Despite the sudden cold this week, spring cherry blossoms are almost here. Are you excited for ohanami parties? At スミス英会話長岡京校, we certainly are! Did you know that Washington, DC, celebrates spring with its own National Cherry Blossom Festival? It’s true; the festival and its trees are rooted (pun intended) in Japan! 2012 marks the Centennial (100th […]
The McGurk Effect – what’s that? / マガーク効果って何？
Hello from スミス英会話長岡京校！ Here is a fascinating video about the McGurk Effect. Huh? The what? McGurk was a fellow who identified the way our eyes sometimes help us hear. Say again? Eyes help us hear?? Yes! During conversation, our eyes lip-read continuously and our brains process this information like a computer, influencing what we hear. […]
The Japanese Doll Festival, or Girls Day（花祭り) – a post from スミス英会話長岡京校
One of the pleasures of teaching English at スミス英会話長岡京校 is learning about the diverse lives of students and the rich culture of their homeland. And while I’m proud of my birthplace, Canada, our 150-year history is dwarfed by the long history of Japan. Some of the festivals celebrated today date back over a millennium! Following […]