Beginner

New York SantaCon

2017年1月6日

World News - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a child? Do you attend any special gathering during Christmas season? Is Christmas more exciting than New Year’s? An annual Christmas event invited all alcohol-loving people to SantaCon. It is a parade of drunk Santas, reindeer and snowmen. Those who joined happily toured at some of the best bars in NYC. The said event took place last December 10. Most of the bars that participated are in the East Village and Midtown of New York City. This is one of the most-awaited NYC events every December. Vocabulary: annual – [adjective] once-a-year parade – [noun] a public walk especially when…
Read more

Beginner

Even mild smoking can cause early death

2016年12月27日

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you smoke? Do you have friends who smoke? Are people allowed to smoke in restaurants in your country?   A new study says smoking one cigarette a day can cause a person to die young. People who seldom smoke have a 64 percent chance of dying earlier than those who do not smoke. People who smoke up to 10 cigarettes a day have an 87 percent chance of dying early. Most respondents thought seldom smoking cannot harm them. But, the research shows that smoking, seldom or often, is not safe at all.   Vocabulary: seldom – [adverb] in few instances respondent – [noun] a person who gives…
Read more

Beginner

Labor shortage

2016年12月23日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Name 3 most popular jobs in your country. What is the ideal age for a person to work? What is the ideal age for retirement?   Japan’s population is decreasing and aging. It causes labor problems. Hotels, restaurants and elderly care industries need more workers. These industries have low output per worker.  They cannot give higher pay without productivity. Service businesses are also having problems. They have many part-time and contractual employees. The labor market is not doing good.   Vocabulary: aging – [noun] the process of growing and maturing industries – [noun] any general business activity output – [noun] an amount produced at the time productivity – [noun]…
Read more

Beginner

University of Oxford ranked best in the world

2016年12月23日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: What do/did you want to be when you grow up? What do/did you like most about your school/university?   A magazine named Times Higher Education announced that University of Oxford is the best in the world. The magazine checked the universities based on teaching, research, knowledge, and international impact. The University of Oxford ranked first because they improved their research facility. California  Institute of Technology ranked second this year.   Vocabulary: impact – [noun] influence; effect improve – [verb] to bring into more desirable or excellent condition. facility – [noun] something designed, built, installed, etc., to serve a specific function affording a convenience or service. rank – [verb]…
Read more

Beginner

A winter deer-calling event

2016年12月23日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite winter activity? Have you ever been to Nara Prefecture?   There is a special winter event in Kasugataisha Shrine, Nara prefecture.  At 10AM every day, a member of a deer protection group played the horn. Hundreds of deer rushed out of the forest. Tourists fed the deer with acorns and happily took pictures. This winter event lasted until December 14.   Vocabulary: event – [noun] a thing that happens; situation; occasion horn – [noun] a musical instrument made of a tube which the musician blows rush out – [verb] run out; leave feed – [verb] to give food acorn – [noun] the fruit of…
Read more

Beginner

Apple Sets Aside Automotive Goal, Cuts Manpower

2016年12月23日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you think Apple can make great cars? Do you think Apple will stop making smartphones in the future? Do you think Apple products are the best?   Apple makes changes on their plan of making cars that will not need a driver. The company said they can’t make cars soon because they can’t promise good quality. They don’t want to damage their company name. As a result, hundreds of employees lost their jobs. On the other hand, more workers are added to help on a new project. Project Titan will show the advantages of their plan in 2017. Then, the management will make a new decision.   Vocabulary:…
Read more

Beginner

Japan broadcasters to air in advanced TV formats

2016年12月22日

Japan - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Do you watch TV every day? What are your favorite TV programs? What are your favorite channels?   People are expecting high for the next TV formats. 4K and 8K resolutions are expected. Companies are testing on broadcast satellite channels. New formats display clearer images. TV companies are hoping that many people will want high resolutions for TV broadcasts.   Vocabulary: resolution – [noun] the ability of the device to show an image clearly with a lot of detail satellite – [noun] a machine that is sent into space and that moves around the earth, moon, sun, or a planet HD – [noun] high definition, a television…
Read more

Beginner

Fake U.S. embassy in Ghana closed after 10 years of issuing visas

2016年12月22日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Have you been to another country? What languages can you speak?   GHANA—A fake U.S. Embassy was discovered in the city of Accra. It was giving illegal visas for ten years. The fake embassy looks old. A Ghanian lawyer and Ghanian and Turkish criminals work there. Turkish citizens who can speak English and Dutch pretend as embassy officers. The fake U.S. Embassy wants people to pay $6000 for fake U.S. Visas. The real U.S. Embassy in Ghana is a beautiful building in Cantonments.   Vocabulary: embassy- [noun] the official place to represent a country in another country discovered- [verb] find fake- [adjective] not real illegal- [adjective] not…
Read more

Beginner

New Lung Transplant Technique To Save More Lives

2016年12月19日

Health - Beg

  Pre-reading questions: Are you living a healthy lifestyle? How do you keep yourself healthy? What are the common illnesses that you know?   Lung transplant is a dangerous operation. Doctors need to finish the process within six hours before the lungs become damaged. A new process was discovered called Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP). The lungs are taken out from the donor and put on ice. After being delivered to the hospital, the lungs go through EVLP. The process warms up the lungs by pumping oxygen to the lungs. The process keeps the lungs alive for up to 12 hours.   Vocabulary: transplant – [verb] to transfer from one…
Read more

Beginner

Amazon Limits Customer Reviews

2016年12月16日

Business - B

  Pre-reading questions: Do you know online shopping? Have you shop online? Do you know Amazon.com?   Online store Amazon has set a limit on the number of reviews that customers can put on the website. Now, online shoppers can give only five reviews in a week. Some sellers give free products to some customers, so the customers give them a good review. Amazon also has started suing these kind of sellers. They have done this to lessen the number of fake reviews on their website. It is because they want to gain the trust of customers again.   Vocabulary: Review – [noun] a report that gives someone’s opinion about…
Read more

Beginner