True International Experience

2008-05-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

What Does 'It turns out' mean?

The expression: It turns out

Dialog: Speaker 1 How are the repairs going on your house?

Speaker 2 It turns out that we need a new roof.

Meaning: The final result is

Explanation: ‘It turns out’ usually introduces a result that wasn’t expected; the result could be positive or negative.

‘that’ is often omitted: It turns out we need a new roof.

Other examples: It turns out I’ll be able to go to your party (I thought I couldn't go)

It turns out that I won’t be meeting with him (At first, I arranged
to meet him but now it's canceled)

Similar expressions: After all; in the end

2008-04-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between an 'injury' and a 'wound'?

First, try this question: Is a wound a type of injury or
is an injury a type of wound?
Answer: a wound is a type of injury.

An injury is any damage done to a person's body.
It could be because of an accident, a fight, etc.
"He is suffering from a back injury" "She was injured in a fire"

A wound is an injury caused by a weapon, such as a knife or gun.
"The patient has a bullet wound in his chest" "He has a deep knife wound"

By the way, 'injury' and 'wound' are both difficult to pronounce.
They sound like 'Inchery' and 'wooned'

2008-04-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

Why do some American guys wear their pants hanging down, so that you can see their underwear?

Ok, first, who are these guys? Well, in college in 1992 I was one of them! I was a hip hop dj and most of my friends wore really baggy jeans.

This style definitely originated in the hip hop culture of the early 90s. And it has lasted until today.

Where did the style come from? Some people say prison culture. When you go to jail, you are given clothing to wear that may be too big for you--so your pants hang low. Furthermore, prisoners are not allowed to wear belts, for fear that they might hang themselves in their cells.

The idea is this: tough guys bring the baggy clothes style with them when they get out of jail. Kids on the street think the tough guys look cool, and they copy their style.

But other people say it came from sports culture. In the 1990s, stars like Michael Jordan started wearing loose shorts instead of tight ones.

Can you imagine a law against jeans that hang too low? Check out this link to find out!

2008-04-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

He is married to someone (not with someone!)

Many students make this mistake because the preposition

'with' makes sense ("he is with her" is correct).

And in many languages, using 'marry' + 'with' is correct!

And there's another confusing thing. When we use the verb

'marry' in the active voice, we don't use any preposition at all:

"I want to marry her" (not 'to her' or 'with her')

2008-04-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a question one of my students asked me today.

What's the difference between 'definitely' and 'obviously'?

Wow, these are two very confusable words for English students!

Both are adverbs that are used to emphasize how we feel.

I want to see that movie. I definitely want to see it.
She is upset. She is obviously upset.

Dictionaries say that both 'definitely' and 'obviously' can mean 'clearly', but I think this is usually not true. Let's put the word 'clearly' into our examples.

I want to see that movie. I clearly want to see it.
She is upset. She is clearly upset.

Which sounds more natural? If you think it's this one:

She is upset. She is clearly upset

then I think you are right! 'obviously' is most similar to 'clearly' (I want to see that movie. I clearly want to see it sounds strange)

A good definition of 'obviously' is ' Easily perceived or understood; quite apparent.'
A good definition of 'definitely' is 'Certainly'. Without a doubt'

The word 'definitely' is used to express how sure we are about something.

I want to see that movie. I definitely want to see it. (I'm sure I want to see it)
I will definitely call you tonight. (without doubt)

Both 'definitely' and 'obviously' can be used in the same sentence, but the meaning changes.

-Are you going to come to my party?
-Yes, definitely (I'm sure I will)
-Yes, obviously (You clearly know that I will)

It's definitely true (I'm very certain)
It's obviously true (Everyone can see that it's true)

I HOPE THIS HELPS!

2008-03-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

I love the questions my students ask me about American culture. Usually something that is very confusing for them takes just a few moments for me to explain.

Here is a great example. Can you guess what this sign means? Do you think it means that drugs are free near a school? That's what many students think, but it doesn't make sense to them!

Actually, 'drug-free' means 'no drugs'. Think about 'sugar-free' or 'fat-free'.

This sign tells illegal drug dealers that they will get into more trouble if they sell drugs close to a school. The idea is to discourage drug dealers from selling drugs near schools. Does it work? Actually, I have no idea!

2008-03-27T18:52:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of me teaching a TOEFL class in New York City. I don't usually sit down---I'm way too hyper! Do you see the cup of coffee in my left hand? Maybe I hadn't had a sip yet...

2008-03-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Raining Cats and Dogs?"

Today one of my students said, "Tomorrow it will rain cats and dogs". This idiom means that it's raining A LOT!

This is a very interesting idiom and it's in many ESL books. But Americans rarely use it!

What do we say instead?

It's raining hard
It's pouring (rain) (out)
It's raining like crazy

So, my student could say:

"Tomorrow it's supposed to rain really hard"

"It's going to be pouring tomorrow"

2008-03-25T11:27:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of my son and daughter. They are four years apart.

My son is usually nice to her, but sometimes he loses his patience.

This picture was taken at my father-in-law's house in February. He lives in Benin, which is a country in West Africa.

We went there for a three week vacation!

2008-03-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

This Blog is for All of You!

Do you have a question about how to use English?
Are you confused about an idiom from a TV show?
Is there something about American Culture that you want to know?
Do you need advice on living in the U.S.?
Is it hard to speak English with Americans?
Are you struggling to make friends here?

E-mail me!

True International Experience. For me, this phrase means many things. First and foremost, it means making genuine, meaningful connections with people from different countries. As an ESL instructor in the United States, my mission is to facilitate these connections between English learners and native English-speaking Americans.

Why do I feel that this is my mission? Why not just stay in the classroom teaching ESL lessons, assigning homework, and giving tests?

Simple. True International Experience (TIE) is the best (and fastest) way to learn English, discover American culture, make friends, get into universities, get jobs, and have fun. It's why people decide to study English in a foreign country instead of in their own. I mean, it's not logical to travel so far away and pay so much for ESL classes if you don't spend time with Americans and your English doesn't improve.

Is it?

But what happens to most international students in the U.S.? Do they make American friends easily? What happens to most international businesspeople? Do they socialize with their American co-workers? What happens to most of the spouses of these businesspeople? Do they find opportunities to speak English?

(These are what we call 'rhetorical questions'; if you're not sure what I mean, look up 'rhetorical' in a good English-English dictionary (Cobuild's my favorite). Oh, and please be sure to notice the stress in the word: rhe-TOR-i-cal and practice saying the word out loud!)

If you need to make more genuine, meaningful connections with native English speakers...

E-mail me!

If you need to learn more about American English and American culture...

E-mail me!

If you need a way to practice your English...

E-mail me!

E-mail me your questions, thoughts, stories, problems, or concerns. I will post and respond to as many as I possibly can. When you e-mail me, PLEASE tell me if I can write your name and where you're from on the blog or if you prefer to be anonymous (a-NON-y-mous)

Let's do this together for True International Experience! Let's do this for TIE!!!!

jrhlevine@gmail.com

2006-06-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

American Culture, Part 3

Do Americans have a "win-lose" mentality?

Of course, it depends on the person, but I think in many cases, yes. One example is the notion of the "American Dream". Is it possible for a poor person--perhaps uneducated, perhaps an immigrant--to achieve success in American society? Most people think that if a person tries hard enough, he or she will win. If not, the person will lose. People that are rich are the winners; people who are poor are the losers. I think this is how may of us deal with the reality of the huge separation between the rich and poor in the U.S.

Similarly, if another country disagrees with us, this country is against us because we are "the winners"--others are jealous of our power; they are the losers. Fortunately, not everyone thinks this way. The people who do feel a greater sense of patriotism for America and generally are more supportive of fighting the "losers" in order to protect our power as Americans.

2006-06-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

American Culture: Part 2

Is there a true American culture? Naturally, as a young country, the U.S. doesn't have a long historical tradition. But if culture is family life, work, food, religion, language, sports, etc. then of course every society has culture, including the United States.

Sometimes when people say "America doesn't have its own culture" I think they mean that there are many different cultural influences here. Since Protestant, Western-European influence has been the most powerful in shaping this country's history and lifestyle, it also makes sense when people say that someone like Bill Clinton or George Bush represents American culture. However, doesn't that sound too simplistic?

Let's take African Americans, for example. Is their culture separate from that of other ethnic groups in the United States (the 'salad' idea)? Or does African American culture mix together with the cultures of other ethnic groups to create one American culture that all of us share (the 'melting pot' idea)? I think the answer to both questions is "Yes" In some ways, African American life is very inclusive--in other words, if you're not Black, you are not connected to many important aspects of their culture. On the other hand, if you're not black but you are an American, your culture is affected in many important ways by African American culture (especially language, music, sports, food, and humor).

The 'melting pot' idea sounds good. It says that, as Americans, we all influence each other and we share the same culture. But is George Bush's culture the same as a Black person's or a Jewish person's or an Asian-American person's? If the answer is "No" (and I think it is), then we are not a true 'melting pot'. However, since we do influence each other, we are not a 'salad' either. I guess we're something in the middle---a 'melting salad'? :)

2006-05-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

"What is American culture?"My ESL teacher who is from the U.S. always asked me this question in class. She said that we were not a historical country and we didn't have a culture like Japan. What do you think? And also, a dictionary says "win-or-lose culture is American culture." Is it true?

Part 1:

"What is ______ culture?" (Japanese, Swedish, Peruvian, Nigerian...) is such a tough question to answer. You have to consider cultural differences among people who live in the same country. Well, in the case of the United States, this is especially complicated! Some people feel that American culture is simply a story of individual immigrant cultures (including the early Europeans who came here first). But then there are the diverse cultures of the Native Americans who were already here when the Europeans came.

Is there anything that unites all Americans? Is this country a 'melting pot', where various cultures meld together to create a new, shared culture? Or are we more of a 'salad', where the cultures people bring to this country remain separate? I will try my best to answer these questions.

2006-05-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Question:
I am in trouble to hear the native speakers conversation. I think it is so difficult to understand. If it is possible could you advise something about this?For example why can't I catch their conversation? How can I improve my ability?

I think the toughest thing about listening in English conversations is the "shrinking and linking". In other words, the way that native English speakers stress some sounds and reduce (shrink) the others.

Only one syllable in each word is stressed. And only some words in each sentence are stressed. The other sounds shrink; they sound very different from what you expect. For example, "What do you think you are going to do tonight?" sounds like "Whadyathinkyagonnadot'night"
The sounds in bold are stressed; the other sounds shrink (so 'going to' sounds like 'gonna' and 'tonight' sounds like 't'night').

But the shrinking of sounds is not the only problem. The other problem is the linking of words. Instead of hearing 'What do you...' you hear 'Whadya' The words run together, so often a sentence containing 10 words sounds like just 3 or 4 words (like in the example above).

Of course, some people talk especially fast, speak with different accents, and use lots of idioms or slang. But I think "shrinking and linking" causes the most difficulty for listeners. What can you do?

One thing is to become aware of how native English speakers stress and reduce sounds. Watch a a scene from a favorite DVD and do dictation. Compare what you wrote down to the subtitles. Then watch with the subtitles and try to notice how the sounds match the words. Try to notice which words and sounds are stressed. Then shadow the actors: speak out lound, trying to sound like them. In this way, you'll begin to teach your mouth and your brain to recognize the natural rhythms of English in the future.

2006-05-15T03:05:00.000-07:00

Please ask a question!

Especially if it's something you're wondering about American Culture. Please leave me a comment. You can include your name or not, depending on how you feel.

2006-04-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

A Question from Fumi:

"Actually, I am student at Encare, and Jason's student. I appreciate your very kind-hearted help; someday I want to do something for you. Anyway, I have a question or want to know your opinion. Actually, I think that students at Encare are very motivated because of their desire and teachers such as Mune, Jason and Dylan. However, what do you recommend to do or advise for Japanese students at Encare or in NY, outside of the classroom? Especially me? Thank you so much."

This is such an important question, and one that is of course difficult to answer briefly, but I'll try. My answer may seem a bit general; but then perhaps another student (or Fumi!) might follow-up with a more specific question, and in this way we can create an on-going dialog.

I feel that if your goal in the U.S. is to learn English quickly and effectively, you need to immerse yourself in American culture. This means spending most, if not all of your time, with American people. Living with a host family is one way; having a job is another. I've known certain Japanese students who cut themselves off from the Japanese language and society while they were in New York. They only communicated with Korean and Spanish-speaking friends (using English), and made friends with Americans rather quickly.

To many people, however, these options may be impossible, or else sound too extreme. Doing volunteer work is another, perhaps more accessible way to connect to Americans and American culture. If you don't make or find opportunities to be in English-only environments, you can create them for yourself. Watch DVDs in English, using print-outs of scripts to help you; watch movies in Japanese first (to understand the plot and character development); then watch them again in English. Read, read, read!! Read only materials that interest you; it doesn't matter if it's a cheesy romance novel for teenagers, TV Guide, a book about sports, or a comic strip...or an English teacher's blog :). And read materials that are not so difficult for you--you'll stay more motivated and absorb more grammar and vocabulary that way. Finally, keep a journal in English (oh, yes: and practice your writing by sending your questions to me!)

2006-04-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

"What is Passover?" (this question comes from Ami, a student at encare)

Passover is a Jewish festival of freedom remembering when the Jews were led out of Egypt and out of slavery by Moses. It's an eight-day festival celebrated at the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. According to legend, an angel "passed over" the homes of the Jews which were marked with the blood obtained from animal sacrifice. The same angel murdered the first-born son and first-born animals of every Egyptian family whose doorway was not marked.

Passover is always in March or April, around the same time as Easter. Many non-religious Americans celebrate Easter, but Passover is mainly celebrated by practicing Jews.

Although my father's side is Jewish (and I have a very Jewish last name--Levine), he didn't grow up in a Jewish environment. My mother's family is Protestant. To be recognized as a Jew, I would have to convert to Judaism because my mother isn't Jewish.

2006-04-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

"Why do people dye eggs for Easter?"

This is from the Web:

The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians. From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers. Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs -- those made of plastic or chocolate candy.

My family wasn't religious at all, but we celebrated Easter (without going to church); most kids did, unless their families were Jewish. When I was growing up, we dyed eggs because it was fun to do an art project with your parents. The only chocolate thing we had was a chocolate bunny. These days, with how hectic people's lives are, I think it's less common to slow down and dye Easter eggs at home.

"Why is a bunny rabbit associated with Easter?"

From the Web:

The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit. The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.

I also think that Americans connect rabbits with the idea of birth (they reproduce so quickly!); and I think spring is a time of re-birth (not only because Christ supposedly was reborn during this time).

2006-04-17T11:14:00.001-07:00

The sky above Kyoto

2006-04-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

A view of Kyoto (taken by a student)

2006-04-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

"How do you celebrate your anniversary?"

My wife and I usually don't do anything very special or fancy--just go to dinner. We exchange cards and I sometimes get her flowers (we don't give each other any big gifts). Actually, our anniversary is April 12; we've been married for seven years. Last Wednesday, we had dinner at a restaurant in Montclair, NJ, close to our home. It was a beautiful evening, so we strolled around a bit before and after dinner. Because we spend a lot of time with our son, it was good to do something like that--just the two of us.

2006-04-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

"If you go to Japan, which prefecture or city do you want to go to (besides Tokyo)?"

There are two places where I'd most like to go. One is Kyoto. I'm actually very embarrassed that I've never been there because my brother lived there for 8 years! There were several times when I almost went but then didn't for some reason. I prefer old, more traditional cities, so I think I'd like Kyoto more than I liked Tokyo. If possible, of course, I'd like to go with my brother.

I know I would also really like the outer islands of Okinawa. But who wouldn't like beautiful, unspoiled sub-tropical islands like the Keramas? I guess I'm not very original...

2006-04-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

"Why isn't soccer more popular in the U.S.?"

I think this is a fascinating question--especially when you consider how popular soccer is throughout the world and that, up until high school, the most popular sport for kids in the States is... soccer (yes, it's true!).

So what happens when kids get to high school? One thing is that because soccer is not a big sport for adults, kids stop playing. Also, there aren't any really famous American professional soccer players to look up to.

But why aren't American adults more interested in soccer? I can think of a few possible reasons. One is that, unlike baseball, football, or basketball, soccer does not put so much emphasis on the individual; teamwork is much more important. This is not very "American". Also, it is less of a contact sport. And, traditionally, it is associated most with Europe (we often try to dissassociate ourselves from Europe!). Finally, there's an important reason why soccer games are not shown very much on TV: it's hard for networks to run lots of commercials during them! Baseball, basketball, and football are much more suitable for the amount of commercials on American television.

Can you think of any other reasons? Please leave your comments.

2006-04-12T02:36:00.000-07:00

Questions for an American

I'd like to start something new on this blog. If you have a question about the U.S., American culture, or you just want to know what an American would think about a particular issue or topic, please leave it in the comment section or e-mail me directly!

2006-03-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

Overheard #3

It turns out

Speaker 1 How are the repairs going on your house?
Speaker 2 It turns out that we need a new roof.

Meaning: The final result is

Explanation: ‘It turns out’ usually introduces a result that wasn’t expected; the result could
be positive or negative.

‘that’ can be omitted: It turns out we need a new roof.

Other examples: It turns out I’ll be able to go to your party; it turns out that I won’t be meeting
with him

Similar expressions: After all; the end result is; in the end

2006-02-27T13:23:00.000-08:00

Overheard (#2)

The expression: Somehow or another

Piece of dialog: - Will you be able to finish everything?
- I’ll do it somehow or another.

Meaning: It might be difficult, but I’ll find some solution; I’ll accomplish my goal
(even though it may seem difficult or impossible); I’ll come up with some way to
do it.

Explanation: This expression is used to emphasize that the person is an optimist and is
not going to give up.

Other examples: I’ll get into college somehow or another;
somehow or another, I’ll figure out a plan

Similar expressions: some way or another; one way or another; no matter what

2006-02-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

Overheard (#1)

The expression: It was just a disaster

Piece of dialog:
Speaker 1 How did your party go?
Speaker 2 It rained the whole time. It was just a disaster!

Meaning: It was really bad; it was awful

Explanation: The ‘just’ in just a disaster is used for emphasis. This could be to
emphasize something good as well as bad: It was just great!

Other examples: It was just terrible; It was just wonderful

Similar expressions: It was a total disaster; It was a total success
It was simply a disaster; It was simply wonderful

2006-02-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

New Column: Overheard

For the past several years, I’ve written down phrases and expressions I hear in conversations between native English speakers on the street, in restaurants, in elevators, on the commuter train, and dozens of other places. This could be perceived as being impolite or even eavesdropping, but as an English teacher, of course I’m not interested in the content of what they’re saying; I just want to teach my students the most common English people use every day!

In this column, I will report my findings directly to you.

2006-01-26T01:15:00.000-08:00

On the way to Boston
--- this entry was sent in by Yu; Yu has a blog that you can see at this address:
http://blog.livedoor.jp/paris614/

I went to Boston on Thursday on a Grayhound bus.
While I was waiting for the bus at Port Authority bus teminal in NYC, I overheard a woman saying "Je ne comprends pas" (I don't know). I was very surprised. But sometimes if people can't speak English so well, they say "I don't know" in a public place. (Sometimes I say "Wakaranai" in class....)

I thought about why she came to the U.S. by herself. So I talked to her in broken French. I said "Vous parlez francais (You speak French)".(What strange and broken French!). She just nodded. I can't speak French, I can just greet. So I couldn't continue to talk to her.Then we got onto the bus.

At a rest stop, she told me in French that she wanted to eat a hamburger. I could understand, so I helped her buy a hamberger.Then I introduced myself and I found out that her name was Adi (I'm not sure about the spelling). She was Senegalise.She seemed kind.

When we got off the bus, she hugged a woman who was waiting there. Actually, she came to Boston to see her daughter. Her daughter thanked me. I felt so happy.

I think that my mother can come to New York by herself because she just has to use an airplane.Adi used one or more airplanes and buses without speaking English.I think that she is strong and she could go to see her daughter because she had a lot of help.

2006-01-26T01:01:00.000-08:00

Send in your writing!

It's fun for me to write in this blog because I think about how it can help some people improve their English and learn more about American culture. But I don't want the writing to only be my own! Soon I hope to post stories from other Americans besides myself. Also, I really want English learners (my current students, former students, and anyone else who reads this blog) to send in their writing. If you send me something, I will edit it, post it, and encourage comments from readers. I can mention your name, or it can be anonymous (depending on what you prefer).

If you want to send in something, please leave a comment that includes your e-mail address, and I will get in touch with you!

2006-01-24T02:06:00.000-08:00

Visiting California

Although both my father and my brother live in the Bay Area, I don't go out there very often. This time I went with my son for a long weekend. Oliver was really good on the plane (both ways!), which made travelling easy. I'm always stunned by how beautiful California is--especially when compared to NY and NJ. Life is also a bit slower. These two factors sometimes make me feel like we should consider moving out there. But the thing is, besides being comfortable in my life on the East Coast, in the Bay Area it's actually really difficult to find a small house that you can afford. I didn't think it could be more expensive there than here, but it really is!

2006-01-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

My son and me in Palo Alto California

2006-01-21T12:13:00.001-08:00

News about my brother Greg

Some of you may already know that my brother is a professor of art history at the University of California, Berkeley. His specialty is Japanese art. I'm so proud of him because his book on Daitokuji is coming out soon! He worked on it for many years. I had the honor of being the first person (besides him) to see a copy because I happened to be in California visiting when it arrived in the mail.

2006-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

My brother's new book

2006-01-17T02:20:00.000-08:00

Two Very American Stories

On the shuttle bus to JFK airport a few days ago, an extremely overweight orthodox Jewish man attempted to sit down next to a pretty young woman (she looked like a college student). This wouldn't have been so remarkable except for the fact that (1) there were dozens of empty seats on the bus and (2) the young woman's parents were sitting directly in front of her! Here's how the story ends: the mother got up as the man was trying to sit down and said, "Excuse me, I think I'll sit there, thank you."

At JFK, I spilled a cup of coffee all over the floor next to my seat at the gate (if you know me, you probably know that I'm a bit of a klutz!). Fortunately, at that very moment, a custodian was walking by; she was even holding a mop in her hand! So I said, "Excuse me, could I ask you or someone else to help me clean up some coffee that I spilled?" Her response? She glared at me and said, "You're going to have to ask somebody else."

2006-01-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

New Year's in South Orange

For New Year's Eve, my wife, my son, and my mother-in-law (she's visiting from Paris) drove to a friend's house in South Orange, a town in New Jersey not far from where we live. It was supposed to be a big party, but it turned out to be pretty small. Actually, this was nice because it gave everyone there a chance to get to know one another better.

The party was a traditional American New Year's party which means it was nothing really special! It's interesting how in the U.S., New Year's is not a big deal (there are really no special foods or music or gift-giving). Also, in most cultures, New Year's is traditionally a time when families get together. But for us, Christmas is more like this. On New Year's Eve, most people go to casual parties like the one I went to, or they go to a bar or club.

Of course there was food, but it was snack food like chips and cookies. Some people watched the Giants game on TV. Most people just talked and drank beer and wine until midnight; then, we opened champagne (alcohol is certainly the most important New Year's tradition that we have!)

My mother-in-law doesn't speak English, so being there for several hours was a bit difficult for her. But she tried to keep up with what people were talking about (we translated a bit, and a few people practiced their not-so-good high school French!). My 3 year old son stayed up until 1:30 (!), when we left the party. He spent most of the night dancing with the grown-ups and a couple of other kids who were there. Overall, we had a very nice time.

2005-12-29T02:14:00.000-08:00

The Food Just Kept Coming!

Last night, several students and a fellow teacher (Cassy) and my wife (Brigitte) went out to eat at a Japanese restaurant in the East Village. When we sat down and started looking at the menus, I instantly felt overwhelmed: so many different things to choose from! I think many Americans (including myself) like the idea of ordering lots of small dishes and sharing them with friends, but we are not used to this. Normally, we choose an appetizer and an entree, and we don't share (unless someone wants a taste...just to try what you ordered). I definitely prefer the Japanese way! You get to try a greater variety of dishes and, most importantly, it creates a lively and intimate atmosphere among friends.

2005-12-29T02:13:00.000-08:00

Dinner with students at Village Yokocho

2005-12-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Bloomfield

This year, for the very first time, my wife and I decided to spend Christmas at home. Before we had a son, we would never have considered this an option; being away from family on Christmas would have been too depressing--especially Christmas morning! It's not that Christmas is such a big deal (we don't celebrate the religious side of it at all); it's that we're used to counting on being with our parents on this day. So, I guess we're officially adults now! Now we have our own little family, and our son can count on being with us.

We began the day by opening presents. Both my wife and I feel that parents buy too much stuff for kids in the U.S., so we tried to keep our purchases to a minimum. But, of course, Oliver (our 3 year old son) got things from relatives, friends, his babysitter--even neighbors. So, he ended up with a roomful of toys. Naturally, he was ecstatic about it! (I apologize for not posting any pictures; my digital camera is broken, and I haven't bought a new one yet...)

Later in the day, we went to our friend's apartment in Manhattan. Her name is Sylvie and she is an emergency room physician in a hospital in Brooklyn. Her parents live in West Africa, but they are here visiting right now. Sylvie invited several other people to her place for lunch; we knew all of them from other get-togethers at Sylvie's. We had Champagne with French bread and different cheeses, then West African food (spicy shrimp and pork), and for dessert, Christmas cookies and a bouche de noel (in English this translates as Christmas log--it sounds much better in French, don't you think?) A bouche de noel is a traditional cake that the French make for Christmas. It's in the shape of a log and has little decorations made of sugar on it (leaves, mushrooms, forest animals). I think some of you may be familiar with this kind of cake since French pastries are well-known to many Japanese!

2005-11-17T01:57:00.000-08:00

Restaurant Story #3

At Time Cafe, I worked with many different waiters. One of them--I can't remember his name now--was always joking around with everyone; he was really fun to be around. Once he told me about a waiter he knew at another restaurant. He said that one day, this waiter did something totally crazy. At the restaurant, they were doing some major repairs in the kitchen, so there was this big hole in the middle of the floor. The waiter noticed that it was a very dangerous situation; there was no fence or rope around the hole; anyone who was not careful could just fall in. So what did he do? When nobody was looking, he jumped right into the hole and broke his leg! Why? So that he could then sue the restaurant for negligence and get a lot of money. According to my waiter friend, it worked. They guy sued the restaurant, won his case, and became really rich!

What do you think about that?

2005-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

Restaurant Story #2

One evening at Time cafe, I was bussing tables outside (it was summer and the cafe had seating in front of the restaurant). Part of my job was to put a candle on each table, just as the sun was going down. So, while people were eating , I stopped at their table with a candle. The candles were really big and heavy--like a couple of pounds--so I carried only two of them at a time. Anyway, I brought a candle to a table where a man and a woman and their baby (an infant, only several months old) were having dinner. For some reason-- I have no idea why--as I was moving to put the candle on the table, it slipped from my hand and fell. No big deal, right? Well, except for the fact that my hand was directly over their baby's head when it happened; the candle missed the infant's head by one or two centimeters (seriously!). I was in a state of shock. I remember standing there frozen, looking at the parents. They did not seem concerned at all. I thought to myself, "I almost killed your baby." I said to them, "I am so terribly sorry. How can you possibly forgive me?" They smiled and told me not to worry. Man, if it hadn't been for those one or two centimeters...

2005-11-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

Anything bad about Japan?

Several students have asked me if there was anything about Japan that I didn't like when I was there in September for my first visit. The honest answer is no; but, I was only there for a week. I'm sure that if my stay had been longer, some things would have gotten on my nerves...and maybe other things would have seemed bad or wrong to me in a deeper sense.

One thing that I can imagine being difficult for me (if I were in Japan for a longer perieod of time), is the lack of physical contact between people, especially friends and family. For me, hugging and kissing on the cheek are everyday ways to express friendship. I'm not sure, but I think that at times I might feel lonely and uncomfortable in Japan for this reason.

2005-11-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Working at a restaurant

When I graduated from college, I decided I'd try to get a job in the music business in New York. I wanted to DJ a bit and work for a record label. But getting jobs like this in the City was tough! And I needed to make money right away to pay rent. So, I started bussing tables at a restaurant called Time Cafe (it was in the East Village on the corner of Lafyette and Great Jones Street). The people who ran the place were pretty cool and the money was good (even though I was bussing, not waiting) because, at that time, it was super popular, especially with people in the entertainment business (maybe I'd meet a big-shot music guy who could hook me up!).

I have a few funny stories from Time Cafe. One is about a crazy waiter I worked with; another is about almost killing a baby (well, this one is really not funny at all); and another is about Lenny Kravitz. Let's start with the Lenny one.

One night, I was stacking glasses at a wait-station when a woman came up to me and said, "Excuse me; could you keep it down? We're interviewing someone in Fez" (Fez was a bar inside the restaurant). I said, "Sure" and stacked the glasses more gently. But she came back again. "Um, could you please be quiet. We're interviewing someone important." She had a really rude tone in her voice. I continued stacking the glasses as I had been doing. She came back a third time, this time angry. "You need to stop this. We're trying to interview Lenny Kravitz." Clearly, she thought that this would impress me. But what she didn't know is that I despised Lenny Kravitz! I thought he was really arrogant--not unlike how I felt about this woman. So, I started loudly banging glasses together until she came back again (this time I ran into the kitchen before she could catch me!)

2005-10-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

HALLOWEEN STORY!

I am eager to return to my account of my visit to Tokyo. Yet, I feel the time is right to shift gears a little bit. This journal is designed for students of English, particularly those with an interest in American culture. So, I'd like to begin including stories, observations, etc. about life in the States.

A few years back--oh, I don't know, 9 or 10 years ago?--I took a group of international students to the Halloween Parade in the West Village. There were about ten of us in the group. If you're familiar with this parade, you know that it's one of New York's biggest (and craziest). We set out early to find a good spot in where we could see, but when we showed up, a ton of people were already there. One of the students was a Japanese teenager who was really shy in class; but he'd designed this incredible costume: he was a bottle of Coke! Everyone complimented him on it, but he hardly said anything back to them. He seemed embarrassed to be wearing it.

The parade began and hundreds of costumed people started marching, shouting, and dancing up 6th Avenue. One of the students was surprised to see that the people in the parade weren't part of some special group; they were just New Yorkers wearing Halloween costumes. "What do you have to do to be in the parade?" they asked me. "Nothing," I said. "You just need to be wearing a costume; you go down to Grand Street and just start walking up the avenue with everyone else."

Maybe a half hour or forty-five minutes later, I did a head count to make sure all of the students were still in the group. Someone was missing. Oh! The coke bottle! I started to panic. It didn't seem right that he would have walked away; could something have happened to him? I asked the other students, but no one had seen him leave. Then, all of a sudden, one of the students yelled, "Look!" There, in the middle of the parade, bobbing up and down to the music, was the coke bottle! It moved right past where we were standing and kept going, in a sea of people, up 6th avenue to Union Square.

2005-10-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Day 2

I managed to navigate my way from Mune's house to the train station (harder than you might think since I have an horrible sense of direction and I couldn't read any of the street signs!). My plan for the day: walk around Tokyo by myself. First, I checked out the Seiyu supermarket near the station. The fish and vegetables were so beautiful that I filmed them with my video camera! Then I went upstairs to the "general store" section, where I tried on a couple of hats. I bought some socks for my wife and was proud when I quickly counted out the correct change to give the cashier!

Before boarding the train, I bought some candy at the stand on the platform. One thing that I thought was grape gum turned out to be chewy grape taffy; another thing that I thought was lemon drops turned out to be little, soft sticky cubes of some other fruit-flavored candy. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to get the wrapper off of the sticky cube candy. It was so thin! I looked totally foolish on the train, of course, trying to peel the paper off of the candy (and remembering that eating on the train was a no-no). But I found out later that it had been even worse than I had thought: a friend of Mune's told me, "Oh, that old fashioned kind of candy? You're supposed to eat it with the paper on, not peel it off! How humiliating!

2005-10-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

Guys having dinner in Shibuya

2005-09-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

First Day

I was half-looking forward to and half-dreading the morning rush hour commute. I wanted to experience the craziness of it, but at the same time, I wasn't sure I could handle it. As it turns out, we left Mune's house just after the worst had passed. Actually, it was quite quiet on the train. At first I thought this was only because everyone was busy text messaging or checking the internet on their phones. But Mune explained that Japanese parents teach kids the importance of respecting other people's space and privacy, particularly in public places.

In Shinjuku, I had my first bowl of ramen (we were going to the Park Hyatt Hotel for lunch later, but Mune couldn't resist because he was back home again!). I learned that, generally speaking, women do not eat at ramen shops. After hearing this, I developed the habit of looking into ramen shops while walking around Tokyo to see if I could spot any women eating inside. Interestingly, the only women I saw were adolescents (so perhaps things are changing...?)

The superficial reason for visiting the Park Hyatt was Lost in Translation. The real reason was to eat at an exceptional Japanese restaurant. But, actually, Mune didn't prepare me for a fine dining experience (of course he'd said we were going to a nice place, but that was all). To be honest, I had rather low expectations. This is because in the States, expensive hotels often feature mediocre, overpriced restaurants. Boy, was I in for a surprise! The decor, the service, the presentation, the relaxed pace of the meal, the education I received about how to eat noodles, drink tea, and appreciate sake and, above all, the astonishing array of delicious smells and tastes make this easily one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life.

2005-09-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

Choosing sake glasses at the Park Hyatt

2005-09-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Posing at the Park Hyatt Hotel

2005-09-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Questions for my Japanese Students

Is it true that the family backgrounds of flight attendants on Japanese airlines are carefully researched to make sure that the flight attendants come from "good" families?

Can a man be a flight attendant on a Japanese airline?

Are the little toys and trinkets that Japanese people (especially girls) attach to their cell phones gifts from friends, or do people buy them for themselves?

Why don't people wear bike helmets in Japan (I didn't see a single one the whole time I was there). Or, why do you think so many Americans wear them?

Are smokers ok with the idea of smoking in designated areas on the street, or are they angry about this policy?

2005-09-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

My accomodations

I immediately felt comfortable in Mune's home. I'd never met members of his family before, but they welcomed me warmly, especially his mother. She cooked a wonderful dinner, which included the best tuna sashimi I had ever tasted. I didn't feel any jet lag at all--it must have been because I was so excited to be there.

Normally, it would have just been Mune's mom and dad in the house; but, lucky for me, his sister (who lives in Nagoya) had just given birth to a baby girl (Akikho), and so she, and her other two kids (Akane and Asoto, both toddlers), were staying there. So, I had the opportunity to be around a family with adorable little kids--such a great way to experience everyday life in a new culture!

Mune's neighborhood surprised me because I'd pictured a much more hectic, densely populated area. He'd said he lived in the city of Tokyo, so my image was, you know, Shibuya Station or something like that! But it was so tranquil, with winding narrow streets and well-kept gardens. I fell asleep to the sounds of crickets outside my window.

2005-09-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

My son, Oliver, in his jinbei (bought in Asakusa)

2005-09-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

The view from my room at Mune's house.

2005-09-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Surprises!

Eggs and vegetables for sale at the airport
Automatic car doors on taxis (I slammed mine shut the first time)
Noticing one (and only one!) candy wrapper on the ground at the train station
Cashiers removing your items from your basket (but actually, one of my students had told me about this in advance)

2005-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Day 1: The Flight to Tokyo

On the plane to Narita Airport, things were already different: a camera on the front and the bottom of the plane so you can see video of your take-off and the ground below...What an excellent idea!

And then the food. Of course, I was prepared for better-much better-food in Japan than what I was used to in the States (I mean, come on...what food is worse than American food? Especially American airplane food!!). But I hadn't realized that my experience in gourmet cuisine would begin on the flight over there. ANA (All Nippon Airlines) was featuring authentic, traditional food from Kyoto! Oishi desh-ta! (one of the few things I know how to say in Japanese...)

On a flight full of Americans, I always hear at least one loud conversation between two businessmen or strangers meeting for the first time, joking annoyingly with each other. In contrast, this flight was so quiet and peaceful. Everyone focused on getting comfortable and relaxed. I found that it helped me relax (not such an easy task for me!). In fact, I felt so good on the plane, I was even a bit disappointed when I heard we were going to land (honestly!).

I should mention that one reason why I felt so comfortable and secure is that I was with my business partner, Mune (he's from Tokyo and we were on the way to his house). So, I was in a very privileged situation--especially for my first time visiting an Asian country!

On the plane, the flight attendants were amazingly helpful in ways I wasn't used to. Actually, this wasn't so surprising because my students have educated me about the exceptional customer service in Japan. However, one thing did surprise me: I'd expected the customer service to be overbearing (you know, people trying too hard and too much). But if you didn't request help, no one bothered you. This is exactly what I saw in stores in Japan, too. I loved it! This is the way it should be everywhere, right?

Next: First impressions of Japan

2005-09-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

The first of many bowls!

2005-09-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

A Visit Long Overdue

For the past three years, I've been teaching English in New York City to Japanese students. Before last Friday, I'd heard so much about their lives in Japan, but (incredibly) I'd never been there to experience it for myself.

As I write this, I'm sitting in a room in Mune's family's home in Tokyo.* Finally, I'm here: my first visit ever! Actually, this is my seventh and final day in Tokyo. There is so much to tell. Hmmm...where to begin?

"For me, the most important thing about being in Japan was seeing Japanese people in their own country--not wrestling with the ups and downs of their new lives in the States."

This comment was made by a friend and former colleague when she came back to the U.S. from her first visit to Japan. Like me, she knew a lot about Japanese people and culture---but only through her observations and conversations with Japanese students in New York City.

Seeing Japanese people in their natural environment (more specifically, Japanese people in Tokyo), observing their daily routines and learning more about their personalities--discovering what's important to them and not so important to them....Yes, like my friend, I feel this has been the most valuable experience for me.

"Why the U.S.? Why did you decide to come here to learn English?" When I ask a new student this question, the response is usually something like, "To learn about real American culture." Naturally, I feel the same way about Japan: I want to learn more about real Japanese culture. But my primary goal is different. I want to learn about real Japanese culture, not to study and live in Japan (although this is an interesting idea), but to help my students benefit more deeply from their experience in the United States.

Next: So what have I learned?

*(Mune--short for Muneaki--is my business partner at our encaré english, our language school in Manhattan).

2005-09-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

What is T.I.E.?

True International Experience is what students expect when they decide to study and live in a new culture. And I think it's what they deserve. But so often it's not what they get! (More about this shortly...)

My name is Jason Levine and I'm an English language teacher in New York City. Three years ago, I co-founded a school for Japanese English learners with my business partner, Muneaki Goto. The school is called encaré english and we are located in Manhattan at 12 E. 41st street Suite 903. You can see our website at www.encare.us

I am creating this blog for anyone from a country or culture outside of the United States who is currently studying English and learning about American Culture (or would like to do so in the future). I envision a forum where English learners and native English speakers can exchange thoughts, ideas, and stories. I will begin with my own, and then hopefully other people will contribute theirs soon.

Now, back to the idea of T.I.E.

When people choose to study in the U.S., they usually imagine a life entrenched in a new culture: speaking English every day, meeting Americans, making American friends. After all, if this is not the case, why come all the way here? It's easier to take English classes in your hometown!

Unfortunately, what students imagine is not always a reality. For some people--and I'm thinking of many of my students--it is indeed quite far from a reality. Why? There is no simple answer to this question. Surely, it involves many factors. But one thing is certain: the solution to the problem lies in creating opportunities to build relationships between foreign students and Americans!

This is what I mean by T.I.E.