Tag Archive: japan news – beginner

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…
Read more

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/…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

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…
Read more

Pre-reading questions: Are you still working? At what age do you want to retire? Is it good to work even if you are already 70 years and up? Why or why not? Retiring seniors can now work again. They will receive help from the education ministry. It is common for retired seniors to continue working in the same company, but with easier tasks. There are still so many things people can do as long as they are healthy. Vocabulary: retire – [verb] to leave your job or stop working because of old age or bad health senior – [noun] older and more experienced than the other members of a team…
Read more