Education

After listening to today’s presentations and reading what the new Minister of Education in the newspapers. Please read the opinion in the December 6th International Herald Tribune.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/06/opinion/edkumiko.php　
Do you agree with the writer? Why? Give at least 3 examples to support your answer.

I agree with the writer. Japanese economy develops surprisingly. However this article is written "compare the Japanese English level with the other country's English level, and Japanese English level is low." Why is there few Japanese people speak English fluently? As the first reason, Japanese people don't speak proper Japanese, but they learn English. I think that learning English is necessary as we do communication with other countries. But we should understand proper Japanese at first. If we learn proper Japanese, we will tell other countries about Japanese good points. I think that I understand my first language befor learning English. Next, I think that we should increase English classes by the teacher of the native. When I was a junior high school, I had few classes by the teacher of the native. the class by them can learn pronunciation and communication power, so English skills will improve. Also, When we see foreign people somwhere, we can talk with them normally. Finally, Japanese people think that they are ashamed so that they have not confidence their English. I am one of them, too. foreign people stand in front of me, and I can't speak English. Because I am confused, and I don't know what I want to say. I think that Japanese people should be used to talk with other country's people.

Happy New Year!

This week's homework is to read an article from the Japan Times and give your opinion. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/member/member.html?ek20060110ks.htmDo you agree or disagree with the author (who is Japanese). Please explain why in your blog.

I agree with the author. I don't know what Japanese men are thinking. Of course I cannot understand the thought of the man because I am a woman. This article is written "Girls are a hassle, they expect me to call, I have to buy them gifts and that would cost money." Will every man think like that? When I watched the TV, recently the couple who is difference of men and women's age increase. Men like older women, because they think that older women are not troublesome, and older women respect their opinions. But all women are not only women who men image. These days, shoshika(low birth rate) become a problem in Japan. And my country admit women's participation in society. I think that the men aren't used to this environment. And, I don't think that all men aren't interested in love. Men and women should cooperate from now on.

HOMEWORK#10

Today we discussed table manners from all over the world. Please answer the following questions in your blog.

Have you ever eaten in a foreign restaurant?

Yes, I have.

Where?

I went to the United Kingdom in last summer.

What did you eat? Did you make any mistakes? Please explain your experience. Did you learn anything?

When I went to London with my friends for sightseeing, we went to Indian restaurant. Then, we ate curry with rice and nan bread. We wanted to eat another foods, but we didn't read menu. We didn't know what kind of food it was. Waiters said a joke, and did the advice of the sightseeing. Kindly, they offered food to us as service. They were good people, so we were glad! Because we thought that it was free. But, when we paid them, we paid about twice. I thought that service charge was high. Waiters offered food to us, and they spoke to us kindly. They were service charge,so I felt sad. If I go to other countries next time, I want to be careful the manner of country.

HOMEWORK#8

First, we talked and saw many international weddings and compared them with Japan. Please answer the following questions in your blog. Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea? Eloping? Having it in a foreign location like Hawaii?


I don't want to have a massive wedding because Japanese wedding ceremony changes cosutumes, so I need its costs. I want to have a small wedding in Hawaii if it is possible. And I want to make a good memory with a honeymoon than I hold a wedding ceremony on a large scale.


What is your ideal wedding? What would you definitely do or wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?



I want to have a small wedding in Hawaii. I will wear a snow-white wedding dress then. I want to invite my parents and my close friend and the person who takes care of me by work. Weddind ceremoney is the special events for me because it become good memories with my favorite partner.

Superstition Homework

We talked about many superstitions in many countries, but do you think it is important to talk about them? Why?

I think that superstitions is sometiomes important because I should avoid the thing about life and death. I didn't know any supersitions, but I knew the superstition in many countries, also Japan by this presentation. If I talk with people of other countries, I can avoid bad superstitions. When I knew that Japanese people avoid the pronunciation of the letter accorded with an unlucky number, I was surprised it.

Is communication affected by superstitions?

I think that communication isn't affected by superstitions. I never talk with my friends about superstitions.

Do you believe in Japanese superstitions? If so, what superstitions, what do they mean and why do you do,use, or believe in them?

I don't believe some superstitions, but my parents believe them. For example, I cannot meet in the moment of death of my parents if I cut my nail at midnight. When I cut my nail at night, my parents stop me. I want to believe good superstitions. For example, a four-leaf clover and shooting star. If I find them, I believe that I am a lucky thing from now on.

Homework#4

Today we talked about time in different societies and the English words associated with them. For homework, answer the following question:The English language has many proverbs and sayings about time.



1. Time is money.

I often hear this proverb. It is used in Japan, and is expressed " 時は金なり" in Japan. the meaning of this proverb is "time is same as money", but I think that time is more important than money. Because present time spend just now. When I belonged to brass band club in junior high school, it was hard for me to train every day, but it became the precious memories now.

2.A stitch in time saves nine.

I didn't know this proverb. I understood that the meaning of the proverb was "If you finish early anything, you will not have a problem later." When I regreted the resul of exam in school, I often said the following sentence. If I had studyed more, my exam would have been good.

3.There's no time like the present.

I thought that this proverb is almost same as "A stitch in the saves time." The meaning of this proverb is "an opportunity perfect now. " Time does not return, so I think that it should spend carefully.

4. Fashionable late.

I did not think that this proverb was connected with time. I think that this proverb is discovered in America. The meaning of this proverb is had better be late a little when the person comes for American home party. But Japanese people like tidy time.

Please explain what you think are the meanings of each of the 4 expressions.

HOMEWORK#3

Today we discussed the language of clothes.

1. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

I often judge people according to what they wear. Because I can know that people's liking. For example, if a person almost wear black clothes, I understand that this person like black color. And I can sometimes know someone's personality by clothes.

2. Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?

I don't think so. In my opinion, it is the most important to know people's feelings. When I first met a person, I know a partner by talking each other. Occasionally, I judge that wearing other people from another country, but I think that it's a rude to judge a person how they look.

3. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

I'm wearing now pink shirts and jeans. I wear a favorite color. I decide to wear clothes by the weather or a favorite clothes. They don't reflect my mood, but they sometimes say, "Today's clothes is good."

Next week we will discuss friends, please prepare by answering the following questions.

1. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?

I talk about various things with my friends. I think that I don't talk about sports and the bad mouth on friend. Because I'm not interested in sports, so I almost never watch spots programs. I don't like talking about the bad mouth on friend. If someone speak evil of me, I'm very unpleasant. I don't want to do what oneself don't want not to be done.

2. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places? Give me some examples.

I almost have friends who the same preference hobby of my life. But I have a friend who the preference of clothes is different, and a friend who preference is different. When I talk with my friends, I talk about different topics individually. If I talk with a friend who likes watching TV, I talk about the actor who appear on TV and the recent interesting drama. Next, if I talk with the friend of the university, I talk about classes of the school. Even if a hobby and the topic of story are different, I go to the same places with my friends. For example, I eat lunch at fast food and go to the movie.