The Perfect Time to Turn Over a New Leaf (ジーアン先生)

Spring break this year gave me a lot of time to get household chores done, including stocking up my fridge and rearranging my furniture. Now, I know why schools in Japan start in April. The spring season is a great way to start something. The appearance of cherry blossoms and the warm weather make spring the perfect time to “turn over a new leaf.”



This expression in the English language means to become a better person or to give more effort in doing something.



So, this spring, I also decided to give more effort in learning Japanese. It’s very difficult since it’s so different from English and Filipino, but I was able to learn more Japanese words and expressions by answering textbooks and watching several Japanese films. I’m hoping this will increase my Japanese vocabulary!

いつもと異なる新年度 (キャロル先生） － the ways to stay creative and mentally healthy

Welcome to the new school year, I know it’s a strange time for everybody right now but when everything is back to normal, it will be lovely to meet both new and previous students again. It’s good to keep busy during this time. I have been keeping busy by reading, watching shows on Netflix and doing some creative writing. I hope you have all found your own ways to stay creative and mentally healthy, even though this can be difficult to do. I find ways to entertain myself, for example, I have created a number of children’s picture books for my nieces and nephews and godchildren. I create funny stories to help children learn and which in turn, keep me entertained too! Previous stories have involved cats or dogs and even dinosaurs! When they are finished, I send them to the lucky child as a gift. I love creating silly stories and it makes the perfect gift in which they can hold onto forever.

I hope you are all doing good and enjoying your time with your families. I make sure to keep in contact with my family and friends back in Ireland. Everybody is in this together. Let’s use this time wisely and keep our mental health in check. Soon we will be in our classrooms again having fun quizzes and you’ll be showing off your fantastic English skills!