tag:www.joyworld.com,2008-03-03:/blogs/pauls_classes//51 2008-11-14T08:34:26Z JOY English Academy Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9960 2008-11-14T07:35:02Z 2008-11-14T08:34:26Z

This week there was some discussion about doctor shortages. Misako had an article about the shortage of obstetricians, in particular in Hokkaido. We've seen articles about the looming lack of health care professionals in general because of shifting population demographics...

Paul This week there was some discussion about doctor shortages. Misako had an article about the shortage of obstetricians, in particular in Hokkaido. We've seen articles about the looming lack of health care professionals in general because of shifting population demographics and a lack of interest among young people in entering the care professions. In Canada we have a shortage of doctors right now. Part of Canada's problem is rooted in an erroneous report in 1991 that predicted a surplus of doctors in Canada. In response, provincial governments cut enrollment in medical schools to save money.So we've endded up with a shortage of Canadian trained doctors. But we have no shortage of trained English speaking foreign doctors who have immigrated here or want to immigrate to Canada. The problem is those doctors finding residencies, the two year period of clinical training they need to complete their training for Canadian provincial licences. There are a lot of frustrated people in Canada. tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9943 2008-11-10T06:13:48Z 2008-11-11T01:23:46Z

Many of our students watched the program about the Dutch painter Vermeer. One of his paintings is currently on view in Tokyo at an exhibition of 17th century Dutch painting. He was a wonderful painter of light, often choosing domestic...

Paul ]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9928 2008-10-31T05:27:46Z 2008-10-31T05:46:55Z

We were surprised to find out that students have to clean their own classrooms and take turns cleaning the school washrooms. Everyone from the Thursday morning step 5 class had done these things in school, although Tomoko didn't do toilets...

Paul ]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9898 2008-10-20T05:31:04Z 2008-10-20T06:24:46Z

It's English Expo week coming up this weekend. Both Trish and I will be giving seminars, hers on conversation stradegies and mine on listening using pop music. If you haven't made a decision yet, check with Shinobu at the desk....

Paul ]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9870 2008-10-07T06:51:00Z 2008-10-10T12:58:17Z

Mailing vegetables for a gift is not a common North American custom. We might give someone something we made ourselves, for example my brother loves to get my wife's bread and butter pickles as a Christmas gift, but we wouldn't...

Paul ]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9865 2008-10-04T05:29:06Z 2008-10-04T05:58:14Z

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9804 2008-09-12T14:09:05Z 2008-09-12T14:14:25Z

Nao had a great holiday in Spain. She and her friend went on a six day tour through the whole country. Unfortunately she caught a cold just at the end of her trip. Miki went shopping and bought a CD...

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9802 2008-09-12T13:59:07Z 2008-09-12T14:08:43Z

Saki joined the hand ball club at her school. She's pretty tired after her exams. Meiko is doing yoga and aerobics in Otofke once or twice a month. Saki's mother is going there for aerobics too. Tuesday, on her day...

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9795 2008-09-11T13:58:19Z 2008-09-11T14:16:42Z

Paul ]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9790 2008-09-11T10:47:51Z 2008-09-11T11:10:51Z

This morning we finished the article on urawaza, the "secret techniques" to solve household problems like getting coffee stains out of the carpet with a toothbrush and spinach water. Spinach water seems to be a handy cleaner for many things....

Paul This morning we finished the article on urawaza, the "secret techniques" to solve household problems like getting coffee stains out of the carpet with a toothbrush and spinach water. Spinach water seems to be a handy cleaner for many things. Eiko told us she cleaned wood with spinach water  to keep it white.  Everyone seemed to like the  broken lipstick fix using a hairdryer and the freezer. Thanks to everyone for their contributions to our lunchtime tea and a special thanks to Trish, the idea's originator. I would especially like to thank Kaori again for her help translating at the eye specialist.
]]> tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9788 2008-09-10T13:55:20Z 2008-09-11T02:08:39Z

Kyoko bought a thousand piece puzzle of the Disney characters Lilo and Stitch. Yumiko told us she did a three thousand piece puzzle of a historical Japanese picture of a woman in a room being watched through a screen by...

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9789 2008-09-10T13:09:02Z 2008-09-11T02:34:12Z

We discussed a few news items this evening. We started with the Mikasa Foods scandal about the resale of tainted rice. All were shocked by the incident. We clarified the terms "middleman" and "wholesaler" in the product chain. I wondered...

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9777 2008-09-09T13:51:03Z 2008-09-10T12:27:56Z

Misako brought in an article about the Mikasa Foods scandal. Mikasa foods purchased tainted rice from the government on condition that it not be used for edible food products. They fraudulently resold the rice for consumption. I was shocked that...

Paul tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9787 2008-09-09T13:45:47Z 2008-09-11T01:54:42Z

Tomoko went to Obihiro prison on the weekend with her mother to do some shopping. Apparently, once a year the prison sells products grown, raised and made by the inmates. Tomoko and her mother bought cheap peaches, potatoes, miso and...

Paul Tomoko went to Obihiro prison on the weekend with her mother to do some shopping. Apparently, once a year the prison sells products grown, raised and made by the inmates. Tomoko and her mother bought cheap peaches, potatoes, miso and noodles. There was furniture made by inmates as well. Tomomi went to her niece's sports day at her kindergarten and Eri went to visit her father in law who has been in the hospital for quite a long period of time. tag:www.joyworld.com,2008:/blogs/pauls_classes//51.9762 2008-09-09T04:40:14Z 2008-09-09T04:57:47Z

Ryoko went to Millenium Park and walked with her husband. It's a beautiful place, Trish and I have been there a few times on weekend rides. Ritsuko had a reasonable and good sushi lunch with her husband just around the...

Paul