Comments on: Anthony Is Starting To Read English http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352 Not a photo blog. A personal blog with photos. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:03:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ron Taylor http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-40719 Ron Taylor Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:20:48 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-40719 Hi Jeffery I really admire your devotion to raising Anthony. Unfortunately not all children have that kind of devotion in their lives. I just found out I'm going to become a dad. Am I excited!!!!!!! YES!!!! So I'm trying to learn as much as I can since my wife is Japanese and I'm Canadian living in Tokyo. One of my concerns since we are living in Japan is how a "Half" will be accepted in Elementary and High School. In Canada Anthony would not stand out at all but I've heard through one German woman who raised her daughter in Japan for 20 years that it was very tough. Teasing mostly which sounds quite mild but in Japanese society there seems to be a stronger need to fit in and not stand out. My wife seems to think that times have changed and our child will be fine. (She is usually right) I can't afford to send my child to an International school so that isn't an option. You have chosen purposely to send Anthony to a Japanese public school and I understand your thinking but will he be accepted as Japanese? I personally love Japan and its great people and the safety it provides but I also know that most Japanese are worked to death without too much protest and its still a man's world. One other question how is Anthony's English? Speaking and Listening. Sorry for the long "comment" My best to the proud grandmother and to you. <span class='jfriedl'>Anthony is fluent in both English and Japanese, and has no troubles with any kind of teasing at school, but he's only in 2nd grade. Congrats on your parenthood.... my second blog post, <a href='http://regex.info/blog/2005-04-01/2' class='pt' rel="nofollow">Essentials for a first-time parent</a>, may be of interest. —Jeffrey</span> Hi Jeffery I really admire your devotion to raising Anthony. Unfortunately not all children have that kind of devotion in their lives.

I just found out I’m going to become a dad. Am I excited!!!!!!! YES!!!!
So I’m trying to learn as much as I can since my wife is Japanese and I’m Canadian living in Tokyo.

One of my concerns since we are living in Japan is how a “Half” will be accepted in Elementary and High School.

In Canada Anthony would not stand out at all but I’ve heard through one German woman who raised her daughter in Japan for 20 years that it was very tough. Teasing mostly which sounds quite mild
but in Japanese society there seems to be a stronger need to fit in and not stand out.

My wife seems to think that times have changed and our child will be fine. (She is usually right)

I can’t afford to send my child to an International school so that isn’t an option. You have chosen purposely to send Anthony to a Japanese public school and I understand your thinking but will he be accepted as Japanese?

I personally love Japan and its great people and the safety it provides but I also know that most Japanese are worked to death without too much protest and its still a man’s world.

One other question how is Anthony’s English? Speaking and Listening.

Sorry for the long “comment” My best to the proud grandmother and to you.

Anthony is fluent in both English and Japanese, and has no troubles with any kind of teasing at school, but he’s only in 2nd grade. Congrats on your parenthood…. my second blog post, Essentials for a first-time parent, may be of interest. —Jeffrey

]]> By: Michael http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37247 Michael Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:12 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37247 I for one vividly recall the treasure hunts Mom used to make for us, and am planning to use them as Anthony's cousin Grace starts to show interest in reading. I hope you do one for Anthony - and document it with smashing photos! And I'm LOVING Anthony's art work! I particularly dig the rat. Great work, Anthony! Uncle Mike I for one vividly recall the treasure hunts Mom used to make for us, and am planning to use them as Anthony’s cousin Grace starts to show interest in reading. I hope you do one for Anthony – and document it with smashing photos!

And I’m LOVING Anthony’s art work! I particularly dig the rat. Great work, Anthony!

Uncle Mike

]]> By: Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37235 Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:14:54 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37235 Well, Griselda, I expect Jeff and/or any of his siblings could tell you what they remember about them and do a better job, but the "Treasure Hunts" were a gimmick we employed that worked beautifully and really motivated the children to WANT to read. I would hide a tiny "treasure"...maybe a stick of gum, a small piece of candy..something very small to start with. Then they would have to read the printed clue: "Look under the bed." If they figured it out, they would find the treasure. But as they improved, the hunts got more complicated. Instead of a treat, there might be a piece of paper with another clue that might send them to "Look in the toy box, then "Look under the Teddy Bear" The longer the hunt, the more clues, the more they semed to like it. The clues involved became more complicated :"Is there something hiding in the bath tub?", the bigger the prize...maybe a small toy or a little candy bar. or a note that said we were going to a movie. There was really not a lot of pressure because nothing happened if they didn't read it..there was just no reward. I recall the older ones making up little hunts for the younger ones. I smile at the nice memories. They all read early. Does this help? Thanks for asking. Well, Griselda, I expect Jeff and/or any of his siblings could tell you what they remember about them and do a better job, but the “Treasure Hunts” were a gimmick we employed that worked beautifully and really motivated the children to WANT to read. I would hide a tiny “treasure”…maybe a stick of gum, a small piece of candy..something very small to start with. Then they would have to read the printed clue: “Look under the bed.” If they figured it out, they would find the treasure. But as they improved, the hunts got more complicated. Instead of a treat, there might be a piece of paper with another clue that might send them to “Look in the toy box, then “Look under the Teddy Bear” The longer the hunt, the more clues, the more they semed to like it. The clues involved became more complicated :”Is there something hiding in the bath tub?”, the bigger the prize…maybe a small toy or a little candy bar. or a note that said we were going to a movie. There was really not a lot of pressure because nothing happened if they didn’t read it..there was just no reward. I recall the older ones making up little hunts for the younger ones. I smile at the nice memories. They all read early. Does this help? Thanks for asking.

]]> By: Griselda Nishikatsu http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37228 Griselda Nishikatsu Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:41:38 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37228 Grandma Friedl: Can you tell us more about the little "Treasure Hunts" It sounds very good to apply to my child. I am a very good reader but he is not. Thank you! Griselda Nishikatsu Arlington TX Grandma Friedl: Can you tell us more about the little “Treasure Hunts” It sounds very good to apply to my child. I am a very good reader but he is not.

Thank you!

Griselda Nishikatsu
Arlington TX

]]> By: Lin http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37222 Lin Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:50:31 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37222 I used "Hooked on Phonics" to teach my kids to read many years ago. In fact, I recognized the book before I read your post. Love the diary entry after reading the book! Anthony is quite the artist! I used “Hooked on Phonics” to teach my kids to read many years ago. In fact, I recognized the book before I read your post. Love the diary entry after reading the book! Anthony is quite the artist!

]]> By: Bryce Lee http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37218 Bryce Lee Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:59:42 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37218 Hmm bilingual in Canada usually means English and Quebecois, or English and Italian, very rarely English and Spanish, or more so here, English and Mandarin, or English and Korean. English and Japanese, now that is different! Guess my own question is the languages of Japanese and Chinese use symbols, are the languages similar; that is if somebody understand or speaks one, they may be able to understand the other more easily? Ditto Korean? <span class='jfriedl'>There's a lot of overlap between Chinese and Japanese, but not so much that one can read the other... one can read often decipher individual words, but that's it. Korean mostly has its own alphabet, but I think they use a smattering of Chinese characters here and there; not sure. The Korean language was outlawed by the Japanese during their occupation in the 30s, so I can imagine somewhat of a backlash against Japanese elements in the language since then. —Jeffrey</span> Hmm bilingual in Canada usually means English and Quebecois, or English and Italian, very rarely English and Spanish, or more so here, English and Mandarin, or English and Korean. English and Japanese, now that is different!
Guess my own question is the languages of Japanese and Chinese use symbols, are the languages similar; that is if somebody understand or speaks one, they may be able to understand the other more easily?
Ditto Korean?

There’s a lot of overlap between Chinese and Japanese, but not so much that one can read the other… one can read often decipher individual words, but that’s it. Korean mostly has its own alphabet, but I think they use a smattering of Chinese characters here and there; not sure. The Korean language was outlawed by the Japanese during their occupation in the 30s, so I can imagine somewhat of a backlash against Japanese elements in the language since then. —Jeffrey

]]> By: Marcina, USA http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37214 Marcina, USA Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:06:39 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37214 Wow! The "Ah Ha" moment! If Anthony picks up English reading/writing as fast as he did Japanese, he'll be reading Shakespeare by next week! :-) Good job, little man! Wow! The “Ah Ha” moment! If Anthony picks up English reading/writing as fast as he did Japanese, he’ll be reading Shakespeare by next week! :-)
Good job, little man!

]]> By: Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37213 Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:53:25 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2009-11-09/1352#comment-37213 So proud of him, even if he did get a lot of help from George. Another world opens up before him. Remember the little "Treasure Hunts" ...i.e... "Look on the Bed" or "Look in the Tub" or "Look under the Table" that we used to do with you? The prospect at finding a little treat at the end of these progressively harder and longer "hunts" spurred you on to becoming the good readers you are now. Way to go, Anthony! So proud of him, even if he did get a lot of help from George. Another world opens up before him.
Remember the little “Treasure Hunts” …i.e… “Look on the Bed” or “Look in the Tub” or “Look under the Table” that we used to do with you? The prospect at finding a little treat at the end of these progressively harder and longer “hunts” spurred you on to becoming the good readers you are now.
Way to go, Anthony!

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