Monthly Archive: October 2016
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2016年10月28日
Pre-reading questions: When did you start studying English? How long do you study English every day? The Japanese Education Ministry will increase English study hours to 70 hours starting 2020. This change will affect primary school, middle school and high school students. This change will lessen the need to enrol in cram schools. Other improvements will also be made. There will be improvements on subjects and the Japanese Entrance Examinations. All these changes will be made to improve the English skills of students and will give them the ability to compete with other countries. Vocabulary: increase – 増える[verb] to (make something) become larger in amount or size…
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2016年10月28日
Pre-reading questions: How popular are Samsung smartphones are in your country? Do you believe that self-destructing devices will be abundant in the near future? A total of 527 Galaxy Note 7 owners in South Korea filed a case against Samsung Electronics over the smartphone’s tendency to overheat or catch fire. According to Attorney Peter Young-Yeel Ko, head of the Harvest Law Firm, Galaxy Note 7 users requested to be compensated for the expenses and inconvenience it cost them to return their defective phones. The complainants include someone who claimed to have lost thousands of pictures taken during a family vacation. Another asserted he drove for eight hours round-trip…
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2016年10月28日
Pre-reading questions: What is your idea about a self-driving car? What do you think of a futuristic vehicle that is being built by a company that originally creates smart phones and gadgets? Are you familiar with car manufacturers outside your country? Apple, Inc. makes adjustments on project Titan which originally aimed to develop a self-driving system and construct vehicles in 2020. The company refuses to pursue automobile manufacturing with the fear of compromising quality which could negatively affect their existing products in the market. The project’s team leaders redesigned the plan to give Apple, Inc. the option to tap car makers instead, or delay building its own vehicles…
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2016年10月28日
Formed in 2014 to innovate an autonomous driving system and manufacture cars in the next 3 years, Apple, Inc. initiates modification on Titanic plan. The technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California fears pressing risk on quality assurance might cause a detriment to the distinguished brand, thus, eases on its initial scheme of establishing an automotive line. Reports say the team leaders made revisions on the previous proposal to pave the way to collaborate with car manufacturers momentarily, or reconsider automotive ambitions in the long run. While some workers were reassigned or let to leave voluntarily, this decision led to termination of hundreds of employees previously participated in the project….
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2016年10月27日
Beginner Intermediate Expert
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2016年10月27日
Pre-reading questions: Do you like Samsung phones? Are Samsung phone popular in your country? 527 South Koreans who use Galaxy Note 7 sued Samsung Electronics. They sued Samsung Electronics because they are afraid their smartphones might catch fire. The people who sued Samsung want payment or their time in returning their smartphones. They also want payment for the time they spent waiting at the shop and the trouble. Samsung is now giving 50% discount to customers who will buy Galaxy S8 or Note8 next year. Vocabulary: sue – 訴える [verb] to take legal action afraid – 恐れて [adjective] filled with fear or concern catch fire – 発火する…
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2016年10月27日
Pre-reading questions: What is the difference between an expensive phone and a cheaper one aside from the price? Based on your monthly telephone bills, is having an expensive or a cheap phone model worth it? In Japan, companies are offering low-cost smartphones to everyone with specific type of data. Comsumers may choose a contract that suits their budget. They can be charged up to 20 yen for 30 seconds for a call charge. NTT Docomo Inc., KDDI Corp. and SoftBank Group may charged consumers up to 7,000 yen with unlimited phone calls and a transmission volume of 5 GB. “Though transmission speeds become slow sometimes, I’m satisfied with…
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2016年10月27日
Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite smartphone brand? Would you like an expensive phone or a cheaper one? Why? Cell phone companies in Japan want to offer low-cost services. Customers can choose from a lot of services. NTT Docomo Inc. and KDDI Corp. will be offering low-cost smartphones. People who do not make phones calls often may choose the low-cost smartphones. Monthly fees can be lowered for many people. The monthly fees will be fixed. The new plan is also very good for people who always want to see videos but worry about their bills. Vocabulary: offer- 提供する [verb] give low-cost- 安い [adjective, adverb] not expensive; cheap…
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2016年10月27日
Pre-reading questions: Do you play video games? What is your favorite video game? Nintendo posted a short video about their new product. Nintendo calls its new product “Nintendo Switch.” It is a gaming device that can be played in any place. The Nintendo Switch is like a tablet, but with controllers. It will be sold in March next year. Vocabulary: post – 投稿する [verb]- make information available on the Internet product – 製品 [noun] something that is manufactured call – 呼ぶ [verb] to name gaming device – ゲームをするための機器[noun] a gadget used for playing (games) controller – コントローラー [noun] a device that manages or directs (the flow of data) True or…
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2016年10月27日
Pre-reading questions: Do you play video games? Tell me more about it. What are the things you are looking for in a video game? What makes a good video game? What do you think is the best gaming device? Tell me more about it. Nintendo, a most famous video game company, recently gave a sneak peek of their new video game console–Nintendo Switch. A high tech gaming device that will surely be enjoyed by gamers since it can be played both indoors and outdoors. This new device of Nintendo is like a tablet, but with controllers attached. The company has not given any details yet, but the Nintendo…
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