Saint Valentine's Day is Coming Soon!

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Next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day! All across Japan, ladies will be giving obligatory gifts [gifts they feel they should give] to all their male friends – family members, classmates, teachers, co-workers, and so on. I was given my first Valentine's Day gift last Tuesday. It was a box of cookies. The box was hand-decorated by the student, who is only 4 years old...

How cute!

In Western countries, the custom is almost completely opposite. Traditionally, men give a romantic gift – flowers, jewelry, lingerie, perfume, or chocolate – to their special girlfriend. Recently, couples often exchange gifts over a romantic dinner. In many ways, Saint Valentine’s Day in the West is a lot like Christmas Eve in Japan.

Saint Valentine’s Day was first promoted in Japan by chocolate companies. After many unsuccessful attempts to motivate men to buy chocolates for their lady friends, the chocolate companies targeted the ladies instead, creating a unique [special/one of a kind], Japan-only version of the popular international holiday.

“White Day” is a Japanese creation, celebrated nowhere else in the world.

Enjoy your Saint Valentine’s Day – but be careful not to eat too many chocolates!

Who is Saint Valentine? Click on the following links to find out more!

The Origin of Saint Valentine's Day (Beginner Level)
バレンタインって誰？（初級用翻訳）

The Origin of Saint Valentine's Day (Intermediate Level)
バレンタインズデーの始まりは？（中級用翻訳）

And don't forget that eating chocolate is good for your health!

But not if you eat too much, so...

(An important message from Mayumi, the teacher’s wife!)

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Shoe Cream or Chou Cream?

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Would you like a shoe shine with your next English lesson? Recently, our building owner installed an electric shoe cleaner in front of our elevator so you can clean your shoes on the way to your lesson...

One of our students cleaning her shoes

The electric shoe cleaner at work
(Our student needs longer shoes!)

Speaking of shoes, many of my students tell me they like Chou Cream (シュークリーム). Unfortunately, that's Japanese English. In English, it sounds like "shoe cream" -- a polish for cleaning shoes. ("Shoe cream" is more commonly called "shoe polish.")

Shoe Cream -- Yummy?

It seems the Japanese name is a blending of the French "choux à la crème" and the the English word "cream." In Australia, we call them "choux pastries." In America, they're called "cream puffs."

Cream Puffs -- Yummy!

Our building owner has been very generous lately. As well as installing the shoe cleaner, he gave us a new door sign...

Be ＆ Me 英会話 Club
大阪心斎橋の個人英会話学校。フレンドリーで熱心な外国人講師と手ごろな授業料が人気です。

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スクールカレンダー & イベント

みなさん、こんにちは！オンライン”スクールカレンダー＆お知らせ”の ページをアップデイトしました！当月のサービスレッスン日やキッズクラスの日程、祝 日やイベント案内が日本語で確認できます。

当校の ホームページ（http://www.be-and-me.com/） の “スクールカレンダー”または "生徒のみなさんへ" をクリックして下さい！または直接下記のアドレスへリンクして下さい！（携帯電話からも可能です）

ス クールカレンダー :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-3.html

生 徒のみなさんへ :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-5.html

よ ろしくお願いします！

I've Been Flat Out Like a Lizard Drinking!

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Sorry it’s been sooooo long since my last entry – I’ve been flat out like a lizard drinking!

What does that mean? Read the following to find out! It's a bit long, but it's not difficult. がんばって!

In “standard” English (there’s really no such thing!), to be flat out means to be trying your hardest or to be very busy.

Here are some examples…

Even though he was running flat out (trying his hardest), he didn’t win the race.

We were so flat out (busy) at work, I didn’t have time for lunch.

To be flat out also means to lie very flat on something.

Here’s an example of that meaning…

He was lying flat out on the sofa, fast asleep.

It’s a curious fact that lizards can’t swallow because of the inside shape of their mouths. When a lizard drinks, it has to push itself against the ground – lie flat out – and flick water down it throat with its tongue.

In Australia, we like to make our English sound more interesting by using unexpected comparisons or by replacing commonly used words with well-known but unexpected ones. When we’re very busy we often say, “I’m flat out (busy) like a lizard drinking (lying very flat).” This comparison doesn’t make any sense, but we Australians think it makes our speech sound more colourful.

Next time you feel you have too much to do, say “I’m flat out like a lizard drinking!” It’ll make you smile, and that’ll make your work just a little easier to get through!

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Back to School Today

Be & Me Eikaiwa Club (Be ＆ Me 英会話 Club) starts its 2012 lessons from today. We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

Click on the links below to view our January calendar or 360º photos of the school...

ス クールカレンダー :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-3.html

生 徒のみなさんへ :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-5.html

PS. I love the photo of Ninomiya Kinjiro! I found it on the Internet, however, I could not find the photographer's name. If this is your photo, please let me know.

Enter the Dragon (Happy New Year!)

Welcome to 2012, the Year of the Dragon! Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy, & fun-filled year! Roar! (グオォォォ！)

PS. The above artwork was painted by our son. He got an "A" for art on his first report card.

PPS. Enter the Dragon was the first Kung Fu movie I ever saw. Check it out...

スクールカレンダー & イベント

みなさん、こんにちは！オンライン”スクールカレンダー＆お知らせ”の ページをアップデイトしました！当月のサービスレッスン日やキッズクラスの日程、祝 日やイベント案内が日本語で確認できます。

当校の ホームページ（http://www.be-and-me.com/） の “スクールカレンダー”または "生徒のみなさんへ" をクリックして下さい！または直接下記のアドレスへリンクして下さい！（携帯電話からも可能です）

ス クールカレンダー :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-3.html

生 徒のみなさんへ :
http://beandme.blog6.fc2.com/blog-category-5.html

よ ろしくお願いします！