Hokkaido is one of Japan’s top winter destinations. Its abundance of powder-fine snow makes it a perfect spot for a winter break. But as well as some of the best skiiing options in Japan, it’s also home to some charming small towns that are worth spending a day or two in. One of these is Otaru,…
I just did a social media experiment with some new Artificial Intelliegence (AI) technology – and the results were pretty shocking. I’ve heard a lot recently about ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/chat), a new AI chatbot that churns out realistic responses to almost any kind of question. For example, you could ask it for suggestions about your ten-year-old’s…
When I’m not writing, my day job is teaching. Part of that involves recruiting new staff. And a big part of that involves reading hundreds of CVs. If we’re being honest, most of them don’t hit the spot, but the few that do are nearly always guaranteed at least an interview. So what is it…
Leaves are a big deal in Japan. For a fortnight each Spring, locals will travel miles to catch a glimpse of cherry blossom, or sakura. The birth of these delicate pink leaves signifies the end of winter and the start of a new season. Then, each November, the leaves transform again. Autumnal oranges, yellows and…
My first ten minutes in Japan were spent staring at a picture of a lemon. The lemon is Japan’s first example of helpfulness, as the lemon is there as a guide to how your salivary glands may be persuaded to produce enough saliva to pass a covid test. From the airport, where dozens of staff…
Over the past three years, we’ve been fortunate to explore almost every corner of Vietnam. From trips down the Mekong river up to Sapa in the far northwest, it’s been quite a journey. As we prepare to move on to a new adventure in Japan, it’s time to look back at our top ten Vietnam…
If you’ve ever thought about quitting your day job and trying something else, now’s a good time. With inflation-busting prices, record temperatures at home and Shane Riche about to return to EastEnders, now could be the ideal moment to pack your bags. For something totally different, the answer for many is to teach by the…
If we’re honest, Koh Mook isn’t the greatest of Thailand’s islands. Its bigger neighbours – Koh Lanta and Koh Tarutao – tend to steal the limelight. And at first glance, you can see why. Koh Mook (literally Pearl Island), which sits just off the coast of Trang in southern Thailand, has some good beaches. But…
Here’s an extract from my ebook ‘Teaching English‘. It deals with teaching theory but, stick with us, because the unfortunate story of Little Albert is truly remarkable and led to a whole new way of thinking about how we may learn. Watson and Rayner Many psychologists have tried to understand how the human mind ticks.…
The most impressive thing about Yen Tu mountain is the people who go up it. As we made our climb, octogenarians in wrinkled suits and creased leather shoes briskly overtook us. When they saw our three-year-old daughter gamely tackling the ragged stone steps, some stopped and cheered. Which made us wonder quite what kind of…