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category archive listing Category Archives: teaching

PAC7 at JALT2008: An (huge) international, inter-association collaborative conference

September 27, 2008 – 2:14 am

When I am not working one of my 4 jobs or taking care of my wife and son, I can usually be found hammering away at my computer, preparing for the above conference. We really, really (no, really) want people to join the fun and make all this hard work worth our blood, sweat and […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in community, efl, autonomous learning, japan, language, web2.0, education, learning | Comments (0)

A silly conversation…

August 20, 2008 – 4:11 am

with one of my favorite students: (We were both dead serious.)
Him: It’s really hot today.
Me: I know. Isn’t it gross? What do you do to stay cool.
Him: I put wind chimes by the window. That makes Japanese people feel cool.
Me: Only Japanese people, huh?
Him: Yeah. I mean, I don’t know if it makes non-Japanese […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in friendship, comedy, japan, humor, health | Comments (1)

Japanese Gairaigo.

July 1, 2008 – 1:04 pm

First things first. Several months ago, I was asked (by one of RoaS’s regular readers and a long time friend) to give my thoughts on the issue of garaigo, or loanwords, in Japanese and whether their rapid influx into the language is indeed undermining communication and causing mass concern.
My answer is: yes and no, but […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in perspective, human nature, debate, efl, autonomous learning, community, language, writing, education, philosophy, learning | Comments (0)

David Graddol discusses English in the new world order

June 11, 2008 – 1:19 am

You REALLY should listen to this. I might not be in the wrong line of work after all!
Just click the photo and press the play icon [on the British Council podcast site].

I have to say I am pretty stoked that David Graddol will be one of the PAC7 at JALT2008 plenary speakers this November in […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in debate, perspective, career, efl, autonomous learning, economy, community, education, history, language, japan, learning | Comments (2)

Widgets: A great new EFL textbook

February 2, 2008 – 4:24 pm

Starting in April, I’ll be team-teaching a couple of classes at a local women’s college, and my colleagues and I have decided to go with a new textbook for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) that was co-authored by a friend of mine, Marcos Benevides. I was fortunate enough to have been a sounding board […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in efl, life-coach, autonomous learning, community, japan, education, language, learning | Comments (2)

On Hope and Anger

January 29, 2008 – 6:41 am

This is something I wrote when I was in college, deeply immersed in what I thought was heavy and profound thought:
Hope and Anger
The great thing about losing hope is that you also lose anger….
To be angry, you have to believe that things could better.
What a gloomy, cynical, self-absorbed twat I used to be!
Don’t worry. […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in perspective, happiness, self-help, life-coach, human nature, friendship, writing, community, learning | Comments (3)

Bill Strickland at TED: Rebuilding America, one slideshow at a time.

January 24, 2008 – 3:05 am

You have to watch this. Touching, heartfelt, educational, hopeful.
Following Bill’s humbling slideshow–accompanied by long-time friend Herbie Hancock–I have a challenge for you.

The challenge:
1. Find a new home for your doubt.
2. Realize that the surest road to happiness is to imagine the world you want to live in and create it around you.
3. Surround yourself […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in career, perspective, happiness, life-coach, autonomous learning, human nature, community, learning, education, philosophy, art | Comments (7)

Practical Training for Elementary School English Education (in Japan)

January 20, 2008 – 1:04 pm

Here’s a program I’m currently coordinating at a nearby university. Apart from being surprised at the amazing level of support and cooperation by the university’s staff, it has been incredibly informative to participate in a major educational project hosted at the intersection of private and public institutions. This private university has received a 3-year grant […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in career, efl, autonomous learning, community, japan, education, language, learning | Comments (1)

The Asian Youth Forum 2008

January 12, 2008 – 5:17 pm

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back!
Happy New Year to all!
Wanted to start the year off by introducing you all to some of the educational events/courses/programs I am contributing to this year. The first one is this little gem:
Asian Youth Forum 2008 Promo Slideshow

| View | Upload your own

I saw the Asian Youth Forum in action for the […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in community, efl, japan, language, education, learning | Comments (1)

Life-changing opportunities: It’s all about timing…oh, and being ready to catch the ball and run with it.

November 20, 2007 – 4:42 pm

I am often amazed at the number of opportunities that people allow to pass them by, day in and day out. It’s understandable to pass up an opportunity when the timing isn’t right. In fact, that’s where many of life’s most difficult decisions lie. Deciding whether to seize an opportunity and make the most of […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in happiness, perspective, self-help, life-coach, autonomous learning, human nature, relationship, education, learning, philosophy, friendship, personal | Comments (0)