In the Beginning . . .
			Speaking Smoothly
			How to Succeed Outside the Classroom
			"Mistakes"
			Lifeline
			Elegance in Dining
			Passport
			The Unknown
			Discussions and Basketball Games
			High-Return Business Skills

	In the Beginning . . . Some people say, "I don't like English." Well, you don't have to like English. But you have to like people. English is a tool. People are the target. If you don't focus on your listeners, conversation simply becomes self-satisfaction. But if you also like English, you will have more tools to connect with people. It's raining hard outside. "Good morning," you greet your colleagues as you arrive at your office. But wait, why do we say good morning? There's a typhoon coming outside! We say it because the meaning of "good" is "It's good to see you." It's the same with the question, "How are you?" This is not a doctor's question inquiring about your health. It's simply a greeting. And the purpose of a greeting is to start the exchange positively. Saying "I'm tired" or "I'm sleepy" brings down the energy level of the conversation. It's the same at work, or in the classroom. Does this mean we have to lie, even when we are really busy and tired? No, you can still keep it positive. "How are you?" "I've been really busy these days, but I was looking forward to seeing you!" A positive attitude and a positive response can bring sunshine into your conversation. "There were many foreigners on the cruise ship." A student who just came back from Guam reported in class. I told her, "You were the foreigner!" If you wish to be international-minded, use the phrase, "Non-Japanese people" instead of the word, "Foreigner."

	Speaking Smoothly When someone asks you a question, don't think silently! A long "thinking silence" can break the rhythm of the conversation. When you have to stop to think, always use "Gap-filler phrases": "Let me see . . . Well . . . " You can also Repeat the question as you think: "What do I value most in people . . . let's see . . . " Or you can Comment on the question to buy more time: "That's an interesting question . . . " Practice so that your "mouth" can automatically fill in the hesitation gaps. Mastering the above "G-R-C" technique will greatly help your conversation flow more smoothly. Break the habit of using "Japanese gap-fillers" when you speak English.「えーと」「なんだっけ」 sound out of place in an English sentence. They make you sound unsure and too self-conscious.

	How to Succeed Outside the Classroom In my early days of teaching, there was a teacher who just arrived in Tokyo. Tim was an enthusiastic young Californian with a bright smile, eager to teach English in Japan. "Good luck, Tim!" I told him as he went into the classroom for his first lesson. An hour later, Tim walked back to the teachers' room. He looked depressed. "How was your class?" I asked him. "They hate me," he replied. He told me, in a low tone of voice, "I went into class. And with a lot of energy, I introduced myself. And then I asked the group, 'Can someone introduce yourself to me?' " . . . But nobody answered . . . they all looked away. "Nobody wanted to speak to me . . . I think they hate me." Well, you and I know that nobody hated Tim. His students simply hesitated when Tim asked an "open" question to the group―"Can someone introduce yourself?" But coming from America, where people often volunteer to speak out, he misunderstood, thinking his students didn't want to talk to him. During the rest of his teaching days in Japan, Tim never had this problem again, and said his classes went smoothly. Because he avoided asking "open" questions. But did his students really benefit from this? The answer is no. I strongly believe his students were not properly prepared to succeed outside the classroom, in real English speaking situations. English situations require you to speak up. To speak out in a group. Without being given individual "cues." Especially when you are abroad. The willingness to answer "open" questions is an important step for your English progress. It is the "true" way to practice English speaking. You will find more success speaking in groups, in meetings, in discussions. All English students should take the initiative to speak out, and more teachers should have the courage and patience to help their students achieve this goal.

	"Mistakes" "Don't be afraid to make mistakes when you speak." A lot of teachers give this advice. But I believe this is only half the story. The real advice should be: "Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't forget to learn from your mistakes." Don't you think so? One of the commonly made mistakes is "ed―ing": "The movie was interesting. I was interested." Even though many people know the proper usage in their head, sometimes the mouth says, "I am interesting." Beware. You don't want to say, "I am boring!" "Choice" is a noun, "choose" is the verb. Take note. These words are often misused. "Monday was the memorial day of my parents' wedding," a student once told me. The correct way to say this is: "Monday was my parents' wedding anniversary." Be careful. The word, "memorial" in English expresses the memory of people who have died. For instance, "A memorial day for people who lost their lives in an earthquake." It's not used for happy occasions. So don't say, "Let's take a memorial photograph together." At least, not yet. Just say, "Let's take a picture." Whenever I attend a wedding, I always get an interesting feeling when I hear that the happy couple will light a "Memorial Candle" together.

	Lifeline When you speak English, the sounds you produce are the lifeline of your communication. There are 52 "sound units" that make up English Pronunciation. Start by perfectly mastering the "th" sound. Practice by making your tongue visible as you say it. You don't want to say, "I sink . . ." when someone asks for your opinion. Raise your Voice Volume at the end of your sentence! The "volume patterns" of English and Japanese are different. At the end of Japanese sentences, you usually drop the volume for です or ます。 But English grammar often places an important word at the end of a sentence, such as: "This sentence is important." If you use the Japanese volume pattern when you speak English, your listeners may miss the key word of your message. So speak louder at the end of English sentences. You will be able to inject more impact into your speaking.

	Elegance in Dining What do you say to thank your host after a great dinner? Instead of saying, "It was delicious," try: "It was superb!" And if the food was the greatest, you can say, "It was divine!" which means, it was heavenly! Although not widely known in Japan, these are wonderful expressions to use when you speak with native English speakers. If your food was really excellent at a good restaurant, you can tell the waiter, "Compliments to the chef." This means that you would like to praise the chef for the wonderful food he prepared for you. Your waiter will relay this message, and the chef will appear from the kitchen and nod his appreciation to you with a smile―an elegant moment you can experience at the end of a superb dinner. Next time you go abroad and someone says, "You speak English very well," you can say, "Thank you. So do you."

	Passport There is a story about the late President Kennedy when he visited Mexico in 1962. While riding in a car with President Lopez of Mexico, Kennedy remarked, "Oh, what a beautiful watch you're wearing!" President Lopez then removed his watch and said, "Oh, do you like it? Please take it." He explained that in his country, when a person likes something, that person should have it. Well, President Kennedy was very impressed, as you can imagine, and he accepted the watch. A few minutes later Lopez turned to Kennedy and said, "What a beautiful wife you have!" And Kennedy said, "Here is your watch." So, what should we do when we meet persons from very different cultural backgrounds? What would you do? This is what I suggest: Think again about your own cultural values that seem to you as only "normal." As soon as you wonder, for example, "Why are these people so inexact?" You must also wonder why it is so important for you to be precise. We must come to recognize that our own behavior is not simply the natural, normal thing, but it is also something that's unique and special. Keeping this attitude will be your passport for intercultural communication.

	The Unknown "Hi, nice to meet you!" You have practiced saying this many times. But how about your handshake? Have you practiced doing it correctly? A handshake with a weak grip is called a "dead-fish handshake." Your spoken English words can be perfect, but with an improper handshake, your image can go straight down! What's the proper grip? What's the best timing? How long do we shake? Who offers the hand first? English communication does not take place only with the ears and mouth. You have to be fluent with all your movements. "Cheers!" But wait. You are the host of the party. Did you propose a toast to your guests? Just raising your glass and saying "Cheers!" is not enough in English. You must know how to make a short "Kanpai speech." It's part of the English-speaking culture. Be careful at your next English business dinner. Many times, even an advanced speaker unknowingly communicates impolitely. For example, "I'm sorry, I'm busy on that day." This sentence is fine when you refuse an invitation in Japanese. But in English, it sounds impolite. There is a cultural difference here. A specific reason is often given to refuse an invitation in English: "I'd love to attend, but I have to be at the airport on Saturday to meet some guests." A vague response like, "I have another thing to do . . . " comes across as a bit rude. People do not usually point out that you aren't polite. But they will remember it. That's scarier, isn't it?

	Discussions and Basketball Games A good discussion is like a basketball game. All members must participate, and one person should never hold the ball for too long. It's much better to speak for 30 seconds eight times than to speak for 2 minutes twice. Frequency is the key. Ironically, a person who doesn't speak up a lot tends to speak too much when he or she gets the chance. When you finish stating one opinion, don't end it there, "pass the ball"―ask another member's opinion. Be an active listener, and speak concisely. An exciting discussion doesn't take place by chance. It happens when everyone thinks about contributing to the group. This is the concept we develop in our CURRENT ENGLISH COURSE. So keep the ball moving―you'll score more points in your next meeting. "Fire in the heart. Ice in the brain." This is what you need when you debate. Speak with passion, but don't let the fire heat up your head!

	High-Return Business Skills Research in the United States shows that in job interviews, 50% of the decision to hire is made in the first one minute of the meeting. And that's not only for job interviews. A favorable first impression is important for all initial meetings in business. Then what conversation takes place in the first one minute? The answer is Small Talk. And not only about the weather. Knowing proper etiquette and being able to ask appropriate questions are essential. Mastering the "skills" for elegant small talk will greatly boost your business success percentage. "Coffee please" is what you say when you order in a restaurant. But when you are a guest at someone's home or office, say: "Coffee will be fine." Don't speak to your host as you would to a waiter. Polite English does exist. Learning proper speaking manners is crucial, especially in business. Do you know how to mingle in parties? It's the skill to make contact with a wide variety of people. One of the targets of a business party is to meet and network with as many people as you can, not just to stay and speak with a few people you already know. To achieve this, you have to have the skills to effectively meet new people, and also the techniques to politely end a conversation. Negotiating is not always a battle. It should not be an activity to create new enemies. As much as you can, try for a "Win-Win" negotiation, rather than a "Win- Lose" approach. "I like your product, but can you reduce the price?" This is a typical "Win-Lose" approach. It creates an "I vs. You" mentality. On the other hand, a "Win-Win" scenario encourages a "We vs. The Problem" approach: "I like your product. But the problem is our budget. Can we find a solution to this problem together?" A "Win-Win" approach helps build a long-term, harmonious business relationship. Learning the proper skills can reduce a lot of stress in your business life. "Let's take five" is a commonly used expression in business. It simply means, "Let's take a 5-minute break." You can use it in a meeting or you can also "take five" before continuing to read this homepage.