Eby Tutor Interview

Eby イビ Tutor Interview

Q. Hi, Eby! You went back to Wisconsin; what’s it like there?: A. We’re still getting used to being back in the U.S. Wisconsin is beautiful, very natural, with lots of forests and lakes and rivers. My parents’ home is very near Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, so there are many sandy beaches. Wisconsin is also famous for cheese, so now we can enjoy gourmet cheeses for much cheaper than in Japan! Many foods are much cheaper in Wisconsin than in Japan; however, there are many, many things we miss about Japan. We miss our Japanese friends a lot, and we also miss the culture (the cleanliness and convenience) and the food. I really miss Japan intensely; however, I’m happy for my husband, because he got his “dream job” in Wisconsin; he is now an artistic illustrator for a children’s clothing company.
Q. You used to live in Hokkaido. Did you enjoy Japan? Did you go on any trips in Hokkaido?: A. I love Japan. Over the past 6 years, I spent nearly 3 years total time in Japan. I love the language, the culture, and my Japanese friends. After we married last summer, my husband came to Japan with me for 10 months, because we agreed to run my friend’s English and Japanese-speaking Café in Sapporo (my friend had to return to the U.S for awhile). We had a great time running the Café, teaching English classes, and hanging out with our Japanese friends and co-workers. We were very busy with work, so we didn’t get the chance to take many trips, but we took day-trips to Noboribetsu and Lake Shikotsu. When I lived in Tochigi in 2006, I took many trips to hot springs at Nasu and Chuzenjiko. I love sulphur hot springs. In Sapporo, we went to many restaurants and ate lots of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai food. We also did a lot of karaoke with our Japanese friends!
Q. You have trained and ridden horses for 16 years; what’s the most important element in training horses? I’ve heard the first step for training dogs is “sit”, maybe it’s totally different with horse-training.: A. In horse training, it is very important to set boundaries for the horses. Unlike dogs and cats, horses are very large and heavy, and can easily hurt people, even by accident. Also unlike dogs and cats, horses are easily frightened, and will kick or flee suddenly when afraid. One kick from a horse can kill a person! As a trainer, it is my job to ensure that horses are safe and understand boundaries around humans. With lots of repetition and exercise, I teach young horses to obey body-language and respect humans. I also expose the young horses to many “scary” obstacles, and teach them to be courageous and unafraid. Training horses can be dangerous, but it’s usually very rewarding. It’s also good exercise for me!
Q. Some students think that your husband is Japanese. Is that true?: A. Many people think my husband is Japanese. Even when we lived in Sapporo, customers at our Café often tried to speak Japanese to him. My husband is American, he was born in the U.S., and English is his native language. Specifically, he is Hmong-American; his parents are Hmong, which is a tribe from the mountains of Laos. (There is a black and white photo of me and my husband in traditional Hmong clothes.) After the Vietnam War, many Hmong people fled from Laos to refugee camps in Thailand. My husband’s parents lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for 5 years before coming to the U.S. They speak 3 languages and have made a good life in Wisconsin; however, my husband has never been to Laos.
Q. I’m really interested in your lessons, for example: "Quick Response Challenge! 英会話の返答は速くできますか？" and "Motivation （動機づけ）". May I ask about the features of those lessons?: A. I think the most important part of the Quick Response and Motivation lessons is repetition of full sentences. Many textbooks teach vocabulary words, but it isn’t very helpful to memorize vocabulary words unless you know how to use the words in sentences. The Quick Response and Motivation lessons focus on repetition and pronunciation of full sentences, and then we do “challenges” by changing the sentences quickly to match different questions. I think students really enjoy the Quick Response and Motivation lessons because they’re challenging and fun, and students learn a lot about American pronunciation during the lessons. I usually match the lessons to the student’s level; if the student is a beginner, we go slow at first, but if the student is more advanced, we try to move more quickly. Quick repetition and quick changes (with detailed pronunciation practice) result in challenging and useful lessons.
Q. Your CafeTalk schedule is very busy; will new students have a chance to try your lessons?: A. I have been very busy teaching English Composition (writing essays) to American students at a college in Wisconsin. My schedule will soon open up, and I will have more time for CafeTalk students.
Q. Please give our students some comments?: A. For the past 7 years, I have been teaching English and Writing to American students and non-native English speakers (Japanese and other nationalities). So far, I am very impressed with CafeTalk students. The CafeTalk students I’ve met are responsible, hard-working, and genuinely talented. Even the beginner students are keen learners, eager to improve and share their thoughts. I am very happy to have found CafeTalk, and I think it is a great skill-learning platform. Thank you everyone for your hard work! I look forward to talking with you in the future. これからも、よろしくおねがいたします。