Author Archive: admin

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite sport? What kind of Olympic sports do you like to watch? As a preparation for 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, hotels have started to offer ryokan or Japanese-style accommodation. Foreign guests can now experience ryokan without even leaving the city. Newly renovated hotels use tatami, paper screens, shiraki (plain wood furniture) and lantern-like lighting for their rooms. Underneath the traditional look, the rooms are equipped with modern amenities. Hotel managers are hoping that the Japanese-style rooms would attract foreign and local travelers. Vocabulary: accommodation – [noun] a group of rooms in which someone may live or stay renovated – [verb] restored to a good condition…
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lifestyle - beginner

Recipe for success: The growth of team-building cookery classes

Pre-reading questions: Do you like cooking? Please explain your answer. What kind of activities do you enjoy doing with your friends? Company away days are activities spent with co-workers outside the office. Examples of the activities are team building, seminars, and charity. However, there is a new company away day activity in Europe. Office workers can try cooking classes to know their peers better. Cooking classes can help workers bond with each other. Vocabulary: activity [noun]- something done for pleasure or entertainment seminar [noun]- meeting charity [noun]- an activity to help the poor peer [noun]- a member of a group with the same rank bond [noun]- bring together True or…
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business news - beginner

Abe ‘builds trust’ with Trump

Pre-reading questions: Do you think America and Japan have a good relationship? Do you think President Donald Trump is a good leader? Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited US President Donald Trump. The meeting happened a few days after Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 elections. The Prime Minister is the first state leader to visit Trump after the elections. According to the US Department of State, the relationship between Japan and the United States is important to Asia’s economy. The prime minister is planning another visit later this year. Vocabulary: visit [verb] – to go to a place in order to look at it, or to a person in order…
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World News - Beginner

Japanese government to give scholarships in 2018

Beginner Intermediate Expert

Education

Japanese government to give scholarships in 2018

Approximately 20,000 students will be granted state-sponsored scholarsips in Japan in 2018. A monthly allowance of ¥20,000 will be provided to students at public universities who live with their parents; ¥30,000 will be given monthly to students of such schools living away from their parents and students attending private universities who live with their parents; and, students at private universities who live away from their parents will receive ¥40,000. As a precursory action, in 2017, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) will give financial support to 2,650 students. The academic grants, which will be introduced to students from low-income households, are a far-reaching step in aiding citizens to achieve higher education…
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Expert

education - expert

Japanese government to give scholarships in 2018

Pre-reading questions: What is your understanding of a scholarship? What kind of students do you think should be given scholarships? How do scholarship programs benefit the society? About 20,000 students will be given state-sponsored scholarships in Japan in 2018. Students at public universities who live with their parents will receive a monthly allowance of ¥20,000; students of such schools living away from their parents and students attending private universities who live with their parents will get ¥30,000 monthly; and, students at private universities who live away from their parents will receive ¥40,000. As a first step, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) will give financial support to 2,650 students in 2017….
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Intermediate

education - intermediate

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Beginner Intermediate Expert

Health

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Apple cider vinegar is known for its beneficial effects to our body. Rumors spread that it helps with type-2 diabetes and teeth whitening. But can it also help lose weight? Carol Johnston, a professor from Arizona State University School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, has been studying the effects of apple cider vinegar for almost a decade. According to her, there’s no concrete evidence yet if ACV truly aids with weight loss; although, the acetic acid in vinegar may activate fat metabolism. A study conducted in Japan back in 2009, revealed the significant effect of apple cider vinegar in weight loss. By taking at least two tablespoons of mixed apple…
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Expert

health - expert

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Pre-reading questions: Do you enjoy eating foods with vinegar? Do you agree that vinegar has health benefits too? Apple cider vinegar is known for its remarkable purposes – beauty, cleaning, cooking, etc. Experts from Japan believe that it may also have an impact on weight loss. Professor Carol Johnston, who has been studying the healthy benefits of vinegar, agrees that it may subtly help with digestion. Acetic acid found in vinegar, such as ACV, activate fat metabolism. Another evidence shows that diluted vinegar promotes healthier blood sugar levels. Johnston says that it really doesn’t matter what type of vinegar you’re digesting, All types of vinegar contains acetic acid, the vital…
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Intermediate

health - intermediate

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Pre-reading questions: Do you like the taste of vinegar? Do you know apple cider vinegar? Apple cider vinegar or ACV is known for its many purposes. It is rumored that ACV can help with weight loss. Professor Carol Johnston said that it may contribute lose weight, but the effects would be subtle. Professor Carol has been studying vinegar and its health benefits. According to her, acetic acid found in all types of vinegar, including ACV, is the key ingredient to a healthier digestion. Vocabulary: cider – [noun] an alcoholic drink made from fermented crushed fruit, typically apples acetic acid– [noun] the acid that gives vinegar its characteristic taste metabolism –…
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