So, the weather is becoming really nice again. That means it’s time to get outside and do something fun.

Last week I was lucky enough to go to a nice barbecue.  The weather was good, I got to hang out with some friends and the food was really nice. It was a nice start to the warm weather.  Yesterday I played badminton in the park. I haven’t done that since I was a kid.

I’m really looking forward to going for some bike rides on my days off.  I love early morning bike rides around Tokyo.

So what kinds of outdoor activities do you like to do? Do you know any fun things to do? Let us know.

I remember a few years ago there was  a lot of talk about another mascot for Nara. His name is Sento-kun, and apparently a lot of people thought he was a bit disturbing looking. I think it’s because he looks too realistic. Cartoon characters are funnier and cuter.

Even the police department has a mascot, called Pipo-kun. I’m not sure what he’s supposed to be, but he looks kind of like a little alien that wants to protect Japan from crime.

Pipo-kun is here to protect you!

Have you seen any characters recently? What’s your favorite Japanese mascot? Does your hometown have a mascot? Let us know.

I recently went to an exhibition of a Korean artist named Lee Bul at Roppongi Hills.  I have to say, I was quite impressed. She has a really amazing imagination, and it was well worth the price of the ticket. I recommend anyone who likes strange art to go and see it.

That’s one of the best parts of living in Tokyo. There are always art shows or exhibitions being held. You can find something to see on almost any day of the week.  A few years ago I went to a Salvador Dali exhibition, and had a chance to see some really famous paintings. It was pretty exciting to see them.

Besides art shows, there are exhibitions about history and movies. There was a great Da Vinci show on a few years ago, but my favorite exhibition had to be the Pixar one. There were hundreds of drawings, painting and little models of all the characters.

Have you seen any good exhibitions lately? What’s the best show you’ve ever been to. Have you ever had your own exhibition? What would you like to see?

Hey everyone!

April is already half over and that means one thing –

~~it’s nearly Golden Week!~~

As you know,  Golden week is a series of national holidays in Japan. I heard it’s sometimes hard to take a vacation in Japanese companies so it’s the perfect time to relax at home or take a vacation.

It starts on April 29th which is Showa Day (昭和の日).

May 3rd is Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日). I don’t think I can remember this day’s name.. 

May 4th is called Greenery Day (みどりの日). It used to be called Citizen’s Day (国民の休日) but changed it’s name in 2007.

The last day is May 5th which is Children’s Day( こどもの日) . I love looking at the carp streamers in Japan.

Some people get 9 days off this year! It’s a busy time to travel but I hope you do something fun this Golden Week. I want to spend my Golden Week having barbecues with my friends!

待ちに待ったJabbleお花見パーティが、明日開催となりますね☆千葉校講師＆スタッフは朝から、明日に何を持っていこうかという話で持ちきりです:D

明日のパーティに関して、雨天の場合は残念ながら中止となります:cry: 曇りの場合ははりきって決行致します！明日太陽が見られることを祈りましょう:P

雨天中止になる場合のみ、9：00迄にこのページよりお知らせを致します。9：00の時点でお知らせがない場合は決行です。また、中止のお知らせがあった場合は、その後天候の変化があっても中止となります。

お手数をお掛けいたしますが、HPをよく御確認下さいませ:lol:

（千葉校）

場所：青葉の森公園

集合場所：京成　千葉寺駅　改札口（改札口は一つです）

集合時間：11：00

※人数が集まり次第出発ですが、15分を過ぎてもお集まりになられなかった生徒さまは現地集合となります♪（青葉の森公園　お花見広場）

※お持ち頂いた飲食物のごみだけ、各自でおもちかえり頂けますよう、ビニール袋の御用意をして頂くよう御協力お願いいたします♪

（船橋校）

場所：行田公園

集合場所：東武鉄道　野田線　塚田駅改札口（改札口は一つです）

集合時間：11：00

※人数が集まり次第出発ですが、15分を過ぎてもお集まりになられなかった生徒さまは現地集合となります♪

（新橋校）

場所：代々木公園

集合場所：JR　原宿駅　表参道口前

集合時間：11：00

※人数が集まり次第出発ですが、15分を過ぎてもお集まりになられなかった生徒さまは現地集合となります♪

I know a lot of us are really busy, and it can be hard to find time to cook. But sometimes it’s really satisfying to eat something with your friends that you took the time to make from scratch. In fact, Japan can be a great place to cook, because there are some things that are so easy to make, yet taste really nice.

One of the easiest things to make is curry rice. Saute some vegetable and meat, pour in water and add the roux. It’s almost too easy. Miso soup is another easy dish, and you can put almost anything you like in it. My favorite miso soup has green onions and eggplant in it.

My challenge to everyone is to make something that you normally wouldn’t make. Sometimes something that seems really difficult actually is pretty easy.

Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy it with your friends or family.  And we’d love to hear what it is. As for me, I’m planning on making Minestrone Soup, because Dave always talks about it, so I’m craving it now.

Here’s the recipe if you want to try making it yourself.
Minestrone Soup Recipe

Spring is just around the corner   春、桜の季節ももうすぐですね ウキウキしますね～♪♪

Do you have any plans to see cherry blossoms

Jabbleのお花見パーティは4/15(日)に各学校ごとに行われます。詳しくはスタッフまで

さて、今日は「動名詞を取る動詞」について

mind, enjoy, give up, avoid, finish, postpone, stop, deny, admit, advise, miss, practice, consider など

上記の動詞の後ろには動名詞（Ving）がきます。

I really enjoyed meeting her.

（彼女と会ってとても楽しかった。）

I avoid eating greasy food on weekdays.

（平日は脂っこい食事を避けています。）

I finished reading Harry Potter yesterday.

（昨日、ハリーポッターを読み終えました。）

I miss playing baseball in high school.

（高校時代に野球をしたのが懐かしい。）

It stopped snowing an hour ago.

（雪は1時間前に降り止んだ。）

I considered changing careers, but in the end I decided to not to.

（私は転職することを考えたが、結局しないことにした。）

I love reading, and I think a lot of Jabble students like reading as well. There’s nothing like finding a comfortable chair at a cafe or stretching out on the sofa at home and reading for a couple of hours.

Recently I’ve been reading a book called The Hunger Games. It’s kind of like that movie Battle Royal, where a bunch of young kids have to fight until only one is left. It’s a pretty interesting story, and now I’m looking forward to the movie this summer.

Other books I love are the 007 books. They are so different from the films that if you read them, you’ll think of James Bond as a new character. I’m also one of the biggest Stephen King fans in the world. I’ve read most of his books, and go back to read them every few years.

So what kinds of books are you into? Can you recommend anything? Feel free to ask for recommendations when you come to Jabble. We all have suggestions for you as well.

写真は2/18に行われたJabble船橋校パーティの模様です

今回は「月の雫」で総勢31名のパーティとなりました 鍋料理も美味しく、とても盛り上がりましたね

さて、今回は現在完了形　「have (has) ＋ 過去分詞」

苦手とする人も多いのでは

大きくわけて３つの用法があります

例文をみてみましょう

①経験

I have been to London twice.　（ロンドンへ２度行ったことがあります。）

I have heard the story a lot of times.　（その話は何度も聞いたことがあります。）

I’ve never tried horseback riding.　（私は乗馬をしたことがありません。）

I have taken a psychology class before.　（以前、心理学の授業を受けたことがあります。）

②継続

Dave has lived in Japan for 9 years.　（デーブは日本に住んで９年になります。）

I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.　（今朝から何も食べてません。）

I have been busy since last week.　（先週からずっと忙しいです。）

I’ve been teaching English for 5 years.　（私は５年間、英語を教えています。）

③完了

I have already had lunch.　（もう昼食は済ませました。）

I’ve read that book already.　（あの本ならもう読み終わりました。）

I haven’t found a job yet.　（まだ仕事がみつかっていません。）

Have you done your homework yet?　（もう宿題は終わったの？）

一週間遅れのコメントになりましたが。。。　2月1日でJabbleは4周年を迎えました

5年目もJabble千葉校、船橋校、新橋校をどうぞよろしくお願いします

さて、今日は「関係代名詞」について

関係代名詞には「who、whose、that、which、whom」などがありますが、それぞれの使い方をおさらいしつつ、問題を解いてみましょう

（　　）にはどんな関係代名詞が入るでしょうか

① I have an uncle （　　　　） lives in Kyoto.

② This is the book （　　　　） I bought yesterday.

③ I met a man （　　　　） parents are doctors.

④ The baseball game （　　　　） I watched yesterday was very exciting.

⑤ The boy （　　　　） was playing the guitar is John.

⑥ I live in a house （　　　　） has a yellow roof.

（答え）

① who

② that

③ whose

④ that

⑤ who

⑥ that