College English Speaking & Listening

The links for freshmen students who are taking my spring EIC (留P) combined Speaking/Listening course.

Intermediate Speaking

The links for sophomore students who are taking my spring EIC (留P) Intermediate Speaking course.

Intermediate Presentation

The website for freshmen students who are taking my fall EIC (留P) Intermediate Presentation course.

国際理解 English

The website for Konan students who are taking my fall 国際理解 English course.

Japan Studies -- Joint Seminar

The website for international students and Konan students who are taking my fall Joint Seminar course.

Pottery and Garden

I live in the countryside of Japan (丹波篠山) near both Kobe and Osaka. I spend most of my free time making pottery and taking care of my vegetable garden. My pottery is mostly stoneware made with wild clay that I dig, mix, and process. They are fired in a single-chambered, down-draught woodfired kiln (薪窯) with a sprung arch. My wares are functional -- some glazed and some not. Most of the glazes I use are natural ash-based ones derived from my woodstove ashes and also plant-based ashes gathered from garden waste. Everything grown in my garden is completely organic.

chawan

wood-fired -- natural fly-ash glaze

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garlic and onion harvest

braided and ready to hang in the kitchen

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cup

wood-fired -- natural mixed ash glaze

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harvest

summer garden organics

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bisque ware

bisque-fired wares awaiting glaze before final firing

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yuzu

november harvest of this japanese citris fruit

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wadding

wares are balanced on these fireclay wads in wood-fired kilns to prevent sticking to the shelves

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tomatoes

ripe tomatoes hiding in the organic garden on a hot summer day

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peeking into the kiln

a view into the buring kiln at about 900° celsius... target temperature is 1250~1300°

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spring baby lettuce

newly planted organic lettuce seedlings of various types

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ready to unload

shelves of wares in the kiln after a firing and ready to be taken out

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wood and flowers

firing of the kiln requires a lot of wood to fuel it each time

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Konan Links


Genbun NET

This is the website that I manage for our part-time staff of native-speaking English teachers. "Genbun" is the nickname for Konan's Institute for Language and Culture where I work -- It is an abbreviation derived from Gen (言 = language) and Bun (文 = culture).

Konan University

This is main Japanese site for the entire university. A simpler English site is also available.

Konan Institute for Language and Culture

This is the Japanese site of the institute which is responsible for foreign language education for all Konan students here on the main Okamoto campus. In Japanese, the institute is known as 国際言語文化センター, or simply 言文センター (Genbun Center).

Konan International Exchange Center

I serve as a faculty advisor to our International Exchange Center (KIEC). This English site provides an overview of Konan's programs and activities targeting international students. KIEC's Japanese site provides more in-depth information, including study abroad programs for Konan students.

Konan Global Zone

Konan's Global Zone Porte, mainly managed by KIEC, is a large learning space encompassing a self-access center for English learning (known as Language LOFT) as well as other zones designed with cross-cultural communication and other intercultural opportunities in mind.

Konan Language LOFT

Language LOFT is the name of our English self-access center here on Konan's main campus, and this English site is mainly used by students to access online materials while visiting LOFT.