August CROSSROADS Language Studio’s Newsletter 2006

Next month the Circus iscoming to Matsuyama bringing
with it all the excitement, theskills, thrills, spills and laughs
we can see and experience
anywhere throughout the world
when the “Big Top” comes totown. There will be trapeze acts,
juggling acts, animal tricks andmany more. Everyone has theirown favourite and behind each
act there is a tradition thatcan be traced back perhaps thousands of years.
However, it wasn’t until its establishment in Englandin the early 18th century that the modern Circus startedto took anything like the spectacle we know and love
today.
The modern circus is a genuinely universal
experience and although it has changed much since
its new beginnings in the 18th century, there are
elements in it that will never change; for if they did,the circus would no longer be the circus!
And what would a circus be without
one of its most endearing icons – theClown!? Like most circus acts, the clown
can trace his lineage way back to thevery beginning; back to Greek times.
This is when the original clowns first “Classic Whiteface”
and “Tramp” clowns
appeared in the theatre.
Contrary to most people’s belief, clowns do not painttheir faces to hide or disguisetheir natural features, but rather
to empathize and exaggeratethem. This tradition started in theGreek theatre where lighting waspoor and a white base with black
markings on the face served wellto illuminate the actor/clown’sfeatures.
Nowadays, wecan find three basic
clown characters at
the circus: the most traditional “Whiteface”
clown is always seen as the “boss” clown,
the “Auguste” clown does most of the An “Auguste” Clown
tumbling and falling, and finally there is the poor old“Hobo” or “Tramp” clown. The former is divided
again into two varieties, the “Classic Whiteface” andthe “Comedy” or “Grotesque Whiteface”. All of theseclown types have greatly influenced comedy acts andcomedians way beyond the confines of the circus.
Their influence can be found from early vaudeville, toBroadway comedy, to Hollywood and beyond. This
influence is most apparent when we watch, and laugh at,“slap-stick” comedy.
Perhaps the most famous clown of
all is Bozo, a “grotesque whiteface”.
His influence has been so great that
his name has become a colloquial
expression to refer to anyone who is, The ultimate “GrotesqueWhiteface” – BOZO!
in your opinion, a complete fool!

(These words are in colour in the story)
traced back 過去にさかのぼる
spectacle 華やかな光景
universal 万国普遍
endearing 人の心をひきつける
lineage (過去の）道筋
empathize 感情移入する
illuminate 明るくする
tumbling 転びやでんぐり返し
apparent ハッキリと分かる
colloquial 口語表現

Joshua Says: The news this month, or rather next month, is that we have a newteacher arriving at Crossroads. Her name is Alice and she is from England. She
has studied drama, singing and dancing and has been teaching English in China
for two years. We are looking forward to welcoming her on our teaching staff andtrying some new lessons in singing in English and even dancing in English!
Junko Says I saw another TV program of interest! It was about the human brain
and how it reacts to adversity. It seems that our brains really shift into top gear
when there is a crisis in our lives. We become capable of extraordinary
achievements. The program featured some people who had achieved great things intheir lives. They all experienced a great crisis that triggered their success!
Iain Says: Can you believe those gas prices? It used to cost me about 3500 yen to fill up the tankin my little Honda, but now it is over 5000 yen! I think we should feel lucky to live in Japan because
we have many options for transportation like the train or bus or even walking. These days I havedecided to ride my bicycle wherever I want to go now. It is actually nice to go a bit slower. I’m
starting to notice buildings and shops I had never seen while I was going so fast in my car.

Greg Says: During the Obon season I had the chance to slip across to Kyoto to catch up with some of
my friends. The last time I went to Kyoto was for only one night 9 years ago. This time I had the chance
to catch some great sights and amazing Japanese gardens. We didn’t go to any main tourist spots but
rather to the off the map places….they were spectacular. One in particular blew my mind. It was behindan ancient looking doorway of a house. The door was half my size. But on the other side; it was paradise.

Adrienne Says: At the time last month’s Crosstalk was written, North Korea wasshooting missiles at Japan and the “North Korean Missile Crisis” was big news!
My Saturday morning 11:00am class had some very good advice to give Mr.
Koizumi. They suggested that Japan should kidnap the woman’s dance group (itis called the “Joy Club”) that entertains President Kim and his friends!
Dean Says: I have just returned from an extended Obon vacation in Australia. I had
the chance to catch up with my family and friends and, although I was kept verybusy, I enjoyed the break. But one thing that really surprised me was the increase in
prices – for everything! Japan has the reputation of being very expensive, but not anylonger! In Australia, the cost of living is now probably higher than even in Japan!
William Says: This weather is ideal. Hot, but not overpowering.
This reminds me of the best days of summer in Newfoundland.
However, we rarely swim in the ocean because it’s so cold; rather
we usually gather at the lakes and the rivers. And inNewfoundland lakes and rivers are everywhere!
Yuka Says: Hello Everyone! Are you enjoying this summer? The other day I had achance to visit one of my friends in Osaka for the first time in five years. Although wehad been keeping in touch through e-mail and letters, it was much better to talk witheach other face to face. Despite the terribly hot weather, we really had a great time. I
am lucky that I have a great friend whom I can confide in.

It’s Campaign Time!

Free gifts and tuition fee reductions for you and your friends when theyjoin us! Check out the details in the office with Junko!!!

Meet our new Teacher,Alice!…

News from Natacha inCanada...…

Alice is going to be our new teacher
from next month. She has beenteaching English in China for two
years and has been a freelance
writer in the past also. Alice has
been an actress, singer and dancer and has
given public performances in all of these arts.
She graduated in Drama and Theatre Studies
from university in England, her homecountry. Alice will take over the Drama
Cosmopolitan class and we are going to starta new singing class too! Check out the details
from Junko in the office!

Hi everyone! Isn’t life full ofsurprises!!!
My new job isbasically promoting the Art of theCircus within Canada and the US!
Should be fun! My office is in
the National Circus School! So, outside mydoor there are trapezes, trampolines, people
practicing to spit fire, or walk on a rope, andso on. I feel right at home! I work with theCirque du Soleil, Cavalia and Ola Kalaand other circuses! The next time you
see me, maybe I’ll have a red nose!

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:
For info on absolutely everything about clowns go to:
http://www.clown_ministry.com

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

FRENCH with Natacha
SPANISH with Patricio
RUSSIAN with Natasha
GERMAN with Marita & Matthias
CHINESE with Noriko
KOREAN with Kim

MOTHER & CHILD, group or private
KIDS, group or private
COSMOPOLITAN COURSES:“Singing in English” with William
Yoga with Dean
Guitar with William“Cooking in English” with Dean
“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