Last week I had another interview with Watanabe-san, an editor at the business magazine President. A few months ago they ran a series of articles on TOEIC. Each TOEIC expert they interviewed had two pages or so in their magazine. I was one of the people they wrote about. Apparently, that series was well-received by their readers, so Watanabe-san contacted me and asked to have another interview so that he could write a second article. I think it will appear next month.
I really enjoy working with Watanabe-san. This time there was no photographer, so it was just the two of us having a conversation. He is very knowledgeable about language learning, so the discussion was very stimulating for me, personally. I look forward to reading the first draft of the article. And I am honored that such a prestigious magazine as President has decided to run another article so that I can share my views on TOEIC and language learning, in general.
Robert 
Hello, Everyone!
It's been a long time since I posted.
The big news in my personal life is that my son was born on July 1. Even though there have been many other things happening, I must admit that helping out with the new baby has been the number one priority!
But there have been several other, very interesting events, too.
Just one example. Yesterday I worked with a big insurance company. I realized (again) that motivating people to resume their English study is just as important as providing them with useful TOEIC strategies. Once people have decided to "buy in," then they are much more likely to devote the necessary effort they need to 1) acquire the strategies we teach and 2) to faithfully practice these skills in order to achieve their English study goals.
One of the real keys to that motivation is to help them remove their fear of making mistakes. Once they realize that English is simply a "tool" to help them navigate a diverse, global world, i.e., that they don't need to be perfect everytime when they speak in English, they are much more willing to utilize their natural intelligence and abilities to use English as a (sometimes imperfect) tool to communicate. That's a huge breakthrough for many people. We we can help them to do this, it is professionally very gratifying.
Robert 
M&A
2015-03-28 | 日記
We've had a chance to work with several clients recently who have had their companies acquired by other, larger firms. That is exactly what happened to our original organization. Three years ago, our company, INTEC Japan, K.K., was bought by a large Japanese organization called Link and Motivation. You probably also know the computer school, AVIVA. They also were acquired and are now one of our sister companies within the Link Group.
What I realized is that there are different ways of handling a merger and acquisition. Some companies are very clever, like our parent company. They basically left us alone for the first year, so we did not really feel so much difference. Then, step by step, they started to add their own ideas and value to our organization. I must say that I am pretty happy with the way things have gone, because not all parent companies are so thoughtful. Sometimes they just assume that "It's OUR football, so we can do whatever we want." This may sometimes be a successful strategy, but I am surely glad that was not the direction taken by our parent organization.
Robert 
One of the things that often infuriates Japanese businesspeople working with Americans is that U.S. Americans (and other Americans, for that matter) quickly offer excuses instead of apologizing. So, true to form --> Here's my excuse . . .
I had to go back to the USA to take care of a family situation involving my elderly mother. I just got back now. Fortunately, everything turned out well, so it was good that I made the trip.
Starting tomorrow I'll try to keep to my "Chinese New Year Resolution" to maintain my blog more faithfully.
Robert 
Since I already missed the chance to make a Western calendar year resolution, I'm using the Chinese New Year as a chance to do so now. 
I have been remiss in maintaining my blog for the past year or so. I hearby swear on a stack of San Diego Charger season tickets (my version of the Bible) to write at least three or four comments every week. 
Let's see if I can avoid being 三日坊主. Check me in a couple of days to see if I am living up to my promise.
Robert 
Hello, everyone!
I am about to start work in earnest on a new book project that promises to be very interesting. It will be a book about how to use determiners in English. I hope it will be helpful not only for those people studying for the TOEIC, but also for those who simply would like to take their already excellent English to the next highest level.
To be honest, most native-speaker English teachers shy away from systematically presenting how to use "the, an, a, some, other, etc." This is because for most of us, as native spekers, we instinctively know what "sounds right" in any context. However, we often do not have objectivity about precisely WHY we need to use or not use a given determiner in a certain situation.
My job with this book will be to do my best to demystify determiner usage in English. I can't promise that I can cover every single usage, but I definitely will do my best to write a book that people find valuable and useful.
I also very much look forward to working with Mr. Kaneko of Kenkyusha on this project. I am sure that he will give me many important suggestions. And that is my onegai for you, too. Please send me any questions you have about determiner usage in English. The more challening the question, the better. I'll do my best to answer those questions. And you likely will help me to think about something that as a native speaker of English I may not notice by myself.
Robert 
. . . with Awaji Island. My family and I spent a week there last week. Despite my roots, I think I might be an "island boy" at heart. For me, there's something exciting about being in a place where civilization is on the other side of the water.
Writing that sentence, I realize that my British business partner, Gaz, would make the same comment about my roots. In other words, the U.K. represents "civilization" and the U.S. represents the wild, untamed, barbarian world.
But it was wonderful to wake up each morning and see Kobe across the strait. And the nighttime lights, too, were special. However, the main thing was just having a week together with my family. It has been a long time since we could spend that much dedicated time together. I explored the island everyday for about 3 hours, taking as many back roads as I could. It was special. I can't wait to go back there.
Anyway, there are only a few hours left in this year. I hope that it was a good year for everyone and that 2015 brings even more happiness for all of us! 
Thanks for reading!!
Robert
Now I am down in Toba, Mie. It is absolutely gorgeous here. One of our most important clients has a training center that overlooks Toba Bay. What a fantastic view to wake up to every morning!! Yesterday, the weather was wet and miserable. Then, suddenly, about 16:00 we looked out the window and saw an amazing beautiful rainbow. All the instructors, administrators, and participants were suddenly scrambling to find the best vantage point to take photos with their smartphones. I'll post a couple of mine here.
The rainbow yesterday was as nice as any rainbow I've ever seen, including the ones in Hawaii. Probably it was even more impressive because of how unexpected it was.
Robert 
Tomorrow I will give a lecture in Tokyo that is completely new for me. 
Well, the content is not new -- many of the ideas are things we often use in our Intercultural Communications seminars. But the target audience is a bit unusual. I'll be working with ALC Kiddy Kat English. These are people who are very interested in helping children learn how to speak English. My topic is going to be "Developing an Eigo-de no Jinkaku." I hope that I can advise parents and teachers of young children how to encourage the kids to express themselves confidently and effectively in English, even when they do not yet control the language that well. 
Wish me luck! I'm very excited to deliver this lecture tomorrow afternoon.
Robert
Well, the content is not new -- many of the ideas are things we often use in our Intercultural Communications seminars. But the target audience is a bit unusual. I'll be working with ALC Kiddy Kat English. These are people who are very interested in helping children learn how to speak English. My topic is going to be "Developing an Eigo-de no Jinkaku." I hope that I can advise parents and teachers of young children how to encourage the kids to express themselves confidently and effectively in English, even when they do not yet control the language that well. Wish me luck! I'm very excited to deliver this lecture tomorrow afternoon.
Robert
A few days back, one of our business partners (and close friends) from Belgium happened to be in Japan. We me at one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Tokyo, Old Delhi, in the MELSA Building in Ginza (4F). It was great to catch up. He is also a specialist in Intercultural Communication, so we frequently collaborate in Europe, Japan, and North America. Everyone seems to be having a good time, don't you think?
