Author Archive: admin

Trump speaks disbelief on election results

2016年10月28日

Pre-reading questions: Do you practice your voting rights? Do you think election is the best way to choose leaders? Are you familiar with the United States Presidential candidates? Donald Trump, a New Yorker businessman who’s running for 2016 United States presidential election says that his opponents would want to rig the election at the polling place. He also adds that many cities are corrupt and voter fraud is very common. But according to various studies, voting fraud is not common in the United States. A Republican campaign lawyer, Chris Ashby, explains in an interview that when you say an election is rigged, you’re telling voters and your supporters that their…
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Intermediate

Trump speaks disbelief on election results

2016年10月28日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: When did you last vote? Do you think voting is important?   Donald Trump says that there will be cheating in the election. Donald Trump is a businessman. He is running for president of the United States. Donald Trump is the presidential candidate of the Republican Party. Donald Trump is running against Hillary Clinton. Some people believe that Donald Trump only says there will be cheating in the election to distract the voters.   Vocabulary: cheating – いんちき [noun] dishonesty businessman – ビジネスマン [noun] a man who works in business especially in a high position candidate – 候補者 [noun] a person who is trying to be elected…
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Beginner

JP pushes for English classes reform

2016年10月28日

  Japanese Education Ministry proposes 70 hours of English studies for incoming 5th and 6th grade students by the year 2020. The education proposal, presented to an advisory board of the Central Council for Education, is set to be carried out nationwide. Such significant English instruction advancement will affect the curricula taught in primary schools, middle schools, and high schools. The proponents suggest that English studies should start as early as 3rd grade. At present, English classes start during the 5th grade. Furthermore, 5th and 6th graders will have 70 hours cumulative of English classes, according to the proposal, all in the hopes of reducing the “cram” study habit. One…
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Expert

JP pushes for English classes reform

2016年10月28日

  Pre-reading questions: Are you aware of Japan’s current English curriculum? Share your thoughts on this. Do you think that changing the curriculum will make the students more competitive? Explain.   English studies for the incoming 5th and 6th grade students in Japan would be increased by the year 2020. The proposal suggested that English studies should start as early as 3rd grade instead of 5th grade. The new proposal aims to reduce the “cram” study habits of the students. There are also additional revisions with general subjects like: Japanese history with world history called General History. The new curriculum will focus on active learning specifically on student’s thinking and…
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Intermediate

JP pushes for English classes reform

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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Beginner

527 South Koreans file case against Samsung over Galaxy Note 7

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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Intermediate

Apple Sets Aside Automotive Goal, Cuts Manpower

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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Intermediate

Apple Sets Aside Automotive Goal, Cuts Manpower

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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Expert

527 South Koreans Sue Samsung over Galaxy Note 7

2016年10月27日

Business - B

  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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Beginner