Tom Aaron

English for ESL Students in Japan II

We would like to present three topics in our second article on English for ESL Students in Japan: connecting words in translation, the responsibility of the writer in English, and the changing American family. 1. Connecting words in translation The ... Read >

English for ESL Students and Translators in Japan

Many ESL students and Japanese to English translators in Japan could improve their language and culture skills through focusing on sentence length in Japanese to English translation, improving English writing, and learning about handshaking. 1. Sentenc... Read >

Acronyms in our bureacracy: An epiphany

I've always been somewhat contemptuous of bureaucracies in that they have too many rules, too many forms, and too many acronyms. This morning, however, I had an epiphany. We had become a bureaucracy. We had acronyms, and we were creating more of them. ... Read >

How To Start Writing an Essay: The Five Paragraph Essay Model Shows The Way

Many of us have difficulties when we start to write an essay. This five paragraph model can help us to get started. The sample essay is about computers. The first paragraph introduces the topic. Paragraph 1: Introduces the topic Example Computer ... Read >

Technical terminology and our changing language

As new technological development emerges, whether the development is computers, mobile phones, or cars, a new vocabulary appears. The sheer size and volume of the new and not-so-new technological vocabulary is notable. Given the impact that computers have... Read >

Politics in Japan Are Changing: How quickly will they change?

Japan as a nation has vigorously embraced change in the past. After Commodore Perry and the Black Ships opened Japan, Japan rushed into an era of change, seeking to grow strong and modern. Then, after the Japanese accepted defeat in World War II, they emb... Read >

Commercial Dolphin Hunting Causes Suspended Sister City Relationship

A recent article in The Japan Times was about the suspended sister city relationship between the town of Taiji, in Wakayama prefecture in Japan, and the coastal town of Broome in Western Australia. Ties between Taiji and Broome date back at least 100 year... Read >

English Language Education and Business in Japan: Another Step in the Nova Saga

In late August of this year, the Osaka District Court handed President Nozomu Sahashi of Nova a prison sentence of three and a half years for participating in skimming off employee funds. The crime was committed in 2007, a little before October, when the ... Read >

English teachers and four more mistakes to avoid in the communication classroom in Japan

In my previous article discussing mistakes to avoid when teaching English communication in Japan, I wrote that teaching is a learning process for both students and teachers. As another step in this learning process, this article presents four additional m... Read >

San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the good life

In the United States, the towering Golden Gate Bridge is the oldest, longest, tallest single span bridge. The magnificent bridge is a unique bridge because of age and construction. From the bridge, you can even see Alcatraz and Angel Island, making it eve... Read >

Reservations and The Holiday Season in Japan: New Years Cards and Fried Chicken

If you look up the Japanese word "yoyaku" in Japanese to English dictionaries, you will find the following English words and terms among others: reservation, appointment, booking, subscription, and advanced order. When Japanese communicate in English, res... Read >

The Japanese Christmas: Zagmuk, Cake and Fried Chicken

At least all the way back to Zagmuk, December 25 has been a holiday for thousands and thousands of years. Zagmuk is a Mesopotamian festival that lasted twelve days, including December 25. The Mesopotamians visited their friends, exchanged gifts with each ... Read >

Teaching English in Japan: Four mistakes to avoid

For both students and teachers, teaching is a learning process. Teachers may make the most progress in the first years of their career, but the learning should never stop. The learning stopping is a dangerous sign indicating that the teacher needs to be d... Read >

Six Ways for Treating Writer's Block: Start With a Week Off

Writer's block is what happens to writers when they cannot think of what to write. They are unable to write. Something is blocking them from writing. Some varieties of writer's block are short-term, while some writer's blocks can be longer. Writer's block... Read >

Cold Noodles in the Summer in Japan

Noodles are a major part of the Japanese diet, hot and cold. Ramen, soba, and udon are probably the three most popular types of noodles served hot with a broth, or cold without one. Wikipedia tells us that most ramen is made from wheat flour, salt, water ... Read >