Beginner

Prevention of cyber attacks

2017年4月6日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Is it important for computers to have an antivirus software? Has your computer ever been infected by virus? Tokyo police started helping companies fight against cyber attack. Cyber attack is an attempt to damage or destroy a computer network or system. They developed a program that will automatically detect possible viruses and other threats. A special cyber attacks investigation team will then analyze the gathered information. After that, those information will be uploaded in a secure server for companies to have an access. Vocabulary: detect – [verb] discover or identify automatically – [adverb] by itself with little or no direct human control crime – [noun] an illegal act…
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Beginner

Emma Watson says her sexy photo doesn’t betray her feminist ideals

2017年4月6日

entertainment

Pre-reading questions: Do you know Emma Watson? Do you like Emma Watson? Vanity Fair magazine has a sexy photo of Emma Watson in its cover. Many people say that Emma Watson betrayed her feminist ideals in her sexy photo. The actress defended herself and said that many people don’t understand what feminism really is. Furthermore, she said that feminism is about freedom. Vocabulary: feminism [noun] – the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state betray [verb] – to be false or not loyal to something or…
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Beginner

South African e-learning program

2017年4月5日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you like studying thru the internet? Is studying thru the internet effective? E-learning in South Africa is growing. There are many students in South Africa who cannot go to school, so e-learning can be very useful for them. There are several phone applications that students can use even with slow internet connection. With e-learning, schools also have to change the way students learn. This is an important change and several schools and business are already doing it. Most importantly, even if e-learning is already becoming popular in South Africa, the government still needs to support the program so it can become even more successful. Vocabulary: e-learning [noun]…
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Beginner

England teacher shortages continue to rise

2017年4月4日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: What’s your favorite subject in school? Who’s the best teacher for you? England, a country that is part of the United Kingdom, is experiencing a growing shortage of teachers. Many teachers already left their positions and a lot more are expected to quit soon. Teachers in key subjects such as Math and Science are urgently needed as the number of students is increasing. Vocabulary: a lot [pronoun] – a large number or amount shortage [noun] – not enough urgently [adverb] – needs immediate action or attention. continue [verb] – to keep happening rise [verb] – increase; go up True or False: England has a surplus of teachers. Many…
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Beginner

Companies hire more women to avoid overtime work

2017年4月4日

Japan - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: Do you have more female or male co-workers? Is your boss male or female? Japanese people work long hours. Some companies want to lower overtime work. Because of this, more and more women will be hired to avoid overtime work. Women do not usually work overtime because they go home soon after work to take care of their family and kids. This will help improve the quality of work in offices. This program will also help many working men and women have more time for their family. Vocabulary: overtime [noun] – work added to normal work hours hire [verb] – pay someone to do a job avoid [verb]…
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Beginner

India’s Kailash Satyarthi’s Nobel medal stolen from home

2017年4月3日

World News - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: What kind of awards have you received so far? What do you do to keep your house safe? Kailash Satyarthi received a Nobel Peace Prize award last 2014. His Nobel medal and certificate were stolen. No one saw the thief stealing the awards. Mr. Satyarthi said that the lock of his house was broken and his awards were stolen. Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Price last 2014 because he likes helping children. His efforts saved children from working dangerously. Vocabulary: receive [verb] – get something stolen [verb] – (past participle of steal)take without the owner’s approval award [noun] – prize for achieving something effort [noun] – hard work…
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Beginner

Parents study Latin to help their children at school

2017年4月3日

Education - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you like studying alone or with your friends? Why? What would you like to study aside from subjects at school? Why? Parents want to help their children at school so they are studying Latin. A private school in London opens a Latin course with many adult participants. Latin is taught to 50,000 children but only few pass the tests. Some parents enrolled in Latin class because they want to relate with their children. Others enrolled because they are interested with the Roman Empire in books or movies. Vocabulary: Latin – [noun] the language of Ancient Rome course – [noun] class participants – [noun] people who join an…
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Beginner

Pancake Tuesday before Lent

2017年3月31日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: Do you like eating pancakes for breakfast? Why or why not? What is your favorite topping for your pancake? Explain your answer. Britons celebrate Pancake Day every year. It is held on a Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Pancake Day is a way of using up rich foods like eggs, milk, and sugar before the 40-day fasting season of Lent. Making pancakes is an all-in-one way of using fatty foods before Lent. Vocabulary: pancake [noun] – a thin, flat cake of batter, usually fried and turned in a pan Britons [noun] – a native citizen of Great Britain all-in-one [adjective] – combining two or more items fatty [adjective] –…
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Beginner

Traditional approach of Tokyo hotels

2017年3月31日

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite sport? What kind of Olympic sports do you like to watch? As a preparation for 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, hotels have started to offer ryokan or Japanese-style accommodation. Foreign guests can now experience ryokan without even leaving the city. Newly renovated hotels use tatami, paper screens, shiraki (plain wood furniture) and lantern-like lighting for their rooms. Underneath the traditional look, the rooms are equipped with modern amenities. Hotel managers are hoping that the Japanese-style rooms would attract foreign and local travelers. Vocabulary: accommodation – [noun] a group of rooms in which someone may live or stay renovated – [verb] restored to a good condition…
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Beginner

Recipe for success: The growth of team-building cookery classes

2017年3月31日

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Do you like cooking? Please explain your answer. What kind of activities do you enjoy doing with your friends? Company away days are activities spent with co-workers outside the office. Examples of the activities are team building, seminars, and charity. However, there is a new company away day activity in Europe. Office workers can try cooking classes to know their peers better. Cooking classes can help workers bond with each other. Vocabulary: activity [noun]- something done for pleasure or entertainment seminar [noun]- meeting charity [noun]- an activity to help the poor peer [noun]- a member of a group with the same rank bond [noun]- bring together True or…
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Beginner