Patrick Murphrey Tutor Interview

Q. Hi Patrick! Why don’t you give us a short self-introduction?: A. I am from Texas in the United States. I have been to many different countries. Besides having lived in the United States and Japan, I have lived in South Korea, Thailand, France, Chile, Venezuela, and Mexico. My educational background relates to languages and culture. Therefore, I really enjoy teaching and talking about the world, different cultures, and languages. I am sure you can learn a lot from my lessons. I look forward to meeting you on Cafetalk.
Q. According to your profile, you live in Japan! How’s life going?: A. I have lived 9 years in Japan. I have lived in many regions of the country. For example, I lived in Sendai, Gunma, Yamanashi, Kyoto, and currently I live in Nagano. I have traveled to all but three prefectures. So I know a lot about Japan. Life is great. Here in Japan I have teach English. I have taught all age groups. Currently I teach mostly elementary children. I really enjoy living in Japan. In Nagano there is so much nature. Since I love nature I am very happy here.
Q. Moreover, you have lived in eight more countries! Could you tell us the most unforgettable story in those countries?: A. I have so many. But one of my most unforgettable stories is about language learning and happened in Mexico on a date. It was a hot night. My date was driving her car. The air conditioner was not working very well. She was hitting it with her fist trying to make it work. I thought, “If you are hot, let’s open the car window. Then cool air can come in.” I was still new to Spanish at that point so I had to think about how to say it. Unlike English, Spanish has two “to be” verbs. Generally, one is for things that change and the other is for permanent things. There are also several expressions that equal English “to be” verbs. I thought, temperature can change (one minute hot and the next cold). So I said to my date, “Si estas caliente (if you are hot)”. She nearly had a wreck and almost drove off the road. She was so shocked by what I had said. What I didn’t realize is that is slang for “Do you want to sleep with me?” I should have used one of the many “to be” expressions. I was super embarrassed as it was not the question to ask on a first date. The important thing is I learned from my mistake. I will never ask a Spanish speaking woman that again. Don’t be afraid of your mistakes. You will learn from them and get better with the language.
Q. I heard you’re an outdoorsman! Please tell us about your hobbies.: A. I really like everything about nature. I enjoy hiking, camping, mountain climbing, wildlife watching, canoeing, and so on. I have so many great memories of hiking through the mountains or in the desserts. I also remember seeing very interesting animals, like whales, elephants, kangaroos, koalas, alligators, and capybaras, in the wild. I have seen some famous natural places, like the Andes Mountains, Mt. Everest, like Angel Falls, Iguazu Falls, Yellowstone, Ayers Rock, tropical rainforest in my travels around the world. I have worked in several of America’s national parks. I really enjoy nature. Any chance I have, I go to nature for a hike, a walk in the forest, or to look for wildlife.
Q. What do you think is the best way to be a multilingualist like youself?: A. Learning a language takes so much effort. Every day I use my foreign languages. I read books in different languages, I watch movies in different languages, and of course I speak the languages daily. The most important thing with a foreign language is to practice. That is why I do something with my languages daily. It is so easy to practice these days because the internet allows so much access to different languages. I find it easy to buy books in different languages at big book stores or even rent foreign language films in DVD shops. Also, vocabulary is very important. I continually try to learn new words. With just twenty minutes a day of learning new words or practicing daily, by the end of the month your ability will be fantastic.
Q. I’m interested in your lesson, “世界の面白い祭り Festivals of the World”. What kind of things can we talk about?: A. We all enjoy Christmas and Halloween. There are other interesting festivals too, like Thailand’s Loi Krathong. It is a pretty festival where candles and flowers are floated in the water on a November night. Also, in Mexico there is “All Saints’ Day” festival where people make elaborate alters to remember dead people. We can talk about the traditions of these festivals, the culture of the festivals, the history of these different festivals. I can even recommend when you ought to go visit these different festivals to experience them. I can also teach you useful every day English words that relate to these festivals. It will be a great way to learn about the world.
Q. Could you teach something about traveling and being in a foreign country?: A. Since I have been to more than fifty countries, I could give so many travel tips and recommend places to visit. In most of my lessons use my knowledge about different cultures as well as experience of interacting with another culture. I encourage you take any of my lessons about culture or the world. From “Festivals of the World” to “Communication with Foreigners” to Social Change, you will learn so much about the world. Even some of the Spanish cultural lessons, like “Famous Spanish Speaking People” you can take in English. I can even do a special lesson for you if you want to travel to a specific place. Whatever, the reason, you can learn so much about traveling and understanding the world from my lessons.
Q. Finally, would you like to leave a message for our students.: A. Good luck to you! I am sure you will do great. As you study a language, remember to practice the language every day. I am happy to help you improve your language skills while practicing it. I look forward to seeing you on Cafetalk.