英会話スクール・英会話教室草津駅前校（滋賀県）のスクールブログ

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はAndy先生からのメッセージです♪

🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸

Welcoming Spring!

Greetings from Andy!

Spring is finally here and that means it’s time to change over to the spring textbooks at NOVA starting April 1st.

Most people in Japan associate spring with the start of a new year at school or work, cherry blossoms, and let’s not forget allergies.  Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons but many people suffer from pollen allergies this time of the year, including myself!  But I don’t let my allergies stop me from enjoying time outside viewing the cherry blossoms.

This year the cherry blossoms seem to be right on time!

Do you have any favorite spots for viewing the cherry blossoms?  I go to the same place near my house several times every year to enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms. I like this place because the trees are really beautiful but there aren’t too many people.  For this reason, I try to keep the place secret! 🤐

When people ask where to go, I usually recommend famous places in Kyoto like Maruyama Park or the Hirano Shrine BUT if you tell me that you read this blog post, maybe I’ll share my favorite location with you! 😃

Where is your favorite place to view the cherry blossoms?

Let’ s talk when you see me at NOVA!

🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はNikayla先生からのメッセージです♪

Tell you a little about myself? Okay.

I grew up in an area called Springs in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s slightly outside the city, a good balance of rural and urban. Living in Seta (Shiga) reminds me of my hometown. I have an older sister and two younger brothers, all of our names start with “N”.

My favourite high school subjects were Business and Biology, my high school best friend was really into anime and he shared some with me. Since then, I shared some anime with my youngest brother and we’ve both consumed more than the recommended dose for our age (ha ha)

I’ve always watched anime in Japanese with English subtitles, after a few years my listening skills got really good but I didn’t actively study Japanese. After moving to Japan, I started self studying. It’s been three years and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. There are so many new and complicated concepts in learning a new language. Sometimes I can understand everything, sometimes I can only understand one word. I think consistency is key, but would help to have someone who speaks the language guide and coach me.

I had three main goals when I started studying Japanese:

1: to be able to order food in a restaurant (I’m a foodie)

2: to be able to communicate with Japanese animals (telling a dog to “sit” earns me a confused head tilt, “座わって” works better)

3: to be able to make friends and travel around

So far 1 and 2 have been achieved, a little bit of 3 too.

Don’t give up either!

I’d be more than happy to tell you more if you’d like, you can find me at Kusatsu school on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays or Yamashina on Thursdays or Ritto on Saturdays.

I hope to see you soon!

Nikayla先生は日曜日、火曜日、水曜日は草津校、

木曜日は山科校、土曜日は栗東校にいます！

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日は新しい先生のご紹介です🌟

アメリカ・オクラホマ州出身のLucas先生です！

Hello everyone, my name is Lucas Hipskind and I’m a new teacher here at NOVA. I’m looking forward to teaching English to as many of you as I can.

I enjoy reading novels and manga, watching YouTube, and exploring Japan. I grew up and a little-known state of the United Sates called Oklahoma. It’s a dry place that gets extremely hot in the summer averaging 100F degrees(or 37C) most days. It’s also well known for its Native Americans. Many of the tribes ended up in Oklahoma and stayed there till the modern day. Oklahoma is also known for its oil and natural gas.

I’ve wanted to live in Japan ever since I was a kid. It is an interesting place and the food is amazing. So far, I’m enjoying the train system the most. I hope to seem more of Japan as I work here

As a new teacher I’m a little inexperienced, but I’ll always do my best. I hope to learn English with you soon.

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

4月から春テキストを使用いたします🌸

春テキストはお手元に準備はできておりますか？？

特に、グループレッスンを受講の方はテキストの使用が必須なので、まだ！という方はぜひご準備くださいませ‼💨

テキストが切り替わる前に強みと弱みを可視化するために、

お力診断（NOVAスコア）をおすすめしております！

ご予約は校舎で承っておりますので、スタッフまでお声がけください✨

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

今回は今月のキャンペーンをお伝えをいたします！

春のBIGキャンペーン！

大人コース特典
・レッスン料 5,000円オフ×3ヵ月
・日常会話のテキスト1冊プレゼント

Kidsコース特典
・レッスン料 3,000円オフ×3ヵ月
・テキスト1冊プレゼント

レッスン開始を4月や5月から始めたい方にも
3月内のご入会手続きで適用可能です！

John先生が岡山へ旅行に行ったときのお話を紹介いたします✨

A day trip to Okayama

Hello,
My name is John.
I like travelling.
Here is a story about a trip I took.
The morning was sunny and the platform quite busy as I stepped onto the train.
I was excited because I had never been to Okayama before.
The Shinkansen was clean, fast and, of course, on time.
When I arrived at Okayama station, I got off and walked along the main road to Korakuen gardens.
It took about twenty minutes by foot.
When I arrived, I paid the entrance fee and entered a different world, a shrunken world.
The trees are beautifully pruned and the grass cut to perfection.
The large pond has many Koi carp, red, orange, gold , yellow and black.
I found a spot to sit down and I had a picnic. It was delicious.
After visiting the garden I went to the castle which looms over Korakuen. It was nice but it is not an original castle…
I had a wonderful day in Okayama. I would love to return one day.

Do you like travelling?
Where is your favourite place to visit?
Please tell me about a day trip you went on.

続いてはMbali先生の自己紹介です！

Greetings!

Golden week is coming soon and this year I’m doing something extra special – I’m going to Okinawa! I’m really looking forward to this trip. Golden week is the perfect time for a change of scenery, and Okinawa feels like the ultimate escape. Beautiful blue ocean, white sandy beaches, warm sunshine – it’s exactly what I need.

One of the things I’m most excited about is slowing down and enjoying island time. I want to wake up without an alarm, take long walks by the beach, and just relax while listening to the sound of the waves. I’m also hoping to try lots of local Okinawan food. Fresh sea food, Okinawa soba, and maybe even some Blue Seal ice cream are definitely on my list! Of course I plan to explore too. I’d love to visit the Gyokusendo Cave, Cape Manzamo, and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, among other places. I’d love to visit Shuri castle and Naminoue shrine to soak in the unique culture and history that make Okinawa so special.

Golden week always feels like a pause before life gets busy again, and spending it in Okinawa makes it more meaningful. I can’t wait to make new memories, feel the ocean breeze, and come back refreshed and inspired. What are your plans for Golden week?

I look forward to listening to your plans when you see me at NOVA!

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はConnie先生とJoseph先生からのメッセージです♪

先にConnie先生からわかりやすい文法の説明です！

A Tiny English Mystery: “I have lived” vs “I lived”

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to solve a small English mystery

Why do we say:

I lived in Kyoto for 3 years.
But also:
I have lived in Kyoto for 3 years.

What is the difference??

Let’s make it simple.

Step 1: Is it finished?

I lived in Kyoto for 3 years.

This means:
* The action is finished.
* You don’t live there now.

Think: Closed box. Past. Finished.

Example:
– I lived in Osaka when I was a student.
(Now I live somewhere else.)

⸻

Step 2: Is it still continuing?

I have lived in Kyoto for 3 years.

This means:
* It started in the past.
* It is STILL true now.

Think: Open line → continues to now.

Example:
– I have lived in Kyoto for 3 years.
(I still live here!)

🎯 Easy Rule

If it continues now → have + past participle
If it is finished → past tense

That’s it. Really.

⸻

Let’s Try Together!

Which one is correct?

1️⃣ I ______ studied English for 10 years. (and I still study!)
2️⃣ I ______ studied English when I was in high school. (finished)

Answers:
1️⃣ have studied
2️⃣ studied

Did you get them right?
⸻

✨ Small grammar.
✨ Big difference.
✨ You are improving every day.

See you next time for another tiny English mystery!

続いてはJoseph先生から奈良へ遊びに行ったお話です！

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はAndy先生からのメッセージです♪

🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴

Horsing Around!

There was a special event for kids at the Ritto school on 2/21 and we enjoyed making horse puppets to celebrate the Chinese New Year!

The Chinese New Year lasts from Feb. 17 to March 3 and this year it is the year of the horse!

Did you Know Ritto is somewhat famous for its JRA Horse Training Center? Maybe you’ve noticed the new horse images on the ground as you walk to the NOVA school from JR Ritto Station. The sticker for the Ritto NOVA school also features a horse!

I was born during the year of the horse and grew up around horses.  I learned to ride horses at a young age but haven’t ridden in many years.

People born during the year of the horse (1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026) are supposed to be independent, freedom-loving, hardworking and energetic.  I’m not sure if that’s true but it sounds nice!

What animal represents your birth year?  What do you associate with that animal?

I’m looking forward to chatting with you about this when you see me at NOVA!

Useful phrases:

• “What animal represents your birth year?”
• “I was born during the year of the (horse/tiger/monkey/snake/etc.)”
• “Horse around” = an idiom that means to play, do silly things

Kind regards,

Andy

🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はLinda先生からのメッセージです♪

Greetings from our very kind Yamashina and Ishiyama instructor Linda!

Hi Everyone!!!

My name`s Linda!!! I’m from London in the U.K.

I grew up very close to many famous places in the city. London Bridge and Tower Bridge were both just a 15-minute walk from my family home, along with the Houses of Parliament, Waterloo, and the London Eye.

My hobbies change all the time—mostly depending on the weather. In general, I enjoy music, art, and cultural activities. I’ve played the saxophone since I was 11, I surf when it’s warm enough, and I also really enjoy sleeping… a lot.

Since arriving in Japan in September 2025, I’ve loved exploring this beautiful country. I’ve visited breath-taking places like Lake Biwa, Toji Temple, the Sky Garden in Tokyo, and even enjoyed fresh, sweet pineapple juice by the sea in Okinawa. My favourite foods in Japan are soba noodles and tempura tofu.

My favourite quote is “Peace, Love and Hair Grease.” It’s original… well, I actually stole it from my brother. He used to say it instead of goodbye—because goodbyes are hard.

An English tip for my students: it’s always better to try than not try at all. Make mistakes. It’s okay.

Take care & stay warm.

Regards,
Linda

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はAndy先生からのメッセージです♪

Sticker Collections

Sticker collections are all the rage among elementary school students these days and it’s been fun to see what kinds of stickers the kids are collecting.  When I was a kid I had a small sticker collection too but it wasn’t anything like what these kids have.  The 3-d bubble stickers are really trendy.

Did you know that NOVA has stickers?   Each NOVA school has its own unique sticker and I have a small collection from different NOVA schools I’ve visited.

One of my students has visited almost every NOVA in Japan and almost has the whole collection! That’s a lot of stickers!

Do you collect anything? What was trendy to collect when you were a kid?

Let’s talk about it with your instructor next time you’re at NOVA!

If you see me, ask me about my stickers and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.  I might even be able to share one with you!

trend= (noun) something many people are doing

trendy= (adjective) popular right now

be “all the rage”= (idiom) very trendy, frequently talked about

Kind regards,

Andy

Hello Everyone🐰

NOVA草津校です♡

本日はKIDSの生徒様の大変お得なキャンペーンのご紹介です！

【ご入会者】

ご来校で：NOVAうさぎグッズプレゼント

ご入会で：①新年度レッスンテキストプレゼント

②オリジナルレッスンバッグ＆カードケースプレゼント

※入会月の入会キャンペーンも適用可能！！

 【ご紹介者】

ご家族ご友人のご来校で：NOVAうさぎグッズ プレゼント

ご家族ご友人のご入会で：①Amazon ギフト券（Email タイプ）2,000 円分

②新年度レッスンテキスト1冊プレゼント

■期間3月31日（火）まで

今年は豪華特典がたくさんあります★
英語を始めてみたいと思われている、

ご友人やご家族の方へお得に始められるキャンペーンをおしらせください♪♪