far as I know, the information has only been published in Japanese at this point.
This is the newsletter about teaching Japanese published by Japan Foundation.

The artile says there will be three areas that where the test will be improved.
1)課題遂行能力とそのためのコミュニケーション能力を測
定する試験とする
The test will measure task-accomplishment skills and communication skills.
2)Can-do statementによる能力基準
The level specifications will include what one can do in real life, such as understanding simple explanations at a post office, etc.
3)等化　
Equating method will be applied for higher levels.
Like TOEIC, because of the equating method, your score will reflect your real ability pretty accurately.

Don't get confused!
This year's test is the same as usual.
We have to wait for more detailed information about 2009 test.

I also found this somewhere else.
The JLPT will be held twice a year in June and December from 2009, but only for level 1 and 2.
It's really good news!]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7682762008-05-02T13:28:31+09:002008-05-02T04:29:49Z2008-05-02T04:28:31Z

2008 SPRING CAMPAIGN for May and June!　CHECK IT OUT!! Take this opportunity to try our new course “TOPIC TALK” and ONLINE OPTION at cheaper prices during May and June Terms （5/5〜6/28）! We offer a free trial lesson (15 min.). If you are interested,...

YUKOschool information
Take this opportunity to try our new course “TOPIC TALK” and ONLINE OPTION at cheaper prices during May and June Terms （5/5〜6/28）!
We offer a free trial lesson (15 min.). If you are interested, contact us now. Available lesson slots will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis!

【CAMPAIGN INFORMATION】
★New Course!　”Topic Talk”
This course is specially designed for intermediate or higher level students to improve practical conversation skills. This is one-on-one lessons. You can intensively practice expressing yourself about common real-life topics in a more free-style lesson method. We don’t use textbooks. So, preparation is not necessary. This course is also recommended for persons who want to increase conversation opportunity. This course is available both at school and online.
LESSON CODE: T1
4-Lesson unit 11,000 yen =>> NOW 10,000 yen (1,000 yen off! 2,500 yen/lesson)
8-Lesson unit 22,000 yen =>> NOW 19,800 yen (2,200 yen off! 2,475 yen/lesson)

★Online Option for A1 Course
You can take A1 lessons at your home too by using video chat on the net! We used to recommend online lessons to students at an Intermediate or higher level. However, Low-Intermediate level students are also welcome to try now. For detailed information, please contact us.

LESSON CODE: A1v
4-Lesson unit　　13,000 yen =>> NOW 12,000 yen (1,000 yen off! 3,000 yen/lesson)
8-Lesson unit 　26,000 yen =>> NOW 23,800 yen (2,200 yen off! 2,975 yen/lesson)
Contact Yuko Yamamoto at info@nihongogym.net.
]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7650352008-04-17T19:03:21+09:002008-04-17T10:03:22Z2008-04-17T10:03:21Z

Did you miss the best time of cherry blossom? There is still a chance in Osaka! We are going to visit Japan Mint on this Saturday for "2008 Cherry Blossom Viewing in Osaka", which is to be opened from April 16th to 22nd. Their flowers open late as they ar...

YUKOschool event There is still a chance in Osaka!
We are going to visit Japan Mint on this Saturday for "2008 Cherry Blossom Viewing in Osaka",
which is to be opened from April 16th to 22nd.
Their flowers open late as they are special kinds, I heard.

One of the NIHONGO GYM teachers, Saori-san, came up with this idea and is organizing this as our school event.
I hope the weather will be good
and everything will go well.
And I'm looking forward to meeting our students there!

The below is the invitation email Saori-san sent to our students.
-----------------
Hello, everyone!
Finally spring time is here! The weather is warming and the cherry blossoms are blooming.
Therefore, we wish to invite everyone to a cherry blossom viewing party on the 19th of April. As the chance to meet other NIHONGO GYM students does not happen often, we would like to take this time to invite everyone, friends and family included, for an evening of spring time meet & greet.

This will be a great opportunity for everyone involved to exchange ideas and talk shop.

The itinerary is as followed:
We will meet in front of Keihan Tenmabashi station north exit at 18:00 sharp.
Following this, we will make our way to the grounds of the Osaka Mint Bureau where there are over 350 cherry trees and 125 different types of cherry blossoms.
Afterwards, we will head to a nearby Izakaya for dinner.

Since a reservation is required for the Izakaya, please send me an e-mail to let us know if you are able to come and how many people we should expect. Please reply as soon as possible or by the 12th of April at the latest.
I hope to see everyone there!

Saori Tsujiuchi]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7496292008-02-13T16:49:25+09:002008-02-13T08:15:04Z2008-02-13T07:49:25Z

Last week my students received the results of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. A few of them emailed me right away to tell they passed. I'm so happy for them. For people who passed the test, congratulations! Even if you didn't pass, don't get down. Y...

YUKOJLPT info A few of them emailed me right away to tell they passed.
I'm so happy for them.
For people who passed the test, congratulations!
Even if you didn't pass, don't get down.
You should analyze the result and
make use of it for your study plan.

I repeatedly say we shouldn't forget the test is just a test.
It doesn't measure your ability to make people laugh in Japanese, or how good you are at kansai dialect, etc.
You know.

Next time I will write about JLPT revision. ]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7384002007-12-27T10:52:40+09:002007-12-27T01:54:54Z2007-12-27T01:52:40Z

We had a great time at our year-end party after JLPT. I made an online album here. Please visit and find the pictures of yours and everyone's. If you have some good pictures you took, please share them with me. I wanted to talk with all of you more but could...

YUKOschool event I made an online album here.
Please visit and find the pictures of yours and everyone's.
If you have some good pictures you took,
please share them with me.

I wanted to talk with all of you more
but couldn't as my son cried a lot... Too bad!
He will be talking to you in Japanese
at next year-end party.
Be prepared!
[:楽しい:]
]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7381322007-12-26T07:29:23+09:002007-12-26T05:32:11Z2007-12-25T22:29:23Z

I hope everyone had a happy Christmas. Are you thinking about next year's study plan? NIHONGO GYM is in its Winter Break now. We are going to start lessons on 7th January in 2008. If you are thinking of taking Japanese lessons in a group from next year, he...

YUKOschool information Are you thinking about next year's study plan?

NIHONGO GYM is in its Winter Break now.
We are going to start lessons on 7th January in 2008.

If you are thinking of taking Japanese lessons in a group from next year, here are the available classes:
Entry Level at 10:00 on Monday,
Entry Level at 13:30 on Monday,
Entry Level at 18:30 on Tuesday,
Intermediate Level at 19:30 on Tuesday,
Intermeidate Level at 17:00 on Friday,
High Intermediate Level at 19:30 on Monday and Wednesday, and
High Intermediate Level at 11:00 on Monday or 10:00 on Wednesday.
These are all one-student classes right now,
and you will be the second student.
So the fee per lesson will be 1850 yen.

For details, please feel free to ask.
I'll be away from 1st to 5th January, but be able to check emails.]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7323652007-12-02T14:00:25+09:002007-12-02T05:01:48Z2007-12-02T05:00:25Z

Today is the test day. Right now my students are concentrating on the listening questions, I guess. Good luck, everyone! Again this year, we are having the annual year-end party after the test today. Meeting: 5:00 pm on 2nd, Dec. at Namba Station Exit 24 (...

YUKOschool event Right now my students are concentrating on the listening questions, I guess.
Good luck, everyone!

Again this year,
we are having the annual year-end party after the test today.
Meeting: 5:00 pm on 2nd, Dec. at Namba Station Exit 24 (in front of Starbucks)
Party: From 5:30 at "Yakitori Dining Hachiya"
(3800 yen for the all-you-can-eat-and-drink course)

I prepared for some games.
I hope they will be enojoyable for everyone.
Let's have a beer and forget about the test!
My sisters and cousin will be there too.]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7279082007-11-14T11:03:28+09:002007-11-14T02:06:50Z2007-11-14T02:03:28Z

Hello, I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted the last entry. My free time is very limited now as I'm raising a child. Today I wanna help you find how to get to your JLPT site. Make sure you have received the test voucher. Osaka University Momoyama Gaku...

YUKOJLPT info I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted the last entry.
My free time is very limited now as I'm raising a child.

Today I wanna help you find how to get to your JLPT site.
Make sure you have received the test voucher.

Osaka University


Momoyama Gakuin University (St. Andrews')


Osaka International University

After finding the train route, check how long it takes from your station at Jorudan.

Lastly, when you arrive at the station on the test day,
make sure to buy a returning train ticket in the morning.
If you have a IC train pass like Pitapa, it's going to be no problem.
When you go home, the train station is packed with test takers. So you would have to wait in a long line for a train ticket.
That's what I heard from my students every year.
If you have any questions about the JLPT, please emai me, or post a comment here.]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7103662007-09-10T17:21:52+09:002007-09-10T08:25:53Z2007-09-10T08:21:52Z

I hope you all have already sent your application form by now. The JLPT application deadline is tomorrow. And if you apply for the first time, you should be very careful about the registration procedure. It's rather complicated. Here is the important and us...

YUKOJLPT info The JLPT application deadline is tomorrow.
And if you apply for the first time,
you should be very careful about the registration procedure.
It's rather complicated.

Here is the important and useful information for
people who have to deal with this tomorrow.

You must not mail your application to a post.
You need to send it from a post office as a certified mail.
Most post offices close at 17:00.
If you haven't paid the fee at a post office,
even worse the postal bank section normally closes by 16:00.
Check the open hours for the one you are going to.

If you can't pay or send a form the above times tomorrow,
go to one of the three big post offices in Osaka:
Chuuou Yubinkyoku in Umeda,
Minami Yubinkyoku near Nagahoribashi station, and
Higashi Yubinkyoku near Sakaisuji Honmachi station.
Bank section is open 9:00-18:00,
and postal section 9:00-19:00
except Chuuou open until 21:00.
(Sorry for those who live outside of Osaka,
please check by yourself at Post Office site.)

Good luck!]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7087392007-09-05T13:00:38+09:002007-09-05T10:47:46Z2007-09-05T04:00:38Z

I would like to introduce a show that I'm going to see tomorrow night. A student of mine, Sophie-san, will act a leading role with other foreign performers. It'll start from 9:00 pm at Flamingo the Arusha. The flyer looks fun, doesn't it? This time I'm luc...

YUKOarts & performances A student of mine, Sophie-san, will act a leading role with other foreign performers.

It'll start from 9:00 pm at Flamingo the Arusha.


The flyer looks fun, doesn't it?

This time I'm lucky because:
(1) The location is very close to my house.
(2) The time is perfect as my son usually falls asleep around 8:00pm.
(3) As the show will be about one hour,
I can go home probably by 10:30 or so.

Why don't you join me?

The other show I saw the other day ("MOULIN ROUGE") was awesome!
I sincerely admire people who can dance and sign so well like them.]]>http://blog.nihongogym.net/?eid=7086922007-09-04T21:21:06+09:002007-09-04T12:22:58Z2007-09-04T12:21:06Z

Only one week to the JLPT application deadline, which is 11th, Tuesday. If you haven't bought a form yet, go to a major bookstore to buy one tomorrow! It is very likely that forms will be sold out near the deadline. Make sure to get a face photo with a rig...

YUKOJLPT info If you haven't bought a form yet,
go to a major bookstore to buy one tomorrow!
It is very likely that forms will be sold out near the deadline.

Make sure to get a face photo with a right size.
The photo will be on your certificate.
Make sure to write the test site code right.
Make sure to keep the receipt of the fee payment.

If you are a student of NIHONGO GYM,
you should have already sent your application, I believe.
[:イヒヒ:]

Lastly, keep in mind you have three months to go to the test!]]>