Author Archive: admin

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

Singapore’s Ministry of Education focuses on student’s aptitude than academic

2017年4月7日

Education - E

Singapore’s Ministry of Education will administer an aptitude-based program, which pays attention to students’ natural ability and talents. This system is a complete opposite of the traditional academic-based system. This new program will be carried out in the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities in the country. According to a Ministry of Education official, general academic ability will no longer be used to evaluate a student’s natural ability. He added that students who are good at something must be given all the support to hone their skills and strengthen their knowledge. Starting next year, all secondary schools can reserve about 20 percent of their slots for Direct School Admission….
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Expert

Singapore’s Ministry of Education focuses on student’s aptitude than academic

2017年4月7日

Education - I

Pre-reading questions: For you, what is education? How does education affect our future? How does your country ensure quality education for all? Singapore’s Ministry of Education will implement an aptitude-based program, which focuses on students’ natural ability and talents, in place of the traditional academic-based system. This new program will be implemented in the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities in the country. According to Ng Chee Meng, Ministry of Education official, general academic ability will no longer be used in assessing students. Ong Ye Kung of Higher Education and Skills stressed the need for the country’s post-secondary educational institutions to have an additional mission – to uncover and…
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Intermediate

Pedal-style for NZ on 35th America’s Cup

2017年4月7日

Sports - Expert

The Team New Zealand’s sailors have replaced the traditional arm-powered winches with cycle-style grinders for the 35th America’s Cup event in Bermuda. Four bikes on each of their new AC50 catamaran’s hulls will render the power to supply the hydraulic systems, which raise and lower the foils and pull in the huge wing sail. The new AC50 catamaran’s hulls contains some of the most updated and powerful technology ever used in the said competition. There are only six crew allowed on board, the helmsman and the wing trimmer who concentrate on sail settings, and four sailors to produce all the power needed. They even invited the Olympic bronze medal-winning cyclist…
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Expert

Pedal-style for NZ on 35th America’s Cup

2017年4月7日

Sports - Intermediate

Pre-reading questions: Which water sport are you good at? Please explain your answer. If you will compete in a water race, what would it be? Please explain your answer. The Team New Zealand’s sailors are hoping to avenge the 9-8 defeat by Oracle Team USA in San Francisco last 2013. They have replaced the traditional arm-powered winches with cycle-style grinders for the 35th America’s Cup event in Bermuda. Team New Zealand has invited Olympic bronze medal-winning cyclist Simon van Velthooven to lead the new revolution. Winning the next America’s Cup is all about keeping a stable sail on the entire race, and that’s the reason why this boat contains some…
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Intermediate