CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter, CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter, CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter, CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter, AprilAprilAprilApril 20 20 20 2011112222

Henson Recording Studios, LA, USA

April brings us “April Fools’ Day.”

On this day, people from numerous

countries around the world celebrate

by playing jokes, pranks and tricks

on each other.

In native English speaking

countries all pranks should cease

at mid-day, if a prankster attempts

to play a joke after mid-day then

they are branded a “fool”.

In other countries that celebrate

“April Fools”, the pranks last all day.

The first recorded mention of April

Fools’ Day, in English, can be found in

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in the

“Nun’s Priest’s Tale”, however, it is

believed that the day originated in Iran

where Iranians play jokes on each other

on the 13th day of the Persian New

Year (Norouz) which falls on April 1 or

April 2. This day, celebrated as far back

as 536 BC, is called Sizdah Bedar and

is the oldest prank-tradition in the

world still alive today.

In the Middle Ages, New Year's Day

was celebrated on March 25 in most

European towns. In some areas of

France, New Year's was a week-long

holiday ending on April 1. In France and

Italy the traditional prank is to try to

attach a paper fish to the back

of someone without being

noticed and then to say

“Poisson d’ávril” (French)

or “Pesce d’áprile” (Italian).

In Scotland, April Fools' Day is traditionally

called Hunt-the-Gowk Day ("gowk" means

cuckoo or a foolish person). The traditional

prank in Scotland is to ask someone

to deliver a sealed message requesting

help. The message reads "Dinna laugh,

dinna smile, hunt the gowk another

mile "(Dinna = Don’t). The

recipient, upon reading it, will

explain they can only help if they first

contact another person. They then send

the victim to this person with an identical

message, with the same result.

In Korea, during the Chosun Dynasty,

the royal family and courtiers were

allowed to lie to and fool each other,

regardless of their hierarchy, on the first

“snowy” day of the year. They would stuff

snow inside bowls and send it to the victim

of the prank with fake excuses. The

recipient of the snow was thought to be a

loser in the game and had to grant a wish

to the sender.

In Britain the media often make false

headlines to play a trick on the public. A

hundred of such stories can be found at: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

Article by MatthewArticle by MatthewArticle by MatthewArticle by Matthew

NET LESSONS: Are you too busy to come to

CROSSROADS?....Try our lessons on the Internet!

* Call for details: 089 9217595

SITE OF THE MONTH: For some April Fool’s fooling around on the web,

go here: http://news.yahoo.com/roundup-april-fools-day-jokes-

around-214124287.html

Joshua Says: Last month’s “Performance Night” party was a bit on the quiet side, but, nevertheless, very enjoyable. The performing groups did a fantastic job, as always, and surely gained a lot of valuable experience. Yumiko entertained us with some English songs again, with support from Jonathan. It was the last time they will play together as Jonathan is leaving Crossroads this term. I know all our students, especially Yumiko, wish Jonathan all the best for the future, as do we all.

Junko Says: We are having some lovely spring weather lately – between

the rainy days that is – and the roof-top garden is starting to come to life

again. It is such a quiet and peaceful place and when the flowers come

out, it is also very attractive. So, before the “rainy season” starts in June,

pleased spend some time on our roof-top to relax in the warm spring sun.

Jonathan Says: I'll be leaving Crossroads this month after two

enjoyable years. I'd like to thank all my students, past and

present, and others I've met in the Open House for their

friendliness to me and enthusiasm for studying English.

Matthew Says: After 197 days waiting I finally managed to bring my

three year old Jack Russell called “Murphy” to Japan from Korea.

While attempting to check-in at Incheon airport I experienced the

third most stressful day of my life. As a result I will never attempt to

move my dogs out of Japan so it looks like I’ll be in Japan until I’m 50!

Arno Dit: Le mois de mai, c'est mon mois préféré. La saison est belle,

idéale, en France ou au Japon, il fait bon vivre. Ce mois ci, les Français

vont devoir choisir leur président ! Un vote d'une importance capitale pour

les 5 ans à venir de la France ! J'espère que beaucoup de français voteront !

C'est une chance que nos amis Japonais ne connaissent pas encore !

Phone: 0120-21-7594

Tel: (089) 921-7595

Fax: (089) 921-7319

E-mail :info@crossroadsco .com

Web Site : www .crossroadsco .com

Courses you can join at CROSSROADS

GENERALGENERALGENERALGENERAL ( ジェネラルジェネラルジェネラルジェネラル) コースコースコースコース NETNETNETNET (ネットネットネットネット) ) ) ) レッスンレッスンレッスンレッスン 英語+実践練習 COSMOPOLITANCOSMOPOLITANCOSMOPOLITANCOSMOPOLITAN (コスモポリタンコスモポリタンコスモポリタンコスモポリタン) ) ) ) コースコースコースコース グループグループグループグループOR OR OR OR プライベートプライベートプライベートプライベート ６０分６０分６０分６０分 x x x x ２２２２ 回回回回 ////週週週週： 英語+実技を通した実用練習、だから誰でも分かる、自然に上達する。 1学期-４ヶ月毎にレベルが上がる 英語でギターを習う英語でギターを習う英語でギターを習う英語でギターを習う クロスローズのメインプログラム 英語で歌う英語で歌う英語で歌う英語で歌う ９０分９０分９０分９０分x 1x 1x 1x 1回回回回////週週週週： 英語で料理英語で料理英語で料理英語で料理 忙しい方のための週１レッスン 英語でマジック英語でマジック英語でマジック英語でマジック KIDSKIDSKIDSKIDS ’ (キッズキッズキッズキッズ)))) クラスクラスクラスクラス プライベートプライベートプライベートプライベート((((個人個人個人個人)))) ピアノピアノピアノピアノ グループグループグループグループOR OR OR OR プライベートプライベートプライベートプライベート 月２回からレッスン回数自由選択 英語劇英語劇英語劇英語劇 セミプライベートセミプライベートセミプライベートセミプライベート((((セミ個人セミ個人セミ個人セミ個人))))： ヨガヨガヨガヨガ MOTHER & CHILDMOTHER & CHILDMOTHER & CHILDMOTHER & CHILD 月３回からレッスン回数自由選択 ((((マザーマザーマザーマザー&&&&チャイルドチャイルドチャイルドチャイルド)))) クロスローズでクロスローズでクロスローズでクロスローズで学学学学べるそのべるそのべるそのべるその他他他他のののの外国語外国語外国語外国語 グループグループグループグループOR OR OR OR プライプライプライプライベートベートベートベート フランス語フランス語フランス語フランス語 ---- スペイン語スペイン語スペイン語スペイン語 ---- ドイツ語ドイツ語ドイツ語ドイツ語 ---- イタリア語イタリア語イタリア語イタリア語 ---- ロシア語ロシア語ロシア語ロシア語 ---- 中国語中国語中国語中国語 ---- 韓国語韓国語韓国語韓国語

レッスン料レッスン料レッスン料レッスン料￥￥￥￥4,7254,7254,7254,725////月～月～月～月～ 詳細はお問合せ下さい詳細はお問合せ下さい詳細はお問合せ下さい詳細はお問合せ下さい

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Munich

Congratulations to Kanami! She passed the entrance exams for Nagoya Foreign Languages University and

will start her university life there this year. Her dream is to work in Taiwan in the future, so she studied very

hard and made it! She says she was inspired to follow this path after meeting some Taiwanese people at an

airport; “They were cheerful and not shy like Japanese people!” Well, Kanami, it looks like you are well on

the way, so good luck in Nagoya and all the best for your future from everyone here at Crossroads.

“A New Car” performed by

In(b)1

Jonathan and Yumiko give their last performance

together

In(a)1 with “Red Riding Hood”

The audience was enthralled

with the performances

A heart-felt goodbye and thanks to Jonathan