Beginner

Ali Baba breaks sales record on Singles’ Day

2016年11月28日

Business - B

  Pre-reading questions: Do you always use your computer? Where do you shop?   The Chinese online company called Ali Baba has sold several products on Singles Day. They have earned 121 billion yuan ($18 billion) that day. It is 12 percent higher than what they earned last year. They said 82 percent of the customers have bought a new smartphone, but some people wonder if it’s true. Also, others say some online sellers sell fake products. Still, analysts think online shopping is a good business because even the people in rural areas have smartphones so they can shop online now.   Vocabulary: Singles’ Day – シングルズ・デイ[noun] November 11, a…
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Beginner

Earthquake strikes New Zealand

2016年11月28日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Where is the best place to go during an earthquake?   The impact of magnitude 7.8 earthquake is still not clear. Officials say at least 2 people died. Small towns were inaccessible and roads were blocked by landslides. About 600 people were trapped in Kaikoura, but the government already gave help to the townspeople.   Vocabulary: magnitude – [noun] the great size inaccessible – [adjective] unable to be reached block – [noun] difficult; impossible landslide – [noun] rockslide; mudslide trapped – [verb] cannot move   True or False: The impact of magnitude 8 earthquake is still not clear. Officials say at…
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Beginner

Airport Wi-Fi

2016年11月28日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Do you think Wi-Fi is useful for everyone? How important is Wi-Fi to you?   A new list of Wi-Fi speed in airports was issued this year. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport USA is the first one on the list. These five Asian countries are added: Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Six airports from Thailand are also on the list this year.   Vocabulary: list – 一覧表[noun] a number of connected items or written names speed – スピード[noun] a rate of movement or action airport – 空港[noun] a place where airplanes can land or take off issued – 発する[verb] provided; given national – 国の[adjective] a…
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Beginner

Overworking Issue

2016年11月24日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: What is your dream job? What are the most popular companies in your country? In Japan, working conditions are too strict and sometimes they cause employees to commit suicide. An employee from Dentsu Inc. was reported to have committed suicide due to overworking. Overworking can cause depression according to the health office. Now, authorities are inspecting the company and its branches because of the situation. They are also going to have on-site inspections to almost all companies in Japan. Vocabulary: strict – 厳しい[adjective] used to describe a rule or command that must be obeyed employee – 従業員[noun] a person who works for another person or a company for…
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Beginner

Daytime students in night schools

2016年11月18日

Education - B

  Pre-reading questions: How long do you study at night? Would you like to go to night school?   Around 97,000 junior high school students don’t go to school. The government asked the students to attend night schools. These night schools use the same textbooks as regular schools. At Kyoto’s Rakuyu Junior High School, they study with older students. The ministry said that this will help them attend classes, yet students must be careful when traveling at night.   Vocabulary: night school – 夜学校 [noun] a school that gives evening classes. textbook – 教科書 [noun] a book used for the study of a particular subject regular – 普通の [adjective] ordinary…
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Beginner

Researchers Announced the Countries with Tallest Man and Woman

2016年11月18日

World News - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: How tall are you? Do you think Japanese people are tall?   A research by Imperial College of London found out that the tallest men in the world are from Netherlands, and the tallest women are from Latvia. More than 800 scientists joined the research. Other scientists believed that people grow because of their genes. The Imperial College of London says that nutrition is also important. Scientists say that people in Netherlands are the tallest because they eat protein-rich food like milk and cheese.   Vocabulary: research – 研究 [noun] a study about a subject found out – 発見した [verb] a result nutrition – 栄養 [noun] can…
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Beginner

Halloween party in Shibuya

2016年11月18日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Have you ever joined a Halloween party? Do you think Zombie party is safe?   Shibuya Halloween is a popular event in Japan. It takes place on Halloween night. It is celebrated near JR Shibuya station in Tokyo. It’s a gathering of people in Halloween costumes. 2,268 people joined last year’s Zombie party. Around 90 events will be held in Shibuya this year, but celebrity Hakase Suidobashi said that Halloween should not be celebrated in a busy place like Tokyo.   Vocabulary: Halloween – ハロウィーン [noun] the evening before All Saints’ Day popular – 人気のある [adjective] common celebrated – 有名な [adjective] widely known costumes – 衣装 [noun]…
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Beginner

Education ministry experts want to know what is “serious” school abuse

2016年11月18日

Education - B

  Pre-reading questions: What is the meaning of the word bullying? Do you think students can stop bullying?   Experts want the education ministry to say what is “serious” school abuse. New rules say that schools will respond to abuse. The experts say that the police’s action to abuse is not good. The education ministry must give examples of discipline to school abuse. Teachers, students and parents do not know much of anti-abuse rules. Schools must have a meeting so that there will be no more abuse in their schools.   Vocabulary: experts – 専門家 [noun] skilled people abuse – 悪用 [noun] bad behavior against other people respond – 返答する…
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Beginner

China’s October Exports, Imports Drop

2016年11月15日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you buy products from China? What are your favorite products from China? The exports or number of products that China sold to other countries dropped by 7.3 percent, while the imports or number of products that they bought from other countries dropped by 1.4 percent. This is based on their October reports. They said it decreased more than they thought it would this year. Vocabulary: exports – 輸出 [noun] products that are sent to another country to be sold there imports – 輸入 [noun] products brought into a country to be sold there drop – 落ちる [verb] to fall percent – パーセント [noun] part of every hundred…
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Beginner

Paris reveals plans to win back tourists

2016年11月15日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Where do you like to go on vacation? What did you do during your last vacation? Today, tourists visiting Paris are fewer. The Paris government plans to increase the number of tourists. They need tourism volunteers, mostly university students, who can speak English. Taxi and bus drivers, and hotel staff will take English classes. They will also make a new welcome app for tourists to guide first-time visitors. To make sure that everybody is safe, the government is in a state of high security. Vocabulary: tourist – 旅行者 a person traveling to another place volunteer – ボランティア a person who offers services for free staff – スタッフ a group of people,…
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Beginner