Author Archive: admin

Onsen adds sake into baths

2017年2月7日

Japan - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you like visiting an onsen? Why or why not? When is the perfect time to visit an onsen? Tell me about the best onsen you know.   Furosshu is a word used in Niigata prefecture. This word means to bathe in an onsen (hot spring) where local sake (rice wine) is added. Eighteen Ryokan inns have this service. Every 26th of the month, visitors get the chance to bathe in a sake-onsen. Bathing in sake is said to be good for skin.   Vocabulary: bathe – [verb] to wash in a container filled with water inn – [noun] a house where people can eat and rent…
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Beginner

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

The outdoor tea houses were considered as the “traditional men’s club” during the Qing Dynasty where political issues and business arangements were talked about. The remaining traditional outdoor Chinese tea houses can be found within Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, and public parks. Few of these traditional tea houses remain in the western city of Chengdu. Majority of the tea house goers are the older generation. Tea drinking vivifies the day-to-day chess match or catching up on daily news. Presently, China’s traditional tea-houses are under threat from the country’s fast modernization. Since the early 1990s, hundreds of Chinese tea houses were annihilated in the city as renovations took place. The supervisor…
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Expert

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

Pre-reading questions: How often do you visit a coffee shop/tea house? What do you enjoy doing while sitting in a tea house/coffee shop? Which do you prefer more: traditional tea house or modern coffee shop? Why? Traditional tea houses were built for relaxation and excitement during Qing Dynasty. Before, it was an exclusive place for males in politics and business. Nowadays, the common guests in tea houses are tourists and the older generation. Guests can enjoy scented teas and play card games or chinese chess. They can also experience traditional ear cleaning, eye brow plucking, and shoe shining. Today, tea houses in Chengdu, China are at risk from the country’s…
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Intermediate

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like going to tea houses or coffee shops? Why? Have you ever visited a Chinese tea house? A tea house is a place where people can get refreshments and pastries or even play a chess game. It started in Qing dynasty many years ago. They built tea houses in Chengdu, China as a place for relaxation or just to pass the time. However, it is now under threat because of the new cafes rising all over China. Modern Chinese people prefer new cafes such as Starbucks and Seattle’s best over traditional tea houses. Vocabulary: refreshment – [noun] a light snack or drink pastry – [noun] sweet…
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Beginner

University entrance examinations across Japan

2017年2月2日

Pre-reading questions: Do you get nervous when you take tests? What do you do after taking a difficult exam? Have you ever cheated on a test? High school graduates in Japan have completed the unified college entrance examinations. It is a 2-day examinations that ended last Sunday at 691 sites. Due to the stern weather, some sites were forced to reschedule. According to a student who took the tests at Tokyo Institute of Technology, she was delighted that the tests were over and will work harder in preparation for the next lap of examinations for the university she hopes to study in. Some sites encountered delays in starting the tests…
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Intermediate

University entrance examinations across Japan

2017年2月1日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Are college entrance examinations in Japan difficult? What is the best way to prepare for an examination? High school students and graduates recently took college entrance examinations in Japan. The test was held at 691 sites. It ended last Sunday, January 15. Some exam sites had to reschedule the examination because of bad weather. Seventy-nine of the examinees who arrived late will be allowed to retake the test. There were 12 students who were caught cheating by using smartphones or calculators. Vocabulary: examination – [noun] test; a formal test of a person’s knowledge reschedule – [verb] change the date and time of an event examinee – [noun] a…
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Beginner

McDonald’s sells off over 2,000 outlets in China, HK

2017年2月1日

  Citic group and Carlyle group will take over 80% of McDonald’s enterprise in Asia. The newly-signed deal dictates the firms’ domination over 2,000 McDonald’s outlets across China and Hong Kong. The said undertaking conforms to the US chain store’s plan to establish more international franchises. Under the $2.1 billion deal, China’s state-owned investment group, Citic acquires a 52% stake. The US private equity firm, Carlyle, picks up a 28% holding. The 20% remainder of the share is then kept by McDonald’s. Coincidentally, the owner of KFC and Pizza Hut, Yum brands, realigns business as both competing companies intend to bounce back after the recent food scare reports in Asia….
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Expert

McDonald’s sells off over 2,000 outlets in China, HK

2017年2月1日

Business - I

  Pre-reading questions: How often do you eat burgers? Do you like McDonald’s? Do you visit other foreign fast food chains in your area?   McDonald’s has handed 80% of its operations worth $2.1 billion to Citic group and Carlyle group. The two firms will take over 2,000 McDonald’s outlets in China and Hongkong. Under the new partnership, Citic takes a 52% stake while Carlyle handles 28% of the share. The American fast food chain keeps the remaining portion of 20%. This step is in line with the company’s goal to add more outlets in China, Hongkong and South Korea in the next 5 years.Yum brands, the owner of KFC…
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Intermediate