The Carpenters - Big in Japan

After having taught English to adults from around the world for many years, I have picked up some random pieces of trivia. One of those tidbits is that the Carpenters are big in Japan (or at least they used to be) and they are still a favorite among a certain generation. In a recent conversation with a Japanese man who is over forty, I learned the following. I’ve asked his permission to share his perspective.

On a side note, there is a tendency for Japanese people to separate their paragraphs into line by line sentences. I will share this with readers of this blog as it was shared with me. There are interesting insights into Japanese culture here, too.

The Carpenters have a lot of old, nostalgic songs.

I like to listen to music and they are one of my favorite artists.

When I was a student, they were once again in the spotlight in Japan. (Around 1995)

I remember that I also bought their album at that time.

Now they are known [for] the most famous songs of the past.

However, [they] may not be very famous to the younger generation today.

I did a little research and here is what I found about their reputation in Japan.

- Melody-oriented sound production fits Japanese sensibilities.

- No radical expressions, so the family can listen to the music together without anxiety.

- From a Japanese perspective, it has the image of a good old (affluent) American family. (Favorable).

- Good quality vocals

- Beautiful English pronunciation (easy to listen to for Japanese)

Many people in Japan have heard of it because it was often used in TV programs.

It is included in music textbooks as a school practice piece.

In the early 1990s, they became popular again in Japan.

This is because they became the theme song of a hit Japanese TV drama.

　Drama name: MISEINEN  (It means "underage”.)

Famous Songs in Japan

- Top Of The World

- Yesterday Once More

- Please Mr. Postman

- I need to be in love

- Sing

Yesterday, while I was driving home from work, I listened to the Carpenters in my car for the first time in a long time.

Thank you.

Take a Trip to Japan with Fort Wayne's Top 5 Japanese Restaurants!

Japan has a variety of incredible dishes that you need to try. Why not start with some of the top Japanese restaurants in Fort Wayne?

Check it out here: Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Restaurants in Fort Wayne, Indiana

頂きます !

Top 5 Japanese Restaurants in Indianapolis

Take a look at Restaurant Review’s article lisiting the top 5 Japanese restaurants in Indianapolis!

https://original.newsbreak.com/@restaurant-review-1453573/2584541954498-top-5-most-popular-japanese-restaurants-in-indianapolis-indiana

Online English Courses for International Business

Do you want to learn English, but you have a busy schedule?

Midwest Language Services, LLC offers several options for busy professionals like you.

Independent English Course Plans that you can take at your own speed from the convenience of your computer. This is ideal for people who want to practice their reading and writing skills.

Video English Lessons are available online on our YouTube channel and we will be adding more in the coming weeks. As we add more videos, the quality will improve. Also, please send us your feedback about what English lessons would be helpful to you. For example, do you want to learn English for the hotel and hospitality industry or do you need English to work for the automotive industry or at a restaurant?

Group English Lessons help students learn from their classmates. We currently offer online group lessons and hope that we can offer more in-person lessons at your place of business! Contact us today about having English lessons at your location whether you are located in Indiana or in another state or country.

Private 1:1 English Lessons are conveniently scheduled at a time that works for you and your instructor. We provide English assessments to check your current level and offer regular homework (if this works for your schedule) and we can retest you every three months, every six months, or once a year. We also offer TOEIC training for business executives and their families who are interested in taking this assessment that is known worldwide. In case you are not familiar, with it, it is the Test of English for International Communication. Although there are options to take the test online, we currently offer training for the listening and reading test, but recommend that everyone also learn speaking and writing skills to improve their ability to communicate.

Julie Metz Interviews Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services, LLC

Julie Metz, Execuitve Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Interviewed Tanya Hoover of Midwest Language Services, LLC last week. Click here to listen to the interview.

Julie Metz, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce interviewed Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services, LLC on Giant 106.5 FM.

Midwest Language Services was On-the-Air with Julie Metz

Julie Metz, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, interviewed Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services on Giant FM, 106.5 in Shelbyville, Indiana.

Tanya Hoover, President and Founder of Midwest Language Services, was invited to talk about her business on a radio show this morning that aired on 106.5 FM, The Giant. Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Metz, invited Ms. Hoover to speak on the Chamber Chat radio show. While Tanya is not new to Shelby County, Midwest Language Services, LLC is. She started English as a Second Language teaching adult students from Yuma Industries when she started her business as a sole proprietorship nearly fifteen years ago.

A new English as a Second/New Language (ESL/ENL) class is being offered by Midwest Language Services in Shelbyville, Indiana that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon for non-native speakers of English. For more details about this and other services Midwest Language Services provides, such as sign language (ASL) interpreting, document translations, and other interpreting services, please contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.

Eikawa English Conversation Group

Join us for a weekly English conversation group that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 beginning in March. The cost for each class is $12.50. We will meet at 735 Shelby St., Suite #106, Indianapolis, IN 46203. Class size is limited to five students.

Introducing Our Newest Intern - Marie Mori

Marie Mori is currently pursuing a Masters in Linguistics and TESL at Indiana State University while teaching Japanese to university students. Her interests include the relationship between foreign language learning and psychology, as well as language acquisition and music. At ISU, she has been dedicating herself to establishing a Japanese cultural organization for the students of ISU. Through many events, she hopes it will open doors to the Japanese way of life, its traditions, gastronomy, and history.

Ms. Mori's future goal is to be an English teacher in Japan who fosters students with globalized perspectives while utilizing effective teaching and learning methods she has investigated. She wants to bring her experiences from the United States to change how students learn in Japan.

Marie Mori holds a Bachelors Degree in English Literature and a teaching license in Japan. To expand her knowlege and ability, she decided to come to the United States to study. Her hobbies include photography, world travel, and outdoor activities.

Marie Mori is from Japan and she is learning to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).

Welcome Marie Mori, Our Intern from Japan

Marie Mori will be teaching Essential Japanese for Travel this summer at Midwest Language Services in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Marie Mori is currently teaching Elementary Japanese and pursuing a Master’s in Linguistics and TESL at Indiana State University. She is interested in the relationship between second language learning and anxiety, as well as foreign language learning and psychology.

At ISU, Ms. Mori has been dedicating herself to establishing a Japanese cultural organization that will introduce Japan and its culture through many events. She hopes it will open doors to the Japanese way of life, traditions, gastronomy and history to anyone who is interested.
Marie’s future goals are to be an English teacher in Japan and to foster students with global perspectives. English will be one tool for teaching students about things outside of Japan. With respect to her future objectives, she plans to incorporate all of her experience in the United States into changing how Japanese students learn.

In 2017, Marie participated in the WUSTL-ALLEX Japanese Teacher Training for seven weeks at Washington University in      St. Louis and learned the performed culture approach to teaching. “This summer, I will teach Japanese using the performed culture approach. Learners will be exposed to Japanese culture and performing in the target language. I will be using Japanese most of the time in class,” Marie says.

Marie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English literature at Doshisha Women’s College in Kyoto, Japan. She was interested in applied linguistics, second language learning, and effective ways of teaching English as a foreign language in Japan, with both physical and emotional aspects. Marie adds, “To expand my knowledge and ability, I decided to come to the United States to study."

To register, please visit this link to Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/essential-japanese-for-travel-registration-44335912909