Welcome to
The Point
The First All English Newspaper in Kumamoto City, Japan
My name is Randall Miller. I have started an English newspaper here in Kumamoto City Japan named The Point. There are lots of Japanese adults who like to learn and practice English. There are also a lot of Japanese students who enjoy learning English. My newspaper gives Japanese a chance to practice and learn English with a native speaker. Japanese people can exchange emails in English with my native speaking English staff. Japanese can also learn idioms, American culture and other English grammar with our newspaper. My goal is to help improve Japanese citizens in English and to give them a safe and comfortable opportunity to practice English with native speakers. I print the newspaper once a month. My magazine reaches up to 150,000 citizens in Kumamoto City and surrounding areas.
Exchange emails with a native speaker of English
If you really want to improve your English skills, you should practice exchanging emails with a native speaker. Answer the questions below and send your answers to one of our staff members. You can also practice your speaking by skype or meeting in person.
Topic: School
1. What high school did you go to?
2. How did you get to school?
3. What teachers did you like?
4. What teachers did you dislike?
5. Did you play sports in school?
6. Did you wear a high school uniform?
7. Did you get along with your classmates?
8. How did you celebrate your high school graduation?
Send your answers to someone on our staff. We will correct your English and answer you. Write the staff’s name in the subject. Email: bluehillesl@yahoo.com
Male Female
David (USA) Sharon (Canada)
Randall (USA) Lisa (Canada)
Grammar 1
in advance = before
Ex. I want to know the artists in advance of going to the concert.
1. I want to know what hotel we are staying at in advance of going.
2. He wants to see a picture of your friend in advance of meeting her.
3. Tell me the restaurant in advance of us going.
4. Tell me if I can wear a skirt in advance of us going.
Grammar 2
Ex. In the meantime, look at some magazines.
1. In the meantime, go shopping.
2. In the meantime, can I play some video games?
3. In the meantime, go window shopping.
4. In the meantime, let's go get something to eat.
Foreigner's Voice
I was sitting in my apartment one afternoon and I was getting hungry. I decided to go to Hotto Motto which was close to my apartment. It was such a beautiful and sunny day, I decided to walk to get my food. On my way, I saw a police car pass me. I just kept walking and to my surprise, the same police car had made a u-turn. The two police officers in the car turned the red and blue lights on and pulled in front of me. I wasn't nervous because I had not done anything illegal. The first police officer got out of the car and walked up to me. He asked me for my passport of foreigner card. I asked the police officer, "What did I do wrong?" I had only been in Japan for a few months so I could not speak much Japanese. The second police officer got out of the car and told me that I had not done anything wrong. The officers were just stopping me to check my papers to make sure I was in Japan legally. I thought this was not a good way to welcome foreigners into Japan. While I was standing there with the police car lights on, the Japanese in their cars passed by and slowing down wondering what I had done wrong. I felt like a criminal even though I had not done anything wrong. It was so embarrassing so I wondered how many Japanese citizens know that Japanese police stop foreigners at random to check their papers. I didn't feel good so I never walked anywhere again. I hate when Japanese people ask me if I like living in Japan because this bad memory always comes to mind.
English Idioms
Idiom 1 - under the weather = be sick
Example:
Sam: You don't look so good today.
Ben: I'm a bit under the weather.
Idiom 2 - fed up = I had enough
Example:
Jill: Danny is always late to pick me up.
Ray: I'm fed up with him being late.
Idiom 3 - hook up = to connect
Example:
Charles: I think Lisa and Travis will make a good couple.
Rachel: We should hook them up.
Idiom 4 - Knock it off - stop
Example:
Student: Please don't touch my coffee cup.
Teacher: Hey, knock it off. I asked you nicely.
May 2022
American Culture
There are so many bars in America is each state that each bar usually wants to make their bar different from other bars. Most bars have large TVs so customers can watch sports. There are usually more than one TV. Some bars can have more than 20 TVs showing different sports on each TV. Americans like crowded bars so they can mingle and make new friends. Bars in America are usually a chance for men to talk to women and for women to talk to men. It is also a place to eat finger foods like chicken nuggets, buffalo wings. It is also a place to sit with your friends and talk while drinking an alcoholic beverage.
Jesse Owens
Jesse Cleveland Owens, known as J.C. and then as Jesse was born on September 12, 1913 in Danville, Alabama. Jesse worked in the cotton fields as a child. He was small for his age and quite shy. To earn spending money, he scrubbed kitchen floors and worked at a shoeshine stand.
In high school Jesse tried out for track. He won seventy-five races during his high school career. His coach especially admired Jesse’s spirit and sense of fair play.
Jesse earned an athletic scholarship to Ohio State College. He gave record-breaking performances every track season, and made the 1936 Olympic track team.
At the Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Jesse won four gold medals. He set three records and tied a fourth at the Games. He set world records for sprinting, broad jumping and the 400 meter relay. He tied the world record in the 100 yard dash.