We want to help women who are new to the United States have a better life while they are here. We desire to love, by word and deed, the "strangers" in our midst; after all, we Christians are also strangers in this world.

We also want to share with them the infinite love God has for us all in Jesus Christ. Our church statement of "Why We Are Here" is:

To know Jesus Christ and to make Him known.

Our first year and a half, we used the English In Action series, but found the lessons to be short on content. For fall of 1999, we tried Announcing Christmas, but the older style Japanese was difficult for our students.

In the spring of 2000, we began writing our own lessons. We settled on God's Word to the Nations by World Publishing for its easy English, reasonable accuracy of translation, and cost. We have eight lessons in each twelve week semester.

Lesson Teaching Format

Each lesson consists of three sheets:
1. Pre Lesson introduces the lesson vocabulary.
2. Lesson text with vocabulary list.
3. Review Exercises to increase lesson comprehension and retention.

Each lesson is taught in a three-part cycle:
1. The first week the lesson is briefly introduced; vocabulary pronunciation and meanings are taught. At home, students are to do the Pre Lesson exercises and read the Lesson aloud at least two times.

2. The next Monday, we

• check the Pre Lesson (Vocabulary Exercises)
• go over the Lesson in detail
• pass out the Review Exercises, to be done for the next class

3. The following week, we check the Review Exercises.

Class Format, 9:30 - 11:10 a.m. A typical Monday morning, includes:
1. Formal Lesson, using the Bible for practice English material (9:30 – 10:10 a.m. -- 40 minutes) in a classroom arrangement. We study

• the Review Exercises from the preceding lesson
• the Pre Lesson (Vocabulary Exercises) of the current lesson
• the current Lesson itself

2. Transition time (10:10 -10:15 a.m. -- 5 minutes) :

• get snacks and coffee or tea
• go to conversation groups

3. Conversation Groups are informal with three to five students and one or two American women (10:15 -10:55 a.m. -- 40 Minutes)- Students can discuss any topic like shopping, homework, where to go. Subject will vary on the needs of the students.

4. Homework assignment (10:55 -11:05 a.m. -- 5 minutes)

• assign Review Exercises for the following week
• introduce the new Lesson, with vocabulary Lesson
• assign the new Pre Lesson and Lesson

5. Special announcements (11:05 -11:10 a.m. -- 5 minutes)

• Announcements of activities and community events

6. Class is dismissed at 11: 10 a.m.