Idiom is a group of words that makes a different meaning.

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Mumbo jumbo - Nonsense or meaningless speech.

"What's with all this mumbo jumbo are you talking about?"

Nov 2014 | Yokohama Newsletter #63 | Prepared by Min

Tongue twister can help your pronunciation. Try reading aloud. Thirty-three thousand feathers on a thrushes throat.

Proverb is usually an old saying that states a general truth or piece of advice. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. - Different people have different ideas about what's beautiful.

When I can, I incorporate my own personal experience into my lessons. It seems to make the lessons more interesting, realistic, and engaging. Whether it's inviting a colleague for lunch or negotiating with a used car salesman, I try to recreate the scenarios I have experienced and use them in role plays.

Joke of the month | Cold Remedy If you ever get cold, stand in a corner for a while. They’re usually 90 degrees.

Most are quite short and simple. Checking into a hotel for instance, especially in the US, I have tried and gotten successful results from using a trick called "The $20 Trick" at the front desk. Before I get into the details, this trick may not work 100% of the time even though that has been the case for me. As you may know, when you reach the front desk, you say the following sentence, "I would like to check in" or "I have a reservation." The trick is what you do when the clerk asks for a piece of ID and a credit card. As shown in the picture above, you place a twenty dollar bill between your

ID and credit card. The $20 bill should not be completely exposed, but it shouldn't be completely hidden, either. What you say as you hand over your ID and credit card is crucial. It might be safer if a manager is not around. What you should say is, "Do you have any complimentary upgrades available?" The clerk would see the $20 bill and carefully put it in his or her pocket while saying, "Let me see what I can do." If the clerk doesn't know what it's about or there weren't any upgrades available, he or she would return your money. If an upgrade is available, the clerk will keep the money and provide a room that either is on a higher floor, has a better view, is bigger, etcetera, or all of the above. When I introduce this trick to my students, they are amused and curious. I encourage anyone to try. I recommend practicing a few times. Also, you could ask for a complimentary upgrade without giving $20. If you are lucky, you may get an upgrade just from asking. I have tried this trick twice. Both occasions were in Las Vegas and both times, it worked smoothly. The trick should work in other famous places in USA as well. The picture below is a photo taken from my hotel room on the 30th floor of The Venetian.

Student Spotlight 1. What is the best (business) advice you've gotten? The more I learn, the more I want to and have to. Knowledge is unlimited. 2. What is your biggest achievement or accomplishment? Having education in 2 major areas: Takayuki Uchihashi information engineering in college Accountant and law in graduate school. Currently, my goal is to be someone who can answer 'why?' about anything. 3. What animal represents you the best? A raccoon dog. They don't have remarkable skills, but they can do many things. 4. What is your favorite English word or phrase? "Have a nice ______." I feel happy hearing or saying the phrase at the end of small talk, "Have a nice day!" 5. Something unique about you or any other comments (optional). I come to my lesson every Saturday morning. It makes a day longer. Sometimes I prepare for the lesson with a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Thanks for recommending me to write the column and I'd like to recommend you to write one, too!

A view from the hotel room