JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out

Hi, I'm Yuri:D

Today, I'd like to introduce this video.

''Art can change the world. Art is not supposed to change the world, to change practical things, but to change perceptions. Art can change the way we see the world.''

This is one of his words in this video.
He is JR who is street artist with camera and a dedicated wheat-pasting crew and the help of whole poor villages.
He got a 2011 TED Prize.
In this video, he explains how we can change the world.

I was surprised to know that what he does is only pasting photos of human's faces on the wall of street, that is only his art.
His opinion is very interesting that an really important point for him is that he doesn't use any brand or corporate sponsors.
It looks a little difficult, but, in fact, it's very simple and easy because everyone can start doing anywhere any time.

''Actually the fact that art cannot change things makes it a neutral place for exchanges and discussions, and then enables you to change the world.''

Also we may be able to change the world with art if we want.

If you become interested in this video, please check it.
Thank you.

Woodlands Junior School

Hi, I'm Yuri:D

Today, I would like to introduce Woodlands Junior School.

In this website, we can get much information about England.

There are various topics, for example math, science, London, British culture and so on!

And it explain its topic as we can enjoy and understand easily.

Especially, I like 'Literacy Zone.'

There are a lot of games and online stories.

If we click 'online interactive stories', we can read with pictures and sounds.

Very interesting:P

And if we click games, we can enjoy them learning English.

They are very easy and exciting for me:)

In addition to them, there are much useful topics for us.

In 'British Life and Culture,' we can know about British food, school, government, sports...

If teachers want to tell students about Britain in the class, this site can help and teachers can give students interesting information.

So, I like 'British Life and Culture,' too:)

If you go to this site, soon you can understand why I recommend this site.

Then, see you soon,

Yuri

The Power Of Music

Hi, I'm Yuri:)

Today, I'd like to introduce some music site.
They are also interesting, useful and attractive:D

First, when we learn English by ourselves, lyrics training is very helpful.
In this site, we can improve the ability of listening.
1.Listen to the music,
2.Type lyrics
By doing only two things, we learn English vocabularies, grammars, sounds and so on.
This is like a game, so we enjoy studying English!

Second, when we teach English, Tune into English is good.
There are a lot of worksheets with songs.
We can use them free:D
And, Tefltune is similar site to Tune into English.
There are also some music worksheets.

When I was a junior high school student, I took the class which use music in English.
I learned 'All Need Is Love,' 'Yesterday once more' and so on.
It was very interesting, so I like the class.

Then, why is using music in the class good for students?
There are a lot of reasons.
For example;
1. Students like songs and music, so we can get their attention.
2. Songs contain chunks of language.
3. Songs are sung at fast speed, so they contain natural features, for example linking or weak forms.
4.Music can make students relaxed and make atmosphere of the classroom stress-free.
...
So, using music in classes is very good thing for students and teachers.
And the most important thing is that students enjoy the learning process.
Music makes students happy, active and interested by its power.
I think its power is bigger than I expected.

Yuri

Breaking News English

Hello, I'm Yuri:D
Today, I'd like to introduce a useful website.

That is Breaking News English.
It is very helpful for English learners.
This website takes up some new news and explains in easy English.
Russell told me this website in the class.

There are some good points in it.

First, we can get new information from it.
It gives us current news which it thinks is important and remarkable.
So, we can know the news around the world.

Next, there are mp3 files.
We can also listen to the news.
And by using them, we can do shadowing or some QUIZZES.
I like 'sentence jumble' and 'no letters.'
That's why we can understand the sentence structure and links between phrases or sentences by sentence jumble.
And, by no letters, we can remember the words efficiently, and anyway it is very interesting!!!

This helps you a lot in learning English.
Also, it is very useful in TEACHING English because there are 'PDF Handout' or mp3.
We can use them free
.
Using it, I want to improve my English skill.

Yuri

Teacher Training Videos

This is the Russell's website.
It helps teachers when they are teaching.
The site is called 'TTV' and it is full of videos Russell's other site is information about his work.
Russell introduces us a lot of useful websites and information there.

When I looked at this site, I was very surprised because I didn't know that there are a lot of sites that can be used in teaching English.
They are very interesting:)
And he explains how to use sites efficiently, so it is very easy to understand if you don't know the way of using computers or sites.

I had Russell's classes in the University in first week and second week.
I had a very good time, and I could discover many things there.
In the next post, I'll tell you some sites that I think them useful.

I think it's very interesting thing that we use the Internet in the class.
That's why the site helps students to understand, memorize or practice English.
In addition, it is attractive for students, so it can have them maintain their motivations.

I want to be a teacher who can give students information that they really want to know.
The information may be about the way of learning, foreign cultures or something like that.
Then, I'd like to tell them how to use tools that you have.
So, I will get and learn more information and acknowledge in the UK.I'll do my best!!

Yuri

First Post

Hi, I'm Yuri:)

This is my first post in this blog.

I came to England on April 22nd.

Then, three weeks have passed since I arrived here.

It's very very fast for me.

We have only fifteen weeks here.

So, I want to spend time more carefully and efficiently.

In this blog, I will write things that I have learned, looked, heard, noticed and felt.

I will experience quite different things from Japan.

They must be new, interesting and attractive.

I would like to absorb everything like a sponge.

I'll write not only about visits or daily-life but also about things I have learned here to be an English teacher in Japan.

Well, see you in the next post.

Yuri