Tag Archive: Japan News – Beginner

Photo from © Tanita Pre-Reading Questions: Do you use perfume? Why or why not? What is your favorite scent? Vocabulary: release /ri-LEES/ [verb] to make something public or available for use The store released a new flavor of milk tea. gadget /GAJ-it/ [noun] a piece of equipment that is used for a particular purpose The XBOX is a popular gadget for gamers. scent /sent/ [noun] a good or nice smell The flowers have a sweet scent. user /YOO-zer/ [noun] someone who uses an item, product or thing There are many internet users around the world. check /chek/ [verb] to know or find out about something The dentist checked my teeth….
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Pre-reading questions: Do you know any cartoon characters? Please explain your answer. Are cartoon characters still popular? Why or why not? Vocabulary: railway /REYL-wey/ [noun] the metal tracks on which trains run There isn’t any railway service on Sundays. feature /FEE-cher/ [verb] to include something as an important part The movie features James Dean as a rebellious teenager. theme /theem/ [noun] the subject of a talk, book, film, etc. The theme of loss runs through most of his novels. promote /pruh-MOHT/ [verb] to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something Martha Stewart promotes her products successfully. attraction /uh-TRAK-shuh n/ [noun] something that makes people want to go to…
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Photo by © Kentaro Takahashi via Kentaro Takahashi Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like going to convenience stores? What can you say about people working in convenience stores? Vocabulary: novelist /NOV-uh-list/ [noun] a person who writes long stories Her dream is to become a novelist. translate /trans-LEYT/ [verb] to change writing or speech from one language into another Beth helped his brother translate his speech. curious /KYOOR-ee-uhs/ [adjective] interested in learning about people or things around you Lily is curious about his life. manual /MAN-yoo-uhl/ [noun] a book that gives instructions on how to do something or how to use something Robin gave his cooking manual to his brother. unique /yoo-NEEK/…
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Pre-reading questions: What did you enjoy doing when you were younger? What do you do on your birthday? Vocabulary: bill /bil/ [noun] a draft of a proposed law The Congress has passed the Bill of Rights. maturity /muh-CHOOR-i-tee/ [noun] the state of being mentally or physically developed or adult Maturity is important in marriage. contract /KON-trakt/ [noun] a written or spoken agreement You need to sign the contract if you want to work here. consent /kuhn-SENT/ [noun] permission or approval The parents gave him consent to marry their daughter. gamble /GAM-buhl/ [verb] play games of chance for money or bet He gambled away most of his money. The Cabinet has…
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Pre-reading questions: Do you like going to cafes? Why or why not? What is your favorite movie? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: dementia /dih-MEN-shuh/ [noun] common disease suffered by old people Her grandmother has dementia. memory /MEM-uh-ree/ [noun] ability to remember I failed the exam because I have a bad memory. loss /los/ [noun] not having something anymore The loss of her pet made her sad. treatment /TREET-muhnt/ [noun] something you do to cure a disease I’m getting treatments for my broken arm. staff /stahf/ [noun] the people who work for a company Restaurant staff must be nice. A cafe in Tsurugashima, Saitama shows movies to old people to fight…
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Pre-reading questions: Do you like drawing? Why? What do you like to buy in a bookstore? Vocabulary: craft [krahft] (noun) an activity involving skill in making things by hand I love to do sewing and all kinds of crafts. cover [KUHV-er] (verb) to put something over something else, in order to protect or hide it The students covered their notebooks with plastic create [kree-EYT] (verb) to make something new This man created the first computer. fashionable [FASH-uh-nuh-buhl] (noun) popular at a particular time Black clothes are fashionable these days. tear [teer] (verb) to split or cut Don’t pull the pages so hard or they will tear. Arts and crafts lovers…
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Pre-reading questions: What was your childhood dream? What do you think is the most interesting job? Vocabulary: survey [SUR-vey] (noun) a collection of facts or opinions about something According to the survey, more people like chicken than pork. academic [ak-uh-DEM-ik] (adjective) related to school or research Jiro has a good academic record. scientist [SAHY-uhn-tist] (noun) someone who studies science or works in science The scientist started a new research. scholar [SKOL-er] (noun) someone who has studied a subject and knows a lot about it The scholars exchanged their ideas on the subject. professional [pruh-FESH-uh-nl] (adjective) relating to a job that needs special training or education Chihaya wants to become a…
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Pre-reading questions: How many children do you want to have in the future? Do you think it’s easy to take care of children? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: drop box [noun] – a box or basket where you can safely leave something Please put the gift in the drop box outside the house. infant [noun] – a baby or a very young child It is difficult to take care of infants. allow [verb] – to let someone do something My mother allows me to go anywhere alone. anonymously [adverb] – in secret I always give gifts anonymously. adopt [verb] – to legally take another person’s child as your own family…
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Pre-reading questions: Have you seen a military ship? Do you know what MSDF mean? Vocabulary: helicopter – [noun] aircraft The president is flying to Japan via helicopter. joint exercises – [noun] military training joined by two or more groups Philippines and US have joint military exercises. supply – [noun] stock; store Last night, we ran out of water supply. bond – [noun] something that binds or holds together Japan keeps a strong bond between their ally countries. launch – [verb] to release, start, or send North Korea threatens a missile launch. A Japanese helicopter helped guard the U.S military supply ship. They sail off the Shikoku region while having joint…
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Pre-reading questions: What are the skills that an employee needs? What are the challenges of having many jobs for an individual? Vocabulary: 1. increasingly [adverb] – more often or to a greater degree Job-juggling has become increasingly common for workers in Japan. 2. juggle [verb] – to handle or deal with several things at one time Workers juggle their jobs so they can earn more. 3. notion [noun] – a theory or belief held by a person or group It is my notion to trust my employees to have several jobs. 4. outlook [noun] – a person’s point of view or general attitude to life My outlook has changed ever…
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