Latest Lessons
Fresh lessons added every week.
Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama, Where You Can Learn and Eat Too!
Those that know me are keenly aware that I love a nice bowl of ramen. Well, I found a ramen nirvana of sorts in Shin Yokohama, where you can learn about ramen history, and taste it too!
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Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights
Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll explore some of the history of Yokohama, and some places in the city worth a visit.
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A Lunch Trek Into The Mountains West of Tokyo
Did you ever want to just get away from it all? And have a nice lunch in the bargain? Well, I may have the place for you.
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Kamakura, The Kyoto of Eastern Japan
Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, and for good reason. Its historic temples are stunning examples of architecture introduced from Song Dynasty China with Zen Buddhism's influence. Kamakura was once the administrative capital of Japan. And so it has the history, sure, but that is not all it has to offer. I've visited Kamakura numerous times over the years, so it was about time I wrote something about this interesting city south of Tokyo.
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The Grundy House: A lovely example of the Queen Anne Architectural Style
The Bristol, Pennsylvania historic district has a variety of archetectural styles and historic buildings, many of which are in private hands and are therefore not open for public viewing. But thanks to the Grundy family, a beautifully preserved house in Bristol is open for tours, and this Victorian gem is a must see. Have a look...
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A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo
My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sapporo, we took a quick tour of the city.
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Structured learning programs grouped by topic.
Japan Series: The Big Cities
This series focuses on Japan's bigger cities, of which there are really not that many. Still, I thought it would be cool to discuss each in succession and debate their importance and differences.
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The Wanderers
Follow the travels and travails of the wanderers as they travel here and there, and check out new and interesting sights and restaurants.
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News and Views
Interesting news items from around the world, and some of my views about the world we live in, culture, society, life, or frankly anything that will stimulate discussion.
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California Dreaming, The Bay Area and Beyond
California has everything; scenic shoreline and moutainous beauty, moderate weather, big cities and small towns, an robust farming and tech industry, not to mention Hollywood. This Series is dedicated to all that is California.
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Sporting Competition
I am a Philly sports fan, so much of what you will find here is Philly centric, but not everything! Love to hear from you in the comments section - I know there are fans out there.
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Japan Series: For the Foodies!
This series focuses on various restaurants that I have visited in Japan. Some are more on the formal side, while others are your everyday eateries - like ramen shops for example.
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Europe is Wonderful After All These Years
This set of lessons describes our trips to Europe in the spring of 2023 and the spring of 2024. They were very different trips, though some of the same countries were visited - just different parts. The first trip encompassed Vienna, Rome, and Florence. The second trip - with me driving - included Zurich, Lucerne, Como, Milan, Bolzano, Innsbruck, and separately, Prague. I wonder if we will return to Europe again for a third trip...
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John and Marie Part 1
This curriculum includes lessons, vocabulary and quizzes that focus on the lives of John and Marie, a typical couple navigating life together. We begin the story before John and Marie met, going back in time to the 1990's. From there we will follow their journey through their early working years, how they met, their relationship, and well, we shall see where the story leads! There will be many idioms included in the lessons that are used very commonly by native English speakers. Knowledge of idioms should be a priority for advanced English learners.
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Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
This series of lessons focuses on some of the old, historic towns outside of Japan's big cities. Some of them will be very familiar to you, while others might be places you had not heard of before. And some of them have castles!
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Dr. John Tanaka, MD
This series of lessons will focus on healthcare in many different facets. Follow Dr. Tanaka as he works his wonders, providing the best care for his patients. Please note - these lessons should not to be used for the diagnosis or treatment any any real illness. They are intended to get you familiar with common ailments and their English descriptions. If you are ill, consult a real doctor or website that specializes in medical information instead of this website. Thank you for your attention!
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Personal Computers
This series of lessons provides a high level review of the hardware, software, and network components of a personal computer.
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Key Technologies of the Past and Future
This series is intended to focus on anything that is technical, past and future. Originally I was thinking of just having a Virtual Reality curriculum, but decided to broaden it because of all that is going on in AI and robotics. Let's see where this takes us!
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