March CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter 2006

CUBISM
The search for Reality! From the very
Everything exists not only in 3
beginning of human evolution philosophers, dimensional space, but also in time. Is an
religious thinkers, scientists, healers and artist representing the “reality” of something
many others have been searching for ways if he/she only depicts a single moment of its
to understand the environments we live in existence? Does a single photograph ofand our place within them. It has been someone tell you very much about theirnothing less than a search for the meaning passage through time from one moment tothe next?
of life itself! From the very first attempts torepresent life (and thus understandThis space-time-reality issue inand control it) on cave walls, artists
painting was one of the problems
tackled by the Cubists close to 100
have been among the foremost
seekers of the ultimate answer.
years ago. If we move around an
Through the ages representational
object, above it, under it, or if theart has experienced many changes
object itself moves, we get another,equally valid, view of it. Which view isin style but the last century saw
rapidandunprecedented
the more “realistic” representation?
developments in the way artists
Clearly, all views must be as they areof the same object!
perceived and represented the world
around them, and the world within
Here’s a test. You see thiseye? This is one view of it…
themselves.
Woman with Guitar-1913
Georges
BraqueDetail fromThe Renaissance artists began to…Now go to page 3…
Picasso’srepresent their subjects in 3 dimensions…This is some of the rational the “Girl withDark Hair”
and realistic perspectives with astonishing cubists Picasso, Braque, Juan Gris
accuracy. Their paintings reflected a single and others used early in the 20th century.
moment in time and their subjects Now, the next time you look at a painting byappeared “real”. However accurate this Picasso with an ear in one place and a nosestyle of painting may be, does it convey to seemingly out of place somewhere else, thinkus the complete “reality” of the artists’ of TIME as you look at the painting and you
may just get it!
subject?

(These words are in colour in the story)
foremost 最も初期のunprecedented 空前のdepicts 描く

ultimate 究極のrepresentational 具象のperceived 知覚した
astonishing 驚くばかりのvalid 確かなrational 合理性

Joshua Says: Well, Spring is in the air again and with it’s arrival at this time each year
most of us feel ready for a new beginning. We are adding two new lessons to ourCosmopolitan program: acting techniques in English with Iain in addition to Magic, andWilliam will be Drumming up a storm with “Drumming in English” in addition to his Guitar
classes. Check out the details on P3, or ask Junko about these classes at the office.
Junko Says: The other day I saw an animal I thought was a small dog sitting by itself in abicycle basket with its paws dangling over the handlebars of the bike. It had long hair and seemedvery relaxed as it waited patiently for its master to return. It was not afraid or even concerned as I
stood nearby looking at it. Suddenly I realized that this “dog” was not a dog at all. It was a cat! Andyet its behaviour was nothing like a usual cat. It made me think just how much we (and animals)
can be influenced to become unique or special merely by the way we are brought up (or trained).
Natacha Says: Whoopi! Spring has come! Isn't it the best season inJapan? I wonder where the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms
are? Can someone help me? I hope that you will be able to tell me more. I
hope to go for a picnic on top of Matsuyama Castle hill but I guess the mostpopular place is Dogo park. Where do you recommend I should to go?
Greg Says: Last month was my daughter’s first “piano recital”. Children have nofeelings of nervousness what-so-ever. They just get up and do whatever it is they haveto do. On the other hand, we as adults seem to contemplate the ‘what if’s’ of thesituation before we do it and as such, spend a long time with a belly full of butterflies.
Can you imagine the new ventures we would attempt if we as adults held that same
attitude of ‘just get up and do it’ without any fear of failure what-so-ever.
Iain Says: Kyoko and I have just returned from an exciting 3-week trip to the U.S.
As always, I had trouble adjusting to the ENORMOUS portions of food that are servedat restaurants. We eventually decided to just order one thing and share it. I was alsoable to meet my nephew and niece. We arrived just a few weeks after my sister had
her second child, Julia. She is adorable! And her son, Myles is cute also! He could say afew words including “DUDE”! Maybe he will grow up to be a surfer!!

Marita Says: Recently, I experienced that computers are still subject to Murphy’s Law;
all that could go wrong went wrong. I dare say that I know how to press “any key”, butwhat do you do when the information you need is hidden in a sort of external black box,that doesn’t respond to you in any way? From this experience I have learnt how good it
can feel to grip a book, turn the pages and find the information I am looking for.
Yuka Says: Hello, everyone! It’s good the cold winter has gone and the warm season
has arrived. It’s the best time to enjoy outdoor activities, isn’t it? Unfortunately I have
hey fever so I ride an exercise bike inside. I go to the gym as often as possible. I feelrefreshed after doing some exercise. Now I can understand why aerobics and yoga are so
popular among women. They feel great and they may be able to lose some weight also!

Hiroko Kato translates to improve her English:
I love the Harry Potter series and I’m enjoying translating “Harry Potter and the Philosopher'sStone” little by little. At first I translate English to Japanese. After that I read the book in
Japanese, and compare that with my translation. I learn how to express the same thought butwith different words. It is so exciting because, like the proverb says: “So many men, so manyminds.” Well, I’m going on with it very slowly. I wonder when my work will be finished!

Detail fromPicasso’s“Girl withDark” Hair”

THE EYE…Here it is again, but by the time it took you to come to this page, it haschanged position, colour and shape! Which, then, is the more accurate representationof the eye, this one or the one on page 1? As both views are of the same eye, both must
be an accurate representation of the eye…, but they look different because movement
and time have changed our view of this eye… (now, back to page 1…)

We have opened two new classes at Crossroads for the Cosmopolitan causes. They are:Iain has just started
Cosmopolitan English
Drama lessons using someof the methods we havedeveloped at Crossroads
for our regular Dram
English classes. Iain is not
only a magician; he has
study Drama and has evenperformed in the past! Thisis going to be a real fun
and easy way to study
English.

DRUMMING UP SOMEENGLISH..
William is not only a greatteacher with the guitar,he can also teachEnglishing using drums!!
We have just started thisnew lesson and it is reallyinteresting.

Don’t forget to spread theword about our Spring Campaign
starting next month. Lot’s offree gifts and discounts….

Courses you can take at CROSSROADS
NET LESSONS:

Are you too busy to come to CROSSROADS to study? Try ourlessons on the internet! --- It’s CROSSROADS in your homeor office! You get CROSSROADS’ great teachers, teaching
programs, even classmates, all on-line! Call for details.

NET SITE OF THE MONTH:
Go here for a pretty interesting site on Cubism:
http://www.eyeconart.net/history/cubism.htm

NET NOTEBOOK: Don’t forget to take a look at theInternet activity notebook in our open-house. You’ll findgames, news and English learning sites.

GENERAL COURSES:
2 x’s 60mins / week
1 x’s 90mins / week
Private 1 x / week
Semi-Private 1 x /week

GERMAN with Marita
SPANISH with Leo
RUSSIAN with Natasha
FRENCH with Bam & Natacha
CHINESE with Noriko
KOREAN with Kim

MOTHER & CHILD, group or private
KIDS, group or private
COSMOPOLITAN COURSES:“Singing in English” with William
Yoga with Natacha
Guitar with William“Cooking in English” with Natacha“Magic in English” with Iain
Piano with Adrienne
Drumming with William
NETLESSONS:
group or private

Phone: 0120-21-7594
Tel: (089) 921-7595
Fax: (089) 921-7319
E-mail:info@crossroadsco.com
Web Site: www.crossroadsco.com