December 2021

GRAPEVINE

The New ALT - Michael Henderson

Issue No. 1

The Newest ALT - Katelyn Sondereker

Hello everyone, I hope by now most of the 1 Yearsstknow me, but I will introduce myself to the 2nd and 3rdyears who don’t! My name is Michael Henderson andHello everyone! I hope you are excited for WinterBreak! You have all worked so hard to get here.
My name is Katelyn Sondereker（ケイトリン サンドレ

I’ve been in Kumamoto since early November. I have beenカ), but you can call me Kate（ケイト). I am 28 years oldto Japan before, but this is my first time in Kyushu, so I’mand I am from Akron, Ohio in the United States. I arrived

very excited to be here! Since I am still very new, I wouldin Kumamoto almost one month ago and I can’t believe

really appreciate any recommendations on things to do.

how fast the time has gone!

Please don’t hesitate to come talk to me about Kumamoto,
English, America, or anything!

In university I studied Biology (生物), Chemistry (化学),and Spanish (スペイン語) at The University of Akron inI’ m originally from Seattle, Washington in America.

Akron, Ohio. In fact, I like science so much that after

You might know Seattle because of Starbucks or Microsoft

university I spent five more years studying science in😊. You might also have heard of it from the book andgraduate school. I was a researcher (研究者) who studied

movie series Twilight. Seattle has a lot of beautiful nature

the eyes of mice and I took lots of cool pictures withand coffee shops, so please visit someday if you can!

microscopes. If you ever want to talk about science, please

In university I studied Cell and Molecular Biology (細come find me!

胞分子生物学). I love how biology is directly applicable toIn my free time, I like to read books, cook, watch anime

life around us as well as ourselves. I hope after my time as(my favorite anime are One Piece, Gintama, andan ALT I can study more science and learn more about theHaikyu!!), and hang out with my family and friends. I alsoworld around us.

really love coffee, so if you know of any cafes or coffee

My hobbies are hiking, video games, anime/manga, andshops in Kumamoto please let me know! I enjoy learning

exploring new places and cultures (you might see meabout new things and other cultures, so I am excited towalking around asking teachers and students for help

explore Japan. Please let me know if there is anything I

reading Tokyo Revengers). Back in America, there are soshould see, visit, or experience in Japan!

many different types of people who bring their culture

I love science, but I also like learning about newwith them. I’m always very curious about other cultures,languages and culture. I will mainly be the ALT for secondand love asking my friends about theirs. I hope you all canyear students ( 二 年 生 ), but if anyone ever has any

continue being curious about English, or other languages

questions, please ask me! I am so excited to get to know

around the world. Let’s continue to foster cross-cultural

all of you. I hope we have so much fun studying English

relationships and learning!

together!

Michael-sensei and his friends seeing

Kate-sensei and her family at a Christmas tree

Christmas lights together in Vancouver.

farm in Ohio.

CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH
candy canes
Christmas
Decembergarlandgingerbreadholiday
iciclesornaments
pinecones
poinsettias
reindeer
RudolphSanta Claussnowmanstockings
tinselwinterwreathChristmas IDIOMS

ALTea Time WHITEBOARD

What do you think the following Christmas phrases
mean?
1. Deck the halls
A. walk really fast down the hallway

Please sign up on the ALT whiteboard in theTeacher`s Room hallway if you have any English
questions or if you just want to talk!

B. sing Christmas carols
C. decorate the house for Christmas
2. to have a white Christmas
A. to have a boring Christmas
B. to have lots of snow on Christmas
C. to have white Christmas lights on the tree
3. Christmas has come early this year

Christmas QUESTION
Around Christmas time, we sometimes have
WHITE ELEPHANT Christmas parties.
What do you think the phrase
WHITE ELEPHANT means?

A. the date for Christmas has changed
B. something so wonderful happened that it feels

Come chat with us to find out!

like Christmas
Christmas IDIOMS Answers:

1. C

2. B

3. B

C. deciding not to celebrate Christmas