Author Archive: admin

Foreign trainees face tough road in Japan

2017年4月10日

Japan - Expert

  Foreign interns and students in Japan hailing from neighboring countries find it exacting to adapt and keep their lifestyle. Most of them leave their home countries in hopes of greener pastures. Countries like Vietnam offer training to their citizens who will be deployed to Japan as technical interns. Foreigners are filling the gap in Japan’s labor shortage. Despite the auspiciousness of the project, some trainees suddenly disappear upon deployment. Problems with pay and inferior working conditions are deemed to be the cause of disappearances. Some trainees start believing that their spurious dreams of greener pastures surface so they decided to return to their home countries. Trainees from China and…
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Expert

Foreign trainees face tough road in Japan

2017年4月10日

Japan - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: Would you be interested in working abroad? Please explain your answer. What are the challenges of working away from your family/home country?   Around 600 young Vietnamese students are studying Japanese language and culture, bracing themselves to become technical interns in Japan. Most of the students hail from rural areas of Vietnam. The majority of foreign workers in Japan are Vietnamese since Vietnam promotes export of labor while providing employment to its citizens. Despite the multiple benefits of this project, many foreign trainees suddenly disappear upon dispatch. Some companies committed labor violations such as non-payment of wages so trainees end up fleeing. Other interns have difficulty in…
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Intermediate

Foreign trainees face tough road in Japan

2017年4月10日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Is it easy to work/study abroad? Have you studied/worked abroad? Vietnamese trainees are studying Japanese language and culture in preparation for a job based in Japan. Trainees will eventually leave their families to work abroad. They want to work in Japan so they can provide a better life for their family. However, there are trainees who escaped because they’re not getting paid properly. Trainees are starting to feel pressured because of the expensive lifestyle in Japan. Vocabulary: trainee – [noun] a person who is training for a job abroad – [abroad] in a foreign country escape – [verb] run away pressured – [verb] stressed out expensive – [adjective]…
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Beginner

Copyright fees to be collected from music schools

2017年4月10日

Education - E

  Japan’s music copyright management organization will start accruing copyright fees from schools offering lessons for piano, guitar, and other instruments on January 2018. Some organizations like the Yamaha Music Foundation are studying on how to accord with the plan but they are also worried that the fees will hinder Japan’s music culture. The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers stated that the copyright fees would be charged on commercial music class operators who regularly teach students. The operators would be able to choose either to pay a set amount or for each usage of music. They also began levying fees on vocal and musical instrument lessons…
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Expert

Copyright fees to be collected from music schools

2017年4月10日

Education - I

  Pre-reading questions: What type of music do you like? Who is your favorite musician or singer? Where do you usually listen to music?   Starting on January 2018, Japan’s music copyright management organization plans to acquire copyright fees from schools that uses music in teaching musical instruments like piano, guitar, and the likes. Some organizations like Yamaha Music Foundation are scrutinizing on how to manage the plan. Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers were also afraid that the said fees would hinder Japan’s music culture. In April 2016, JASRAC started imposing changes on vocal and musical instrument lesson classes at cultural centers. In line with this,…
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Intermediate

Copyright fees to be collected from music schools

2017年4月10日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Who is your favorite artist? Do you play any musical instruments? Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers or also known as JASRAC plans to start collecting copyright fees from music schools starting January 2018. Yamaha Music Foundation might decrease its music students because of this plan. In addition, Yamaha stated that JASRAC’s plan may prevent the progress of Japan’s music culture. JASRAC is in-charge of collecting copyright fees for using music. Vocabulary: copyright – [noun] a method of protecting the rights of a creator through law decrease – [verb] lessen prevent – [verb] to stop tuition fee – [noun] payment for teaching in-charge – [noun]…
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Beginner

Set a fixed budget for buying clothes

2017年4月10日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Where is your favorite place to buy new clothes? Personally, is your confidence affected by the clothes you wear? How would you describe your fashion style? Fashion reporter Marc Bain fully understands the pleasure in shopping for clothes. It is even more rewarding when you get to buy clothes for less than what you would normally expect. However, shopping becomes less fun and even worrisome once you realize you spent too much, or you bought too many clothes. This is why Marc Bain recommends setting a spending limit when buying new clothes. According to Marc Bain, changing your wardrobe or shopping too often doesn’t only have an effect…
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Intermediate

Set a fixed budget for buying clothes

2017年4月7日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like shopping for new clothes? Why or why not? When do you usually buy new clothes? Most people enjoy shopping. It is nice to have new clothes, especially when they are affordable. However, the fun in buying clothes stops when you spend too much and own too many. Marc Bain, a fashion reporter, said that there should be a limit in the amount of money one should spend on clothes. If you set a limit to your budget for clothes, you can save more. Additionally, if you don’t have that many clothes, you can lessen your trash and help save the environment. Vocabulary: shopping [noun] –…
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Beginner