Hi David,

Thank you for sharing us an interesting story. It was fun to read, but you know, I was busy at work as usual (one of those busy Mondays!!), so I am a bit tired tonight. I will write a comment about the topic this week later.

Good night everyone
amo

PS. Hi Anne,

Welcome back!! I am pretty sure that you had a great time in the US, and am also looking forward to hearing about your trip ;-)

•  amo
• 2010年6月14日 21:09

Hi all!

Long time no see.

I believe raising genius children needs a lot of money. Low income families can't afford to have their kids take piano lesson, modern dancing lessons, send them to soroban juke, swimming school, let alone hire a private teacher who works for Nanzan Uni. Does the girl go to a private school, does she not?

>> but this woman did not seem to be like that at all.<<

David, if I were Mrs Matsumiya, I would like to be called "this lady" because the word "this woman" sounds like　「この女」 to me.

ashmoleanmuse

•  ashmoleanmuse
• 2010年6月14日 22:39

Hi David,

Your story made me laugh! I think you are "おっちょこちょい"（笑）

About the topic.
As you know, I'm a piano teacher. When I was a 6, I really wanted to take piano lesson, so I asked my mother to do it. My mother made me promise to practice every day and never give up because I decided to take it by myself. I promised her to do it, and I started to take it when I was 6. My mother can't play the piano, so she didn't give me any advice about doing it, but I could keep doing it by the promise. I think parents don't have to do anything special to help their children develop their talents. What is important is that if their children start to learn something, they don't let them give it up easily. Most of children want to have much time to play with their friends, so some of them might not want to keep doing it. Of course, they need to have a time to play with their friends, but I hope they keep doing it once they have started something.

ちょっと話がズレちゃったかな…？
I have no child, so I don't know how mother feels.....
久しぶりに英語を書いたら、ものすごく疲れました(--；)

Hi Anne,

Welcome back! I'm glad to know you have a wonderfultime in your trip. I'm looking forward to hearing your story.

Amica

•  Amica
• 2010年6月14日 23:50

A correction:

In my comment, "piano lesson" should have read "piano lessons"

Ash

•  匿名
• 2010年6月15日 08:32

David,
The post workshop "discussion" was quite entertaining. :-)
Regarding raising a genius child, I have a 5 year old. I don't think a child has to be pushed, but the environment needs to be created. Money doesn't have to be a factor in this. Children have a natural curiosity and desire to grow. If the parents encourage this, the kids will take it and run. When my daughter was 3, she began reading hiragana (her friends names). She would see a street sign for Sakuma and say "Daddy, Kohaku no ku!" I would say that's right and congratulate her on her knowing ku. She was so thrilled by the positive feedback that she taught herself to read and write the roman alphabet and a large portion of the hiragana at age 4. What did I do? I bought her paper, pens, color pencils and a little white board to practice on. Then I let her go "play" with letters and congratulated her. Interestingly, I actually tried to teach her once and we got frustrated with each other. I stopped teaching her out of fear that I would turn her off of reading. She turned out to be her own best teacher and I was her best cheerleader. Positive feedback is amazing. I've been doing the same with soccer / football (that's right, an American playing British football with his daughter!). Seems to me the key is to turn off the TV and video games and just be a parent. Enjoy the friendship and entertainment of the child. Go figure. Back to the basics, huh?

Marcus

•  Marcus
• 2010年6月15日 09:15

Hi David
Sounds like you had a hectic time since you forgot about your keys but it turned out to be a wonderful encounter with extraordinary people.

Interesting topic, bringing up genious children,
I totally agree with Marcus.
Children have a natural curiosity and desire to grow.
They shouldn't be pushed.
Positive feedbacks or praise is very important.
They want to be acknowledged, praised and those encouragements enhance their motivation.
Not only children but even adults feel happy when we are praised and grow by encouragements from other people.

But flankly as a mother of 3 boys, I'm the failed one about child rearing.
Just raising 3 energetic sons was enough for me and I didn't have any energy left to let them learn special talents.
All 3 of my sons are not showing any of those talents.
I don't think being good at all those things (piano, dance, soroban) isn't the factor that a child is a winner or a loser.
Besides some children are late bloomers.
I hope my sons will find their own interests and grow up fine.

I'm not sure all of my thinkings are properly expressed because of my lack of English ability.
Fumie

•  Fumie
• 2010年6月15日 11:40

Hi Marcus. Thanks for joining us. I didn't know you were a father.
Thanks to all the others for your comments too. I'm in Gero onsen at the moment. I just had a very relaxing midday bath. I'm heading up to Takayama this afternoon, and I'm going to sleep in my van tonight. I'll try to write another comment later.

•  匿名
• 2010年6月15日 14:00

Hi David,
I agree with Marcus and Fumie. Plus, my little son was a premature baby, especially small because of
my placenta insufficiency. So my husband and I just prayed and wished he grew up healthy. As for my elder son, when he was little, I tried to read him books. But when he was young, he didn't read so much. Now he is a father of a daughter, he reads a lot. I can't comment in a word, but several men, so several minds.

Hi tsuneko,
It's a funny story, isn't it. I enjoyed reading yours.

Hi Anne,
Welcome back to Japan. Looking forward to hearing form you more.

•  Carrie
• 2010年6月15日 14:20

I just found a fantastic rotenburo by a river in the mountains. There was nobody around, and the water was really nice. As I was relaxing in the pool, I noticed something moving behind me. I turned around, and there was a huge snake climbing up the wall about a metre from my head! Needless to say, I got out pretty quickly!

•  David
• 2010年6月15日 17:44

Hi David,

This time, a huge snake!?! You often encountered wild animals. You were feeling good in the roten-buro, but you had to jump out there. That's too bad!

Hi Carrie,

Did you? I'm glad to hear that.

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月15日 20:25

Hi everyone,

As for the topic, geniuses or talented people really exsist in the world, I've never had a chance to make friends with them in person, though. One of the examples is..., well, how about a recent-well-known Japanese astronaut, Yamazaki Naoko-san? She sure is talented (and pretty as well). How was she raised at home and at school? I think the world needs such people for its being able to get better. I just imagine that if the child in Inuyama becomes a doctor in her future, she could cure patients in English too and also ease patients occasionally by playing the piano or dancing. She could also calculate by "soroban" in the dark in an emergency. Wouldn't it be nice?

I myself have never ever completed something. I was a kid who always did the homework of summer holidays on 30th and 31'st. My father seemed to have been just strict but my mother always played with us and never told us to study. If they had had some strategy, I would have been different somehow.:)

I have no kids myself but I've started to communicate with small kids of others, from 2 to 5 years old, since 2 months ago. They always thrill me and surprise me because they appear to be talented a lot. Some foreigners told me that Japanese kids were too shy to have a look at the eyes when they were spoken. When they are born, they don't know to be shy, but later on they get to know. One of my goals is to help them to overcome their shynesses and to be able to make friends in the world.

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月16日 01:35

Hi　everyone,

As for the topic,when I was junior high school student there was a gifted child in my class.
He was really something.
All subject of score was almost perfect.
I thought that brain was different.
I wasn't born like that.
He was loved by everyone.
Funny thing is he asked to me how to play drums.
This thing was only thing that I could win him.(たったひとつ彼に勝てたことでした。）

•  Kazu
• 2010年6月16日 08:21

I made a mistake in my entry. The writer of the book I told you about is Matsushima Kashiko, not Matsumiya Kashiko.

•  David
• 2010年6月16日 08:52

Hi David,
It rained heavily last night. Did you have a good sleep last night in your van?

By the way, if the book of the title you mentioned is correct, the name of the writer would be " Matsumiya Kashiko" , not " Matsushima Kashiko." I checked the name and found the book with(?) that name,but couldn't find the book with the name " Matsushima."
Anyway, enjoy yourself in Takayaya and enjoy bumping into another living things as well!(Just kidding!)

Hi everyone,
It's fine today and good for doing the washing.
Have a good day.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年6月16日 09:24

It's me again.
Of course, it "in Takayama", not "in Takayaya."

•  Anne
• 2010年6月16日 09:27

Hi everyone,
I have a kid but I have no ideas about raising a genius child, because my kid is not a genius at all. I only have a failure story about raising child. When my son was 4, we tried to teach him to play the piano, at first he seemed to be interested in learning. But as you know, the piano lesson is rather boring, especially for a child, and gradually he lost the interests, every time when he had to take a piano lesson, he cried and cried, the lesson seemed like a torture to him and adults as well, finally we had to give up. The piano lesson only lasted several months.
I think Marcus has mentioned a good point: We can’t push children, but we should create the environment for them to develop their natural curiosity.
On the other hand, I agree with ashmoleanmuse in a way, raising genius children do need money, unless the parents know about anything their kids are interested and have lots of time to be with them.
Amica,I was surprised to know that you decided to learn playing the piano by yourself only at 6,that’s a big decision for a little child, and your mother just did the right thing!
Tsuneko, I think every child has different talents, parents and adults shall find out and help to develop them. You are doing a great job.

Hi David,
Is that suitcase made in China?（笑）
Your snake story really scared me! A nice place with nobody also means there may be some dangers behind. Please always take care.

•  Ling
• 2010年6月16日 13:03

Sorry - I made a double mistake. I was right the first time. The book is by Matsumiya Kashiko.

I had a great night in my van last night, and I went to another fantastic onsen today on the way back. It was a place called Shirotori Resort in Gifu. I took some pictures of a fantastic waterfall while I was there. I'll put them on the next entry.

As for the snakes and wild boar, I think I have had enough of meeting Japanese wildlife for the moment! (I saw another huge snake today, but it was dead. It had been squashed by a car.)

•  David
• 2010年6月16日 18:47

Hi Ling,

Thank you! I'm very happy and encouraged a lot. I'm going to find out each child's good points and to help them to be able to deepen and broaden by themselves.

Hi Anne,

Have you finished doing the laundry? You must have lots of housework. I've just dropped by your blog and enjoyed your first report about the concert in the Central Park.:) Any of who is interested in the trip, just click on her name in blue.

Hi David,

A huge snake, again? How big? Was it like a Japanese ratsnake about 2 metre long? As for the broken suitcase, we might have witnessed the same one in black in Tokyo seminar.

Finally, could you do me a favour? If you have an extra time and if you don't mind, please summarize the hot discussion on your seminar last Saturday, in particular, what points did some teachers disagree with what you were saying?

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月16日 23:52

Hi David and everyone,

Thank you all. I enjoyed reading all your comments. I don’t have any children, so I don’t have any good experiences about the topic. But I have two nephews and 5 nieces, and come to think of it, I tend to give them things for study or something like that. If I had a child, I might have been a “kyoiku mama.” But it doesn’t mean that I force my child to study or do something like soroban, piano or stuff like that. As Marcus and some members said, we just make the environment for them and encourage them might be enough. Also I agree with Amica, parents help children not to give up easily.

take care,
amo

PS. David,
You went to another fantastic onsen today? That’s nice. I haven’t been onsen for long, but I don’t want to meet snakes though.

•  amo
• 2010年6月16日 23:59

Hi David and everyone

It is difficult for me to talk about this topic because I have no child and I've never thought of having my own child yet. But I have an opinion same as other members. The most important thing is the environment that keeps motivating and encouraging children.

Hi David

You have something attractive for wildlife, don't you（笑）? I'm looking forward to see your picture of waterfall.

Hi Kazu

I'm glad that you are interested in Wnn. It motivates us a lot :-)

Hi tsuneko

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know what Wnn is derived from. Also I didn't know about Nakano-san, But you are right maybe. He is the one of the developer of Wnn.

Hi Anne

Welcome back! I've just read your blog. You saw Norah Jones? That's very nice! I like her voice. I want to hear more about your trip.

trmr

•  trmr
• 2010年6月17日 08:18

Hi David
So you bumped into a snake when you were soaking in an open-air hot bath.
You know what I like you about is, even though you are a famous person with a lot of teaching experiences and high academic achievements,
you are not snobbish at all.
You do make same kind of mistakes as I do,　forget about keys etc…
Those sides of you make me feel you are friendly person who is easy to talk to.

To everyone
I have to ask your permission in advance.
If I write some inappropriate or unpleasant things in my comments, that's not what I intend to.
That's because of my lack of English knowledge.
You know sometimes misunderstandings happen even when we talk in our mother tongue.

•  Fumie
• 2010年6月17日 09:11

Hi Fumie,

I understand what you mean. We can't see any facial expressions but only words on the internet, so it can happen in Japanese, let alone in English.

I'm often concerned whether the words or phrases I use is natural or appropriate to the situation, however, if I chose the wrong ones, David would correct them, so basically I write comments without worrying so much. Besides, when I don't understand much about the content of others' comments, I'd ask them questions without hesitating. So, in that case, can I ask you too?
I'm sure I understood what you said and never misunderstood, so don't worry much about it.:)

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月17日 10:05

Hi trmr,

> He is the one of the developer of Wnn.

I made a mistake. Yes, he is one of the developers of Wnn. "one of" is a point. My sentence meant he developed Wnn by himself. Thank you!

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月17日 10:09

Hello team,

Aren't we have great weather? It is hot and very humid, though, because we are in the heart of the rainy season.
I broke my umbrella the day before yesterday on my way back home, so I stopped at a convinience store, and I bought a new one for a thousand yen.
I'll go through the rainy season with this one.

Goodbye now,

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年6月17日 12:50

Hi David and everyone,

Can I share my trip with you?
I went to NY and DC with my friends for nine days this time.
As I mentioned, even now it’s hard to believe I could move around from
early morning till late at night. I also feel happy for having had a great time with my girl friends.
It’s fun to travel alone but it’s also nice to share a lot of experiences with friends,right?
I visited museums and the White House, Capital Hill, watched two musicals, etc.etc.
I joined an introduction tour at most of the places and it provided good study situations for my English study such as understanding the outlines.

In my tour, the World Trade Center tour was really unforgettable and touching .
As you know, this place is the center of the business district and there are some controversial discussions
regarding the construction of memorials.
At the tour, two volunteers explained to us about the 9/11, and each place that was attacked. They also explained to us how damaged they were.
According to their explanations, even after many years toxins still remained.
A lot of people involved in this tour guide were volunteers; survivors, people who lost their families at the attack,
and people whose families were firefighters.
Both of our tour guides happened to be firefighters’ mothers; they lost their sons on 9/11.
One of them said, “ We need to educate people. When I want to see my son, I go to the cemetery.”
While talking about her son, she sometimes smiled.
The other guide said that it was a life changing thing but she had to face it when I talked with her.
Actually, it’s same as stories in Hiroshima,isn't it?

Another memorable part of my trip was watching musicals. I really like watching musicals and one of the things
I wanted to do in NY was this.
I watched “Wicked” with my friends and watched “Billy Elliot” alone.
The evening before leaving NY, we explored NY by ourselves.
I wanted to watch one more musical, so I got a ticket for “Billy Elliot” and was thrilled with it.
I was happy for just strolling around the area that is so called ”Broadway.”
I was a bit nervous returning to my hotel alone because it was around eleven at night but I was able to catch a taxi somehow.
Actually, on that day, I got up at four thirty in the morning and saw a live concert at the Central Park and ended up my day
with the musical at eleven at night. It was such a looong day!
One of the things I noticed while I was there was varieties( ←　a variety?) of accents.
It was really interesting to listen to them but sometimes difficult to catch each meaning;
a tour guide at Capital Hill spoke very clearly but rapidly. We called his speaking style “ 言語明瞭意味不明(for us!).”
There are tons of things I'd like to share with you, but I spoke too much. Thanks.

Hi all,
Thanks for your welcome words.
tsuneko,thanks for mentioning journal on my blog.
trmr, do you like Norah Jones?

As for this week's topic, I'd like write something later.

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年6月17日 15:46

Hi Sam,

I like the following sentence.

> I'll go through the rainy season with this one.

Hi Anne,

Thank you for your wonderful travel report. It was lots of fun to read and imagine how you were enjoying yourself. You also showed important thing to think. The mothers' words impressed me. I always admire people who can talk about sad facts that cannot be changed with a smile. I liked the part of your strolling on the Broadway by yourself and taking a taxi late night to the hotel with butterfly a bit. Also, "言語明瞭意味不明".:) Thank you!

•  tsuneko
• 2010年6月17日 23:27

Corrections for my previous comment

Also I
→I also

But you are
→but you are

He is the one of the developer of Wnn.
→He is one of the developers of Wnn.

Hi Anne

Thank you for telling the story about your trip?
I can easily imagine how you enjoyed it.

trmr

•  trmr
• 2010年6月18日 07:27

Thank you, tsuneko. I'm delighted at your comment.

Hi Anne. Thank you for your NY and DC report. It was great fun. I'd like to read more of your report.

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年6月18日 07:57

Correction

Aren't we have great weather?
→Aren't we having great weather?

•  Sam
• 2010年6月18日 08:06

Hi Anne,

I love your report on NY. Look forward to your next instalment.

Ash

•  匿名
• 2010年6月18日 08:46

訂正；
＞I visited museums and the White House, →I visited museums , the White House,

>the World Trade Center tour was really unforgettable and touching .
→the World Trade Center tour was really　an unforgettable and touching experience

>that is so called ”Broadway.”→that was(?) so called ”Broadway.”

Hi tsuneko,trmr,Sam and Ash,
I'm glad to know that you liked my story.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年6月18日 09:59

Hi Anne,
I enjoyed reading your report of staying in N.Y.
I could really feel what you had seen and done.

Hi Sam,
Yes, rainy season is in full swing. So the other day I bought a pair of rain shoes. Today it's rainy and I had to go to a post office and a bank. For the first
time, I put on these rain shoes like a child. I enjoyed walking in the rain. I'll go through with these rainy shoes.

•  Carrie
• 2010年6月18日 11:50

Hi Anne,
Thank you so much for the NY report!
Yes, it’s nice to share a lot of experiences with friends , I’d love to travel aboard with friends some day.
I was moved by the story of the world trade center tour, it must be really hard for those volunteers to get over the tragedy, but they can face it with smile now.
I didn’t know both of the artists’ names, Sara McLachlan and Norah Jones, but when I checked up on YouTube, I immediately recognized that I’d heard their songs somewhere(on TV or at CD shops),I loved their voices, it’s absolutely worth getting up at 4:30 in the morning!
I dropped by your blog(I borrowed Tsuneko’s word “drop by”, because I couldn’t think of any other words),those pictures you took at the Central Park are really nice.
Looking forward to your further report when you are settled＾＾

•  Ling
• 2010年6月18日 12:02

Hi Carrie,

I was going to play softball with co-workers after work, but the game was cancelled because of the rain.

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年6月18日 17:26