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Falling Pay and Rising Taxes
As you know, I started a new job at Gifu University this April. At the interview, they warned me that the pay was not very good, and they were right! My pay now is a lot lower than it was…
Read MoreProblems with China (Feedback)
Thanks for all your comments on this difficult topic. It looks as though things are starting to calm down a bit now, but a lot of damage has been done to Japanese companies who are operating in China. I can’t…
Read MoreProblems with China
I’m back in Gifu now. I love Hokkaido, but it’s always nice to come home. I drove 1,200 km yesterday, which was a bit more than I planned, but I enjoyed travelling through some beautiful parts of the country.
Read MoreClub Activities (Feedback)
I think this is the first entry I have ever done in a coin laundry! I’m back in Sapporo now. I climbed Shari Dake yesterday, stayed at the Michi no eki in Bihoro Toge, and then drove back today. It…
Read MoreClub Activities
When I first came to Japan, I was surprised at the number of people who told me what club they were in at school. “Why would I want to know that?” I used to wonder. I was surprised because I…
Read MoreJASTEC Presentation
David Barker will be presenting at the 2012 JASTEC conference on September 23rd from 3:10 to 4:10 at Chubu Gakuin University. The title of the presentation is “Teaching Learners how to ‘Take’ a Lesson.” For details, please visit the JASTEC…
Read MoreBarefoot Running (Feedback)
I’m happy to report that I’m feeling a bit better today. I still can’t walk very well, but I don’t have any special plans for today, so I can just take it easy. This morning, I saw a lot of…
Read MoreBarefoot Running
When I was driving on the highway in my Hiace this evening, I had a race with a Ferrari, and I won! To be fair, the guy was driving at about 70 km/h in the inside lane, and I don’t…
Read MoreThe Right to Be Killed (Feedback)
Thank you for your comments on a very interesting but difficult topic. I have to say that for the first time since I started doing this blog, I have completely changed my mind about something based on the comments you…
Read MoreThe Right to Be Killed
I got back to Japan last night, so I’m feeling a bit like a zombie today. I knew it would be hot when I got back, but not this hot! It has been a horrible shock to my system. Since…
Read MoreSummer Break
As I mentioned in the last entry, I am now staying at my parents’ house in Wales. I’m going to be travelling around for the next two weeks, so I’m not going to be able to update the blog in…
Read MoreThe Right Person for the Job (Feedback)
I’m writing this entry from my parents’ house in North Wales. Although the UK has had terrible weather this year, the summer seems to have arrived at last, and it was around 30 degrees today. It’s nice and cool now,…
Read MoreThe Right Person for the Job
[haiku url=”https://www.btbpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Right-Person-for-the-Job.mp3″] As a university teacher, I often hear students say that they are worried because they don’t know what they want to do in the future. I usually tell them two things: firstly, no one really knows what they…
Read MoreLondon 2012 (Feedback)
Well, this week has certainly seen a controversial start to the Olympics, with the Chinese swimmer being accused of drug-taking by the Americans, and eight badminton players being disqualified! Until the middle of the week, the British media were complaining…
Read MoreThe SHAPAL Method
This article was originally published on the Teacher Talk blog at azargrammar.com. Language learners all over the world will no doubt be pleased to hear that I have finally discovered the definitive technique for learning a foreign or second language.…
Read MoreLondon 2012
Now that the Olympics have started, it seems that there is only one thing in the news in Britain. Well, there are also some stories about Spain being on the verge of financial disaster, but those stories have been around…
Read MoreBuy or Rent? (Feedback)
I just got back from Suzuka. It was a long day, and it was very, very hot. The track temperature was 53 degrees! I was really hot just wearing shorts and a T-shirt, so I have no idea how the…
Read MoreBuy or Rent?
In many countries in Europe, it is common for people to rent the house or apartment they live in, but In the UK, everyone dreams of owning their own home. Traditionally, houses in the UK have gone up in value…
Read MoreDo You Have the Time? (Feedback)
Thanks for all the comments. I’m glad you liked the nice, easy topic. Some of you were having a discussion about the difference between “always” and “usually,” but I think you were overanalysing it a bit. The meaning of both…
Read MoreDo You Have the Time?
Do you wear a watch? I used to wear one every day, but I have found over the last couple of years that I wear one less and less. I suppose the main reason for this is that I always…
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