2010年1月28日木曜日

★Homework-Education-★

Question
1) Do you think Japan should give more students options to study more languages (other than English) in Junior and Senior High School?

2) Read the opinion in the November 5th New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/books/review/EParker-t.html?scp=1&sq=japan%20english%20education&st=cse
Do you agree with the writer Minae Mizumura ("The Fall of Japanese in the Age of English")when she says that", "the dominance of English, especially with the advent of the Internet, threatens to reduce all other national languages to mere "local" languages that are not taken seriously by scholars. The education system, she argues, doesn't spend enough time teaching Japanese."
Why? Give at least 3 reasons to support your answer.


Answer:
1) I don't think so, because students feel hard to study English. If they study more languages, they would feel more stress. Then, English is the most necessary language from now. So, I think students should study English.


2)I think so too. We are using cell phone and computer every day and every time. So, we gradually forget remembered kanji and words... But, it is big problem that Japanese prime minister mistakes kanji.
English education of Japan start in junior high school. We study at least 6 years. But, media often covered in news or paper "Japanese English level is low." I think that Japanese students are not good at speaking and conversation by English. So, school should do activity with native speaker like same age students.

★Homework-Men and Women-★

Read an article from the Japan Times and give your opinion.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/member/member.html?ek20060110ks.htm

Do you agree or disagree with the author (who is Japanese). Please explain why, please tell me how your felt about the movie and tell me some of your favorite scenes.

Answer:
I agree with the author.
I always feel "I can't understand man!!" Women are romantic, and have ideals about romance. But, men often have different love sense of value. Particularly, Japanese men are not active to love. It is influence old Japanese culture. But but but!! such thing have nothing to do with love!!! Recently, Japanese young men are called "Sousyoku-kei danshi". Men are becoming reserved and passive like Japanese girl. They always entrust child care and love! So, Japanese women are called "Nikusyoku-kei jyoshi". Japanese men need to passion to everything.

★Homework-Table Manners-★

Have you ever eaten in a foreign restaurant?
Did you make any mistakes? Please explain your experience. Did you learn anything?

Answer:
Yes, I have eaten in a American restaurant.
Water's English is too fast, so I couldn't listen one time. Then, pronunciation is difficult for me.
So, she didn't understand what I say...ha ha
From those experiences, I learned importance of listening and speaking.

2009年12月7日月曜日

★Homework -Weddings-★

No,1 Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea? Why?
Answer:
I don't understand why a lot of people spend a lot of money for wedding. I know the day is very important day and memory of life. But, I feel "It is mottainai!!" Think massive wedding is kind of culture. So, If I go to massive wedding or do my massive wedding, I would enjoy it. But, I think important thing is after wedding. So, I want to spend money in married life, I don't want to have a massive wedding if I can.

No,2 What do you think about eloping? Is it a good idea or romantic? Why?
Answer:
Apparently, it is romantic, but I think it is not a good idea. In my opinion, I get married, I want to celebrate for everyone. If I elope, probably my family and feel angry or sad. Then, I think eloping is transient happiness. I can't see his only good point then, but maybe I gradually can see bad point, and married life wouldn't work. Some people might say "It is good! Because they love each other!", but it is important you think well when you marry because marriage decides your life...

No,3 Have you ever thought about having a wedding in a foreign location like Hawaii? Would you do it? Why?Or Why not?
Answer:
Yes, I have! I want to get married in HAWAII!! Because there is beautiful location, and Hawaii is very familiar to Japanese people. Then, almost Japanese people love there. Wedding is BIG event in my life! So, I want to have a romantic wedding ceremony. A gradual green hill, the bright blue ocean and sky, and a pure white dress!! I think color is matching. So, I want to nave a weeding ceremony in Hawaii.

No,4 What is your ideal wedding?
Answer:

Uhhhh.....My ideal wedding is not gorgeous because I don't like showy. My wedding is "cute". I wear a simple dress, and I put on a flower crown like this.
Place is not big, because I invite a lot of people. I want to wedding at outdoor. So, my wedding day must sunny!!







No,5 What would you definitely do, wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?
Answer:
I want to wear the best dress in my wedding ceremony because I am a star of wedding in the day!! Then dishes are very important I think. Bad dishes spoil the wedding ceremony even if music, mood, dress, and place are good. So, I supply delicious dishes.

No,6 Have you ever been to foreigner's wedding? What was your impression?
Answer:
No, I haven't.

★Homework -Superstitions-★

No,1 Do you think it is important to talk about superstitions in cross culture communication class? Why?
Answer:
Yes. Because we can find religion and faith lifestyle for each of country superstitions.

No,2 Is communication affected by superstitions?
Answer:
Not so much. Because I communicate with someone, I don't have a chance to talk about superstitions. But, If someone do action of superstitions, I will ask "What did you do? Why?" So, superstitions sometime affect to communication.


No,3 Do you believe in superstitions? If yes, what superstitions do you believe?Why do you do, use, or believe in them?
Answer:
I believe some superstition. I talk about one of my believing superstitions.
When I was child and my baby teeth came out, I hold it and throw for the window, and say "Please change my baby teeth to mouse teeth!"
I do it, I cut a healthy tooth. I taught me my mother, so I believe that.

★Homework -Time-★

No,1 Please explain a time proverb in your culture.
Answer:
・Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do to today.
(今日できることは明日に延ばすな。=It means is same.)
・Strike the iron while it is hot.
(鉄は熱いうちに打て。=It means you don't miss a chance.)
・Time and tide wait for no man.
(歳月人を待たず。=It means time goes on regardless of your matter, and never stop for a moment.)


No,2 What do the following proverbs mean:
a. "Time is money."
Answer:
It means time is important and effective, so you don't have to waste it.

b. "A stitch in time saves nine."
Answer:
It means you take measures, you wouldn't need to make much ado even if it's too late.

c. "There's no time like the present."
Answer:
It means the time is now, now for it, and have to do it now.

d."Let's meet at 4. If I'm not there by 5, leave without me at 6, and I'll be there at 7."
Answer:
I have never heard that. But this sentence mean is two person can't meet all the time. So, I think it means disagree about everything.

2009年11月1日日曜日

★Homework #3, #4★

No,1 Language of Clothes:

a. Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?
Answer:
I often judge people according to what they wear, because the style of own clothes shows own personality. So, when I look their fashion, I imagine their character.

b. Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?
Answer:
I think so. Japan is island, so in the past, japanese people couldn't another tribes and culture so much. Therefore, japanese people are interested in another country clothes even now.

c. What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?
Answer:
I'm wearing beige color now. Beige is very natural color, so when I wearing this color, My feeling is comfotable.



No,2 Friends:

a. What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?
Answer:
Almost subject I have discussed with my friends, so I have no idea...


b. Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places? Give me some examples.
Answer:
Yes, I have. I have a Brazilian friend. We have a lot of difference parts, you know? Difference of She and I is race, language, culture, and so on. But, she speaks Japanese very well, and also she went to Japanese High school. I have stayed her house, and ate Brazilian fooods. It was different to Japanese food, But, taste was really good!!