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2019 忘年会 (bo-nen-kai) End-of-Year Party!
December in Japan is bounenkai season, when workplaces and social groups gather for end-of-year parties.
忘年会 (bounenkai, end-of-year party) is one of my favourite Japanese words.
忘 means “forget”, 年 means “year”, and 会 in this context means “party”, so a bounenkai is a “forget-the-year party”. Isn’t that great?
We have a bounenkai at Step Up Japanese too! About half the time I forget it’s a bounenkai and call it a “Christmas Party”, but I think that’s ok.
December in Japan is bounenkai season, when workplaces and social groups gather for end-of-year parties.
忘年会 (bounenkai, end-of-year party) is one of my favourite Japanese words.
忘 means “forget”, 年 means “year”, and 会 in this context means “party”, so a bounenkai is a “forget-the-year party”. Isn’t that great?
We have a bounenkai at Step Up Japanese too! About half the time I forget it’s a bounenkai and call it a “Christmas Party”, but I think that’s ok.
I hope 2019 brought you some things to remember, not just things to forget!
Christmas Party 2017!
Brrrrrrrr, it's cold. Or as they say in Japan, ブルブル "buruburu".
We escaped from the cold snap on Friday night with a Christmas noodle party!
Brrrrrrrr, it's cold. Or as they say in Japan, ブルブル "buruburu".
We escaped from the cold snap on Friday night with a Christmas noodle party!
↓ Off to E-Kagen on Sydney Street. Spot the Step Up Japanese students...
We started the night off with a film title quiz: guess the (non-Japanese) film title from its Japanese translation.
Everybody did well, but there were a few tricky ones in there too.
↓ Intense concentration.
↓ Special thanks to Phil for making an appearance despite having to rush off to host his own event the same night!
It wouldn't be a Christmas party without crackers - these ones had Japan-themed jokes in them too.
I have just realised I didn't take any pictures of the food. Pictures of people are much nicer, don't you think?
The food was great though!
E-Kagen has a real family-style feel, and an open kitchen so you can see your dinner being prepared.
↓ Full bellies. Massive thanks to all the staff at E-Kagen for hosting such a big group of us.
↓ Excellent Christmas jumpers.
↓ Off to the pub for a mulled wine. Or as they say in Japan, ホットワイン ("hotto wain").
↓ Impromptu kanji practice.
Thanks for another great year everyone! It's an absolute pleasure to work with such wonderful students.
メリークリスマス (Merry Christmas) - and stay warm!
First Annual Step Up Japanese Christmas Party
We went to Goemon - arguably the home of Brighton's best ramen - at the end of term for a celebratory bowl of noodles. The inaugural Step Up Japanese Christmas party!
I wanted to introduce my students in different classes to each other, and to celebrate what you've all achieved in 2016.
Oh, and to eat ramen. I love ramen.
We went to Goemon - arguably the home of Brighton's best ramen - at the end of term for a celebratory bowl of noodles. The inaugural Step Up Japanese Christmas party!
I wanted to introduce my students in different classes to each other, and to celebrate what you've all achieved in 2016.
Oh, and to eat ramen. I love ramen.
I didn't take many photos (oops - too busy having a nice time!) but here they are:
↓ (I know it's blurry but I think it catches the mood! Do you know how to say "blurry" in Japanese?)
Not one to miss a "teachable moment", I also wanted to encourage everybody to order in Japanese.
So we practiced in class the week before. Ordering in restaurants is probably one of the most useful things you can learn how to do in another language.
Everyone ordered confidently, the staff were super helpful, and I was (am!) a very proud teacher.
Thanks SO MUCH for all your support over the last year! メリークリスマス！
Like many people in the UK, I studied French in school. I liked French. I thought it was really fun to speak another language, to talk with people, and to try and listen to what was going on in a new country. (Still do!)
When I was 14 we went on a school exchange to the city of Reims, in northeastern France. I was paired with a boy, which I’m sure some 14-year-olds would find very exciting but which I found unbearably awkward. He was very sweet and we completely ignored each other.
That was nearly 20 years ago, and I didn’t learn or use any more French until, at some point in lockdown, I decided on a whim to take some one-to-one lessons with online teachers. Here are some things I learned about French, about language learning, and about myself.