Beginner

Abe ‘builds trust’ with Trump

2017年3月31日

World News - Beginner

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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Beginner

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss

2017年3月29日

Health - Beg

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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Beginner

Japanese government to give scholarships in 2018

2017年3月29日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Is studying in college difficult? Is it expensive to study in Japan? Starting 2018, Japan will give scholarships to students from low-income families for them to enter universities. This means that students from low-income families can study in college for free. Many Japanese students nowadays borrow money from the government to pay for college. With the scholarship program of Prime Minister Abe, students would not need to pay a lot of money to the government. The government wants everyone to have the chance to finish school. The government has prepared ¥7 billion for this program. Vocabulary: scholarship [noun] – an amount of money given by a school, college,…
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Beginner

Asia’s fastest growing economies have the fastest growing slums

2017年3月29日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: What kind of environment would you want to live in? Why? Do you think many people live in cities? Please explain your answer. Many people live in the cities of countries like Cambodia, Mongolia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Since there are many people in cities like Manila and Jakarta, some people live in slums. World Bank says more people in cities mean that economy is growing. Cities need to lessen the population so World Bank suggests two solutions: make a rural town into an urban city like Singapore or make cities in places far from the city. Vocabulary: slum [noun]- an area with poor housing economy [noun] a…
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Beginner

Turrón

2017年3月28日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like sweets? What is the most popular dessert in your country? Turrón is a popular Spanish dessert made from honey, sugar and nuts. The best turrón is at the Convent of Hermanas Clarisas. Twenty-two nuns make several kinds of turrón at the convent. The most popular turróns of the convent are Turrón de Trufa, made with chocolate beans; and, Turrón de Yema Tostada, a soft turrón made from egg yolk mixed with ground almonds and sugar, and burned on top with a special iron. For the nuns at the Convent of Hermanas Clarisas, their work is a gift. Vocabulary: dessert [noun] – sweet food eaten at…
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Beginner

E.U. fines three banks $520 million

2017年3月23日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: What is the most famous bank in your country? Are banks good or bad? Discuss. JPMorgan Chase, HSBC and Credit Agricole were charged by European Union officials a total of $520 million. They were fined for secretly working together to control the market. They also illegally shared important information to get more money. Four banks were fined for the same reasons three years ago. According to a European Union official, if banks continue to have this kind of control, only a few can benefit. Vocabulary: European Union [proper noun] – a union of 28 states that are located primarily in Europe charge [verb] – to ask an amount…
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Beginner

Blueberry juice helps improve brain function

2017年3月22日

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to eat fruits? What are your favorite fruits? Our brain functions decline as we get old. In a study conducted, it was found out that elderly people who drink concentrated blueberry juice every day have healthier brains as compared to those who don’t. The study also suggests that blueberry juice helps improve memory. Blueberry is a small round fruit that contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are considered to be healthy for our body. Vocabulary: blueberry [noun] – a small round fruit with blue, purple, or blackish skin flavonoid [noun] – substance that is found in fruits that is healthy for the body improvement [noun] – better than…
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Beginner

People keep their smartphones longer

2017年3月21日

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you like using your smartphone? Why do people like smartphones a lot? A research in 2016 says that Americans keep their phones for about 22.7 months before changing it. The report was almost the same with large European users. On the other hand, the research shows that people in China change their phones faster. This is because there are a lot of budget phones available in the country. Also in China, there are many buyers and sellers of smartphones so people can buy phones easily and more frequently. Vocabulary: research [noun] – a study of a subject or topic large [adjective] – big budget [adjective] – cheap,…
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Beginner

Japanese public deeply skeptical over its corporate leaders

2017年3月20日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you trust people easily? Please explain your answer. Do you think trust is important? Why? A recent survey reveals that many workers in Japan don’t trust their CEOs. Even though Japan is a developed nation, only a few percentage of its workers trust their corporate leaders. Meanwhile, other developed countries such as India and China trust their officials. As per Ross Rowbury, Japan’s workers tend to doubt their officials because they don’t always see their presence at work. Vocabulary: trust [verb] – believe official [noun] – a worker with a high rank CEO [noun] – chief executive officer doubt [verb]- lack of trust improvement [noun]- change for…
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Beginner

Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president

2017年3月20日

World News - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: How do you prepare for an important ceremony? What do you think of President Donald Trump? Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States of America, replacing Barack Obama in the White House. Trump became president at noontime of January 20. The main ceremony was held at the White House followed by many parties around Washington DC. The official inauguration ceremony was held in front of the Capitol. After the inauguration, Donald Trump gave his first speech as the president. Vocabulary: inauguration [noun] – the act of putting someone into an official position with a ceremony president [noun] – head of state replace [verb] – change;…
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Beginner