Author Archive: admin

Labor shortage

2016年12月23日

Japan’s apparent aging and decreasing population is causing the greatest shortages of manpower for labor-intensive sectors. Industries like hotels, restaurants, and elderly care facilities are less capable of offering competitive wages as they hit lowest on productivity per employee. Also, the elderly care system is undermined by government efforts that set the compensation down. In 2015, the average monthly wages in Japan fell for the fourth consecutive year. The central bank’s target for the average monthly wage increase is 2% for 2016, but the labor ministry data records an increase of only 1% in September. Adding to this labor predicament is the sabotage of employees’ bargaining power due to the…
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Expert

Labor shortage

2016年12月23日

Business - I

Pre-reading questions: What are the least popular jobs in your country? What is your dream job? What kind of jobs have you tried so far?   Japan’s population is diminishing and aging. It’s affecting the labor-intensive sectors. Hotels, restaurants and elderly care industries are coming up short in productive workers. The government cannot offer higher salary without productivity. Service businesses have a lot of part-time and contractual employees, which weakens the bargaining power of employees. The labor market is flawed and irregular in that there is a shortage of workers in jobs with the least productivity. With this kind of situation, it is not feasible to raise wages without studying,…
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Intermediate

Labor shortage

2016年12月23日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Name 3 most popular jobs in your country. What is the ideal age for a person to work? What is the ideal age for retirement?   Japan’s population is decreasing and aging. It causes labor problems. Hotels, restaurants and elderly care industries need more workers. These industries have low output per worker.  They cannot give higher pay without productivity. Service businesses are also having problems. They have many part-time and contractual employees. The labor market is not doing good.   Vocabulary: aging – [noun] the process of growing and maturing industries – [noun] any general business activity output – [noun] an amount produced at the time productivity – [noun]…
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Beginner

University of Oxford ranked best in the world

2016年12月23日

Pre-reading questions: Do/Did you like your school? What do/did you like best about it? What do you want to be when you grow up?/ Do you like your job now? Do/Did you like your university major?   The University of Oxford made it to the top at this year’s Times Higher Education World Rankings. The said magazine assesses top universities according to a set of criteria that consist of research, teaching method, knowledge transfer and international perspective. The California Institute of Technology occupies the second spot. Based on the magazine, the improvement of research facility and the growing number of international students are the factors that helped Oxford gain the…
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Intermediate

University of Oxford ranked best in the world

2016年12月23日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: What do/did you want to be when you grow up? What do/did you like most about your school/university?   A magazine named Times Higher Education announced that University of Oxford is the best in the world. The magazine checked the universities based on teaching, research, knowledge, and international impact. The University of Oxford ranked first because they improved their research facility. California  Institute of Technology ranked second this year.   Vocabulary: impact – [noun] influence; effect improve – [verb] to bring into more desirable or excellent condition. facility – [noun] something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service. rank – [verb]…
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Beginner

A winter deer-calling event

2016年12月23日

According to folklore, deer are considered sacred. People believe that deer were messengers of the Gods. That’s why all the wild deer must roam freely. The Shikayose or deer-calling in Kasugataisha Shrine, Nara prefecture is held every morning during winter. Shikayose is also held during summer. As people wait in Tobihino, a man blows a horn, then hundreds of wild deer begin running to gather around. Tourists can play with the deer, pet them or take pictures with them. They can also buy some shika senbei or deer crackers for 150 yen per pack. After that, most of the deer will leave and go back to their routine. Don’t miss…
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Expert

A winter deer-calling event

2016年12月23日

Pre-reading questions: Do you enjoy going out in the cold? Where do you usually go every winter? Have you ever witnessed a deer calling event?   Shikayose or deer-calling is a winter affair in Nara. This event takes place at 10:00 in the morning every day, this year from November 29 to December 14. During the every day event, a man blows a horn to draw deer out of the forest. The deer are then fed acorns. Visitors can play with deer, pet them or take pictures with them. The Shikayose affair lasts for about half an hour. After that, most of the deer leave, and go back to the…
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Intermediate

A winter deer-calling event

2016年12月23日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite winter activity? Have you ever been to Nara Prefecture?   There is a special winter event in Kasugataisha Shrine, Nara prefecture.  At 10AM every day, a member of a deer protection group played the horn. Hundreds of deer rushed out of the forest. Tourists fed the deer with acorns and happily took pictures. This winter event lasted until December 14.   Vocabulary: event – [noun] a thing that happens; situation; occasion horn – [noun] a musical instrument made of a tube which the musician blows rush out – [verb] run out; leave feed – [verb] to give food acorn – [noun] the fruit of…
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Beginner