T h e K e i k a C h r o n i c l eTHE

SpringISSUE

Contents:• WElcome to Keika

• Your New ALT

• English Mailbox

• English Camp

• Visit from Australian Students

• Hanami

Your New AltThis school year we have the pleasure of introducing a new

English Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) to Keika Girls’ Junior and Senior High School. Her name is Crystal. Let’s hear her tell us a little bit more about herself:

About Crystal

Hello! My name is Crystal Antolin! I am from Hawaii. It has many beaches. But I can't swim well. My favorite animals are cats and snakes. I like to watch movies and TV. My hobby is making videos. Nice to meet you!

Welcome to KeikaThe start of a new school year brings about many changes.

New students, new classes, new teachers and new friends. The teachers and staff at Keika wish you all the best in this new school year, and hope that you will try your best in everything you do. がんばってください！

2 0 1 6

T h e K e i k a C h r o n i c l e 2

Write me a letter → Put it in the “English Mailbox” in the lounge → I’ll write you a letter back!If you do not know what to write about, you can look in the Keika Chronicle for ideas. These ideas will be marked with an envelope. These are only suggestions. You can write about anything you want to.

The English Mailbox

Beside this symbol will be questions and sample answers. You can answer these questions in a letter to me.

Students in the first grade of junior high school visited Yatsugatake English Camp in Nagano from May thirteenth to fifteenth. During these three days, the girls participated in many English lessons run by three native English teachers, as well as a number of fun camp activities. Highlights include: a picnic, a campfire, fireworks, cooking curry, and performing an original skit.

I hope everyone had as much fun learning English as I did!

I want to learn how to have a conversation in Japanese. What would you like to learn in English?

English Camp

T h e K e i k a C h r o n i c l e 3

Visit from Australian StudentsOn April fourteenth, students from Western Australia came to visit Keika Gakuen. These

students travelled to many places in Japan, including Kyoto and Hiroshima, before arriving in Tokyo. In Tokyo, students from Australia got to experience what attending a Japanese school is like at Keika Gakuen. Here students attended two classes, and afterwards had a party to celebrate. At the party students had snacks and drinks, and talked to each other in English. It was such a pleasure to be able to host these students at Keika Gakuen. Many students exchanged emails so they can keep in touch. We look forward to hearing from them again!

I have never been to Australia, but I want to go. I also want to visit New Zealand and Thailand. Have you ever visited Australia? Where else in the world do you want to visit? Why?

Wheatbelt Schools (Corrigin, Kulin & Bruce Rock District High Schools

T h e K e i k a C h r o n i c l e 4

hanamiHistory

Today hanami refers to the viewing of cherry blossoms, however, this was not always the case. In the Nara Period plum (うめ) blossoms were viewed. It was not until the Heian Period that people viewed cherry blossoms.

In the Heian Period, hanami was only celebrated by the most important people in the Imperial Court. Soon the samurai joined the celebration and by the Edo Period the general public also celebrated hanami.

What is hanami?Hanami is a “flower viewing” festival that is celebrated all over Japan from the end of

March to the start of May. During this time people sit under the cherry (さくら) trees to eat and drink with friends, family, and coworkers.

Where is hanami celebrated?Although it originated in Japan, hanami is celebrated by people from around the world.

There are cherry blossom viewing festivals in Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, China, the United States of America, Canada, Finland, and Italy, just to name a few.

I went to Ueno and Yoyogi Park for hanami with my friends. I ate sushi and fruit. Where did you go? Who did you go with? What did you eat?

I took these photos near my apartment (far left), and at Ueno Park.