November CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter 2005

Singing for Pounds
Singing can be dangerous for your health! He said, “I realized I neededThat is, if you happen to be a stressed-out, to keep myself marketable. The
overweight opera star.
things that were acceptable
Just about everybody in the modern world visually in opera 25 years ago
has to deal with some sort of stress and health aren’t any more.”
professionals have placed stress as anHe says he lost the weightunderlying factor in a wide range of diseases, by following a Weight Watchers
including obesity.
program and exercising in the gym
So what the heck is the connection between at least twice a week. It’s a regime he still
singing, stress and getting in shape?
maintains. Is it worth it?
Well, recently Opera singers who are“Undoubtedly!” He says, ”I’ve got so muchrenowned for their bulging waistlines are more energy and, I think a better voice as well.
getting into shape and shedding kilos. Singers
I used to be totally kaput the day after singing
lead notoriously itinerant lives
an opera role, and now I’mchequered with long stretches
not. I feel I’m in touch withmy physical being in aof hotel room loneliness. Theymuch better way.
face the constant temptation ofcomfort eating (a result ofSoprano Deborah Voightstress) and big after-show
lost 23kg after being
dinners. The sensible ones
dropped from the opera
Deborah before and after weight loss “Ariadne” because she wasdiet, exercise anddevise eating strategies to keep too large, but since she lost the weight thetheir weight stable. One
opera company has expressed interest again.
famous tenor from Europe (JohnShe said “I think singers owe it to themselvesTrevleaven) lost 26kg over theto be healthy”.
period of a year, and now looks
So, now you know, “it’s not (really) over ‘tillterrific.
the Fat Lady diets!”(These words are in color in the story)
obesity 肥満

what the heck どうだって言うんだ

shedding 落としている
devise 工夫する

renowned 有名な

notoriously 悪名高いundoubtedly 確実に

bulging 出っ張った

itinerant 巡回講演中のkaput がたがたで完全に使い物にならないJoshua Says: Next month we are going to have our second Christmas party here at
Crossroads in Okaido. I hope many of you will have the time to turn up and join in the fun.
By all means invite your friends to come along. I know we will have a great time (as usual).
Details are on page 3 in this month’s newsletter and you can get more information fromJunko in the office. Also, keep an eye on the school’s notice board for details.
Junko Says: Soon English will be compulsory for 3rd grade elementary school students. Recently I saw aninteresting idea on TV from S. Korea. Like Japan, parents in S. Korea send their children to jukus to study
English, but the government there realizes that this is very expensive for some parents. So, they have started tobuild “English Villages” for students to visit and live in. All children from elementary school to junior high muststay in these villages once a year for a week. They must use special passports, deal with money exchanges, stay inhotels staffed by English speaking foreigners and the kids have lessons with foreign teachers the whole time they
are there. The cost is as little as 8,000 yen / day. Now, that’s what I call a serious commitment to internationalism.

Greg Says: Last week I bought my ticket to go back to Australia for Christmas and new years with mydaughter, Joy. I was surprised at how cheap the tickets were compared to other agencies. If you are looking
for great deals on international flights look at no.1 travel on the internet. But if you are looking forunbelievable deals in and around Europe, then look at ryanair.com on the internet. You can fly from
London to Rome for 2 (two) yen + tax . Don’t believe me????? Check out the site for yourself.

Steven Says: On the 23rd of this month the Botchan Jazz festival will start at 2pm
and Jazz artists from all over Ehime will be performing. My brother “B” and I will besinging and playing at about 2:00pm on the day. There is a notice about it with details
in the school, so if you have time, please come along and enjoy the music.

Magnolia Says: A newsletter is a great way to get a message to many people so, I’d liketo use this opportunity to thank everyone for their kindness, advice and friendship. Myfamily and I have never felt so welcome and comfortable in any other place. I extend myheartfelt thanks and gratitude to all. Merry Christmas!!
Iain Says: A few weeks ago a television crew came to Crossroads to do a segment about our“Cosmopolitan Courses.” As part of that program they invited me to come do a couple of quick magic
tricks on the set. It was a brand new experience for me to be on a professional TV sound stage. I wasamazed by the camera men. During the live broadcast they were able to switch cameras, change tovideo, and get great shots all in seconds. It was choreographed like a dance. One man’s job was only tokeep the wires away from the wheels of the camera! It sounds easy, but he was very busy!

Yuka Says: It’s November and the air is crisp and cold. The leaves arechanging color into red and yellow. Talking about colors, I like red, although I
hear that red is the color of anger and embarrassment. And, we are in trouble
when we are in the red. It seems to me that the color of red gives me energy. So,I eat a red apple and a red pepper every day to keep the doctor away!

Ryota Says: I visited Sydney, Australia last month. I studied
English and lived with an Australian Home-stay family. Here’s apicture on the left of me and my classmates at Katoomba Stationin the Blue Mountains. I had a wonderful experience in Australia
and I look forward to going back again.
Nana Says: This is my host family outside their house in the Gold
Cost, Australia. I spent four weeks living with them while studying
English at Holmes College. I really enjoyed my time in the Gold
Coast. I can’t wait to visit Australia again!

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, teachingprograms, even classmates, all on-line! Call for details.

NET SITE OF THE MONTH:
Here’s a short history of Opera with many links:
http://www.operacast.com/snapshot.htm

NET NOTEBOOK: Don’t forget to take a look at the Internet
Activity Notebook in our Open-house lounge. You’ll find greatgames, news and English study 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 Steve
Yoga with Magnolia
Guitar with Steve“Cooking in English” with Steve & Magnolia“Magic in English” with Iain
Piano with Adrienne
Aromatherapy with Steve
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