April CROSSROADS Language Studio’s Newsletter 2007

Paris, “city of light”,… and dark. In the early to
Of course all of this upheaval had its negativeth
mid 19 century, Paris was indeed a city of effects on the populus too – especially those whodarkness. The population doubled between 1800 were the original inhabitants of the old city centre.
and 1850, and the resulting pressure brought with Many of these people migrated to the “suburbs”
it unsanitary, dangerous and suffocatingly just on the outskirts of Paris - Clichy, Le Villette,congested conditions. The streets were littered with and “the hill with a view”, Montmartre.
refuse of all kinds and two thirds of Paris’Montmartre was officially outside the city
population were living in poverty. Epidemics broke limits and, therefore, free of city taxes. And, as theout. In 1820, 45,000 people died of cholera. Cholera nuns in the area made the wine, it became
reappeared again in 1832 to claim 3,500 lives in renowned for cheep booze too! As a result,just one week! This second epidemic only subsided Montmartre soon developed into the place to go forafter a total of 18,500 lives were lost. Yet again, in cheep, free-wheeling and decadent entertainment.
1849, another outbreak claimed more lives – 9,000 Many dancehalls and cabarets opened, including
this time. In addition to disease and squalor, Paris the most famous one of them all, in 1889, thesuffered continuous riots and revolts from its Moulin Rouge!
discontented citizens. Paris was, at this time in its
Moulin Rouge literally means (in English) “redhistory, deeply in trouble and in need of help.
mill” and to this day a red windmill adorns theAttempts had been made at urban facade of this establishment still beckoning
reconstruction, but it was not until Napoleon III patrons to come and enjoy a taste of the carefreecame to power in 1851 that Paris really started to life, fickleness and Joie de Vivre! And, the dance oftake on the look of “the city of light”.
choice is still the Can-Can.
In 1853 Napoleon made Georges-Eugene
The ladies who entertained their patrons withHaussmann Prefect of Paris, and it was the Can-Can (and other favors) in the early days
Haussmann’s city planning that made Paris the of Moulin Rouge were among the most famous
envy of the world at that time. He opened up, and entertainers of their time – the “pop stars” of theircleaned up, Paris in unprecedented ways. Wide day. Many other famous characters worked at, orboulevards were cut through the city centre, frequented, the Moulin
sewerage systems were greatly up-graded and Rouge, including the painterparks and other open areas were created in and Toulouse-Lautrec. The termaround Paris’ centre. Paris became the world’s first “bohemian” stems from this“modern city”. For the first time ever, an urban period:
centre with suburbs was created.
Next month, more on Moulin Rouge!

(These words are in colour in the story)
unsanitary 不衛生なcongested 過密した
refuse ごみ
squalor 不潔
discontented 不満をもった unprecedented 空前の upheaval 激変 renowned 有名な
decadent 頽廃的なadorns 飾る
beckoning 引き寄せている
fickleness 気まぐれ

Joshua Says: Well, you are really getting good at this “performance thing”! Last month we had
our second Performance Night here in our new building, and it was terrific! Two classes wrote andperformed this time – In(b)1 and last term’s performers, In(a)1. Both plays were very funny and I
am sure the students who participated learnt a lot. Other performers were Adrienne’s pianostudents, Iain’s magic students and Alice’s singers. Check out the report on the Notice Board, P3.
Junko Says: It’s campaign time and we are offering you a special gift if you
introduce a new student to Crossroads. There are discounts for our new students aswell. I am hoping that everyone will support this campaign and help Crossroads togrow even bigger and better – the more people we have to share our lives with while
we study English, the more interesting and enjoyable will be our time together!
Please ask me about the details next time you come to your class.
Alice Says: Questions, questions, questions… our lives are filled with questions everyday,such as: What do I have to do today? What’s for breakfast? What time is the next train? Howmuch is a car park? Who will I meet in my English class? Perhaps you don’t even notice
them, but questions are a really important part of conversation. Think of some questions toask your classmates next class and see how much it improves your speaking skills!!!
Adrienne Says: There are many kinds of “abductions”. In Japan, a number of people have been

abducted to Korea. In America, a number of people believe they themselves have been abducted by aliens
from outer space. As for me, I believe that one of my cats was abducted be neighbours during O-Higan. Hewas seen being petted be strangers in front of the house, and then he vanished mysteriously! Four days
latter he appeared at the back door with a strange cut on his leg. We were overjoyed to see him again!

Greg Says: There must be something in the water!! A few of my close friends from Australia

have decided to finish their long term stints in Japan and head back home. It is a sad time
because part of the ability of being able to stay in a foreign country for so long is to have anetwork of close friends to help you through the difficult times…..Who do you turn to when you
have some problems? I am surprised that when I ask Japanese people this question very rarely
do they turn to anyone. They say they bottle it up inside and work it out by themselves!!!!!!

Iain Says: What a great performance night. I am really starting to enjoy
these events. They have such a great family atmosphere. Everyone did a
fantastic job with their performances. It is so nice to see people gettogether and share their talents. Let’s make an even better one next term!
Dean Says: So, spring is upon us at last after another short spell of icy cold weather. It's time for

Cherry blossom parties and a return to warm weather at last. It is being said that this year will bevery hot. Australia has just had a very hot summer with record maximum temperatures being
recorded across the country and a continuing drought in many areas. I wonder what summer will
be like in Japan this year? Well, we will soon find out! You had better buy plenty of sun-cream!

Yuka Says: Time passes so quickly and it’s already March. Just 8 years ago, I came backfrom Tokyo. Since then I’ve been enjoying my life here in Matsuyama. Staying in one place is
comfortable because moving requires a lot of time and energy. But there is a problem, and it’squite serious. I feel my house is getting smaller and smaller. I mean I am surrounded by apile of things. Now is the time to start cleaning and doing away with unnecessary things.

Check out these shots oflast month’s Performance
Night. As you can see, we
had a great time can’t wait for
the end of
Piano-English
this term
St’s: Mika, Ayaka
and Yumeko
when we
do it allagain!!

A little “tag-team”
Magic with Shigiku
and Katsumi

A play by In(B)1“At the restaurant”
A play byIn(A)1“TheAirport”

Singing in English
are Ryoko, Eri,
Yumiko andNaoko

A little background musicfrom Adrienne

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.

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

MOTHER & CHILD: group or private
KIDS: group or private

NET SITE OF THE MONTH:
A history of the Moulin Rouge can be found here: FRENCH with Natacha
SPANISH with Patricio
http://www.simplytaty.com/history/moulinrouge.htm
RUSSIAN with Natasha
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.

GERMAN with Marita & Matthias
CHINESE with Noriko
KOREAN with Kum Fa

COSMOPOLITAN COURSES:“Singing in English” with Alice
Yoga with Dean
Guitar with William“Cooking in English” with Alice & Dean
“Magic English” with Iain
Piano with AdrienneActing with Alice
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