Marathon for Malaria No More

Calling all you caring runners: here's a chance to support Clotilde Gimond, another caring runner who is running a marathon to support the charity Malaria No More, which is aiming to end malaria deaths by 2015.

Did you know that every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa? Yet malaria is a totally preventable and treatable disease. Clitolde should know; she contracted malaria in Madagascar. You can read all about that story in her guest post on the Malaria No More website here.

To sponsor Clotilde, please visit her donation page. Every little helps.

Malaria No More website.

Why work for free?

David Airey recently wrote an excellent post on his blog about doing pro bono (i.e. free) work in order to add work to a design portfolio. You can read his post here: http://www.davidairey.com/pro-bono-design/

He makes some excellent points, which I won't go into here as it's better to read his post, but I thought I would explain a little about why I offer free and reduced rate services to charities and NPOs. Basically, it's because I have grown weary of companies that have lofty aims ('world peace', 'eradicate disease', etc) while doing little more than repeating those lofty aims. I decided to make pro bono work a key part of K Creative because, aside from supporting myself and my family, I'm not really interested in building an enormous business or being filthy rich. I'd like to be able to give time and/or resources to people who are genuinely trying to make a difference. Pro bono work is a good way of supporting good causes while doing something you enjoy, plus it has extra benefits:

1) Boost your portfolio. As David points out, it can add real-life work to a portfolio. This is especially important when just starting out or when jobs are few and far between. It keeps you in the game, as it were, and allows you to update your online presence with recent work.

2) Support a cause that means something to you. You do not have to give money to support a good cause; giving your time and skill is very worthwhile and will be appreciated.

3) Add new skills. You could offer to redesign a website or logo and find yourself being asked to give advice on the content of the site or a marketing strategy. Don't shy away from such approaches as you may be able to learn new skills. Conversely, don't weigh in on things that you don't feel sure about.

4) Get more work. This may seem a little bit cynical, but you may get paying clients through the client you do free work for. I don't suggest that this is a reason for deciding to do pro bono work, but it might be another unexpected benefit.

Some things to bear in mind:

1) Don't do it just to boost your portfolio. As stated in number 2 above, find a charity or NPO that you really want to support. It is much easier to be positive about a job when it means something to you.

2) Start small. Try a local charity or NPO to begin with: they are more likely to be working on a restricted budget and the proximity means that you can discuss the project in person. You could even offer to give advice or do some work for a friend who is trying to establish a business or website, but cannot afford to pay.

3) Treat them as you would a paying client. Just because you are doing something for free doesn't mean that you can do half a job. If you offer to do something, do it to the best of your ability and always stick to deadlines (if you cannot meet deadlines, give plenty of notice).

4) Be honest. As I mentioned above, don't accept work that you are not capable of carrying out as you are wasting your time and your client's time. It is good to learn new skills, but if they ask to give advice on something that is totally unrelated to your skills and experience, don't be afraid to say so. They will appreciate your honesty and you will not be perceived as a jack of all trades.

Good luck!

Bertrand Piccard: Achieving the impossible

If we get rid of some of the ballast in our lives, could we create some major changes and find our optimal height and trajectory? Would you like to go very fast in the wrong direction or slowly in the right direction?

Adventurer Bertrand Piccard uses flight analogies to offer us a challenge: Find motivation in what seems impossible. He shares his own plans to do what many say can't be done - to fly around the world, day and night, in a solar-powered aircraft.

May be vs Maybe

They look the same (except for the space) and they sound the same. They also have a similar meaning, so what's the difference and how do you use them? Basically, maybe means 'possibly' or 'perhaps', and may be means the same as 'might be'. In terms of grammar, maybe is an adverb and may be is a verb phrase.

Examples:

He may be the fastest runner in the world.

I may be a little late.

The train is late. Maybe it's because of the weather.

'Can you go to the party?' 'Maybe. I'll have to make sure.'

You can swap may be for 'might be' and maybe for 'possibly' or 'perhaps' in the sentences above without changing the meaning.

Practice:

Insert maybe or may be into each of the following sentences (click 'continue reading' for the answers):

I                  the only person who can do this!

I                  able to help you.

               nobody will notice that your hair is blue.

That                   the best thing to do.

               that's not such a good idea.

NOTE: Be careful with other sentences that use 'may' and mean that something is/is not allowed, for example:

You may sit wherever you like. = You can sit wherever you like. (You are allowed to sit anywhere.)

This information may be used in classrooms. = You are permitted to use this information in classrooms.

We offer three packages: 'Cheapskate', 'Loser' and 'The Package you Really Want'

I understand that businesses offer levels of service or packages for, perhaps, ease of pricing, but I wonder about the message it sends to potential clients and it's not something I like to do. Imagine you've got three 'levels' to choose from, you're on something of a budget, but you want to get a professional job done and you see something akin to the following:

Basic Package: We'll give you the basics, but not much else.

Standard Package: The basics, plus some extras.

Deluxe Package: This is the baby - this is what you really want!

Although offering packages has never been the way I wanted to do business, I never really felt compelled to say why not until recently; it was simply my way of doing business. (I equally don't like sales talk or boasts that a product or service is 'the best', but I might talk about that at a later date). The reason I feel compelled to write about it now is that a client has basically asked me to. This client was referred to me through another client and immediately asked about my levels of service as this was what she was used to. She said that when she saw levels, this is what she invariably thought:

Basic: You're basically a cheapskate if you choose this. Although we might do a professional enough job, we won't put much effort into it.

Standard: Standard is for losers. Don't you care about what you want done? Do you want to be like all the rest?

Deluxe: Unless you're a cheapskate or a loser, you'll choose this. If you choose the other services, don't blame us if you don't get what you want.

I have to say I agree. I don't like placing people - especially clients - into categories, as I would similarly not like to be categorised so easily myself. I had a very interesting conversation with my client (who wanted editing and writing work done) and I explained why I don't go in for levels for the services I offer. Starting with editing, if I receive a manuscript which requires major editing, but the client has only gone for the 'basic' proofreading package, am I supposed to ignore the glaring grammatical and style problems and just fix a few spelling mistakes? For writing, should I just write something mediocre for a basic package, a bit better for standard and only write something decent for the deluxe package? If I'm designing a logo, would a bit of clip art do for a basic package? All of these things seem unprofessional at best, elitist and dishonest at worst.

She then asked about the language programmes I offer as they come with what she perceived to be a 'price range' and she's right, but the prices range only in terms of how far I have to travel, how many people I teach and if there is any specialist material to be used which requires extra preparation.

To be honest, when K Creative was getting going, I did use list prices in terms of packages, but I soon found out that each client is different and their requirements would often overlap between the 'packages', so I had the choice of either forcing them into the more expensive package or not giving them what they wanted. I decided to do neither. Instead I gave them what they wanted. It makes me feel a lot better about what I'm doing and my clients appreciate it.

オンラインストアをスタートしました！

新年のためにオンラインストアが作りました。LOHAS風なアイテム・グッズがいっぱいあります！私も今年から『シンプルライフ』を始めたいので、ロハスのライフスタイルが気になりました。一緒にやりましょう！

The 'best' way to learn English

I am often asked what the 'best way' to teach – or learn – English is or which the 'best method' is. I don't believe there is a 'best' way or method because everybody is different. I know this sounds like a lame excuse, so let me expand a little and look at some of the various techniques and methods used to teach languages (and other subjects, for that matter).

1) Direct Method

This approach to language learning dictates that the teachers and students use only the target language to communicate and it is used extensively in private language schools. All communication takes places in the target language, for example English, which in theory gives the student a kind of mini immersion in the language. The lessons are more often than not structured around a topic or grammar point. There is no translation from the target language into the learner's own language.

2) Translation

This is probably the most common form of teaching English currently used in Japanese public schools and involves learning vocabulary and grammar, mainly by rote, and mainly by translating from English to Japanese and vice-versa. In tests, there are many grammatical, spelling, translation and vocabulary exercises. There is little emphasis on spoken English.

3) Audio-lingual Method

Like the Direct method, this method uses the target language exclusively, although the focus is on aural (listening) and oral (speaking) skills. There is little or no use of a reading or writing component.

4) 'Self-learning'

This method of learning has been used in various ways and by many teachers, schools and companies, and generally entails the students learning by themselves (often in a silent environment) using pre-prepared textbooks, worksheets and other materials (for example Gattegno's sound & colour charts) with little or no guidance from the teacher.

The above are perhaps some of the more well-known of the many approaches to language education, but there are many more styles of teaching which are more likely to depend on the teacher. Some teachers prefer a relaxed, hands-off approach to teaching, whereas others prefer to get more involved with the students. Many teachers like to inject some humour into the lessons, whereas many like to take a more serious, conservative approach.

I have used all of these approaches to teaching and more besides and have found advantages and disadvantages to them all. I have taught students using the direct method who had to translate at some point or other, others who were very serious and wanted to concentrate on grammar, and others who took a very lax attitude to learning English and mainly wanted to chat. All require a different approach which is why I no longer use one approach or one set of materials exclusively. If you do (or your teacher does) you will quickly find that you will become frustrated.

If you are a teacher, you will start to blame the students, the materials or the school/staff/other teachers. I'm amazed at how many teachers never stop to think that maybe they are the problem. Be flexible, innovative and inventive. Show some interest in what you are doing and react to your students. Make the best of materials if you are forced to use a certain textbook or other materials. Think about how you use the language.

If you are a student, you may also blame the materials, your teacher or your fellow students. Think about your own motivation for studying and be honest about your own abilities.

It is for these reasons, and many more besides, that you will never find me claiming that there is a 'K Creative Way' or a 'K Creative Method' and that it is the best. I, and the other teachers I work with, employ various techniques and never treat one student the same as the last. Lastly, we don't pretend that we know it all. We have many years of experience, but we still have a lot to learn. If you have any questions about EFL/ESL, please leave a comment or email us at: media[at]k-creative-japan[dot]com

Loretta Napoleoni: The intricate economics of terrorism

What would you do if you found out that one of your best friends was a terrorist? Loretta Napoleoni details her rare opportunity to talk to the secretive Italian Red Brigades - an experience that sparked a lifelong interest in terrorism. She gives a behind-the-scenes look at its complex economics, revealing a surprising connection between money laundering and the US Patriot Act. Interesting, although I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas!

World's Biggest Flash Animation for Juvenile Diabetes Research

JDRF (Junior Diabetes Research Foundation) have launched an online animation tool enabling people to create between 1 and 5 seconds of animation with a tool box of assets, background and uploaded photo’s, which they can then send to a friend who can then carry on the story, like an online animated game of consequences! The new tool is aimed at raising awareness or type 1 Diabetes and JDRF.

JDRF is a global charity that funds research into finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. New research reveals that less than a third of UK residents (30 per cent) know of type 1 diabetes with a further 59 per cent confusing the autoimmune condition with type 2 diabetes – which can be related to obesity and lack of exercise.

Type 1 diabetes can strike at any age and there is currently no cure.  Currently approximately 350,000 people in the UK have it including over 25,000 children.

Men are the most uneducated about the condition, with only 28 per cent correctly identifying it compared with 32 per cent of women.  Nearly one in ten men think that type 1 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar whilst nearly six in ten men and women believe that it is related to obesity.  Those aged under 25 have the least awareness with 78 per cent incorrectly identifying the condition whereas those aged 45 to 54 have the highest levels of awareness of type 1 characteristics (36 per cent).

Find out more, and tell your story, at:

http://www.jdrfaware.com/default.aspx