Skin colour?

Last week I was teaching a kid's class and we were doing some colouring.
One of my kids asked me if I had 'skin colour' (肌色)

My first thought was 'What is skin colour?'

Whatever colour 'skin colour' is, it certainly isn't the colour which is called 'skin colour' in Japan, which is a mix of brown, orange and pink.
I have never seen anyone in my life with skin that colour!! If I did I would probably tell them to go to the nearest hospital!

Later I was thinking about it some more and remembering some of the differences between Japan and England.

In England, where there are so many people of different ethnic origins living together, it is definitely NOT OK to say skin colour...it would be considered racist, or offensive to anyone whose 'skin colour' is not the same colour as the resulting crayon.

England is the land of pc (politically correct) language. A place where it is not OK to sing the children's song 'Ba ba black sheep' for fear of offending people of African origin. A place where it is not OK to say 'policeman' because it may offend women.

The phrase 'politically correct' means language which cannot be offensive to anyone, or group of people, and I couldn't help but think that 'skin colour' could be offensive to most people...

Today I was surfing the web and came across this image which I think sums it up better than I ever could...true 'skin (flesh) colour'

The next time someone says '肌色', stop to think 'Exactly whose 'skin colour' is this?'

say / tell

I am often asked "What is the difference between 'say' and 'tell'?"

The meaning, of course, is very similar but the way to use them is different.

to tell (someone) (something)
to tell (someone) about (something)
to tell (someone) to (do - ) 

to say (something)
to say (something) to (someone)

eg.


He told me a story.
He told me about his plans for the weekend.
He told me to sit down.

He said (that) he was hungry.
He said 'hello' to her.

Sometimes you can use either to say the same thing...

He said he was hungry = He told me (that) he was hungry

He said "Sit down" = He told me to sit down

Hope this helps...if you have any questions please comment below :)

Amazing voice

I was just reading the news and I came across a piece about a new singer who is currently the favourite to win 'The X Factor', a UK TV talent show and I can see why...

She is only 16 years old but she has one of the most amazing raw voices I have ever heard...




Then last week on the show she sang Minnie Ripperton's 'Loving You'...it is amazing

Bumped into...

'Bumped into' is a very useful verb to know...

Last week I was out for a walk around Kure with my wife and I bumped into 3 of my students with their mum.
They are only 4 years old and they are triplets!!

I really enjoy teaching them and, because they have been coming to me for around 2 years now, their English is very natural and their pronunciation is excellent...

thank you Mr K, Mr F and Miss K and see you soon :)

get into / be into

One of my students said in class 'I got into Jazz music now'

What she wanted to say was 'I am into Jazz music now / at the moment'

To 'get into' expresses a change over time from not liking something to liking it...

'Last year I got into cooking' means before last year you didn't like cooking, but now you do, so...

'Now I am (really) into cooking'


We use 'be into' with 'now' or 'at the moment'

'I am (really) into going to the gym at the moment'

We use 'get into' a lot with 'last...' or 'recently'

'I got into painting very recently'

Hope this helps :)

STOP MAN !

My friend who works in a children's ward at a hospital in Hiroshima asked me to make a poster to keep visiting children out of the ward. It had to be eye-catching enough to stop them entering, so I came up with STOP MAN.

She just sent me pictures of the final posters in place...

I was really glad to be able to help :)

Back from The OSCATOWN LONDON TOUR 2012

We just came back from our 2 week tour to London. This year we took 10 students with us and we had a great time. We did a lot more than last year and definitely saw more of London, ate more food and drank more beer...
Everyone had a great time and you can see a lot more pictures if you follow the link below

http://oscatownlondontour.blogspot.jp/

See you !