Tag Archive: Japan News – Beginner

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite animated movie? Do you like history? Why or why not? Vocabulary: animated /AN-uh-mey-tid/ [adjective] a type of film where drawings move The animated movie I watched yesterday was beautiful. anniversary /an-uh-VUR-suh-ree/ [noun] a day when an important event happened a year before Today is our school’s 3rd anniversary. bombing /BOM-ing/ [noun] an attack on a place using bombs The bombing at Mary’s town stopped an hour ago. late /leyt/ [adjective] died not long ago She visited her late grandmother last Sunday. professor /pruh-FES-er/ [noun] a teacher My science professor is very kind. The staff of the animated film “Hiroshima – The Last Rose of…
Read more

Pre-reading questions: Have you had a homestay experience before? Please explain your answer. Do you like sports? Why or why not? Vocabulary: give /giv/ [verb] to provide someone with something Jeffry will give money to the charity. meal /meel/ [noun] an occasion when food is eaten Camelle’s mom always prepares her meals. guest /gest/ [noun] a person who is staying with you or a person whom you have invited to a social occasion They will invite guests for their daughter’s birthday party. stay /stey/ [verb] to not move away from or leave a place or situation Bea will stay in her company for two years. interested /IN-ter-uh-stid/ [adjective] wanting to…
Read more

Pre-reading questions: When do people get married in your country? Why do you think people marry? Vocabulary: board member /bawrd MEM-ber/ [noun] a member of the board of directors Mr. Hawkins resigned as a board member last month. organization /awr-guh-nuh-ZEY-shuhn/ [noun] an official group of people who work together for the same purpose The article was about the international aid organizations. global /GLOH-buhl/ [adjective] relating to the whole world In this article, we will describe a few of the global trends. welfare /WEL-fair/ [noun] physical and mental health and happiness of a person The police are very concerned for the welfare of the missing child. shrine /shrahyn/ [noun] a place…
Read more

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….
Read more

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