イーマック emac english and preschool

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題018

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで「質問を２つ」考えてきて下さい。ノートにも写しましょう→出力の練習になります。今週は「受動喫煙防止」から。知っていましたか？福岡市は全国で２番目に「路上喫煙禁止条例」（歩きたばこ禁止）を制定したんですよ❗️しかしながら罰則がまだないのです。。。💦

日本語訳を知りたい方はお申し付けください✨ [email protected]   Kazueまで

（写真：西宮市政ニュースより）

Passive smoking bill delay makes light of harmful health effects

飲食店 eating and drinking establishments

脳卒中 stroke

乳幼児突然死症候群 sudden infant death syndrome

世界的潮流 global trend

乏しい flimsy

猶予期間 grace period

一致点 common ground

調和させる harmonize

It is scientifically proven that passive smoking can trigger health problems. The delay in measures to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke is unacceptable.

The government has been forced to put off submitting to the current Diet session a bill to revise the Health Promotion Law that would strengthen measures against passive smoking. This was because fierce resistance within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to proposed regulations for eating and drinking establishments prevented both sides from reaching an agreement. The government now aims to enact the bill during the extraordinary Diet session this autumn.

According to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry white paper on tobacco and other sources, inhaling secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer and of strokes 1.3-fold. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome jumps 4.7-fold. It is estimated that more than 15,000 people die each year due to health problems caused by exposure to other people’s cigarette smoke.

Postponing submission of the bill will unavoidably lead to criticism that this serious health issue is being treated too lightly.

The global trend is toward stronger steps to prevent passive smoking. Forty-nine nations have enacted laws that ban smoking inside public facilities, including restaurants and bars.

Japan, through the Health Promotion Law and other regulations, merely requires operators to make efforts to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke. The World Health Organization rated Japan’s measures to prevent passive smoking as one of the world’s worst.

The WHO and the International Olympic Committee are pushing for a smoke-free Olympic Games. Japan’s tardy response to dealing with this issue ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics could hurt the nation’s reputation.

(The Yomiuri Shimbun)

アカデミークラスはアメリカ現地校の教材で学習しています。

＜アカデミー１クラスへ（小６〜中２、新大学生）＞

文章の組み立て、段落も考えながら読みましょう。まずそのまま写した後に、文章をあちこち変えて書き直してみましょう。記者になったつもりでイメージして書いて下さい。

今夏からアメリカの大学へ、バスケ進学する生徒さんも参加しています✨頑張っていますよ！

＜アカデミー１クラス以外の皆さんへ（小４〜中１）＞

アカデミー２（金6:10）、３（火5:30)クラスにも配信しています。

まず書き写しましょう！一行でも二行でもいいので量を決めて取り組みましょう。

続けると慣れていずれ簡単になります！

単語は興味があれば調べてみて下さい。

但し時間は10〜20分で。それ以上かかる場合は日を改めましょう。

続ける事が何よりも重要なポイントです。欲張ってやりすぎると楽しくなくなります。興味がわかないと学習効果は上がりません。

おうちの方は、記事について日本語でいいので（新しく知る単語のとこだけは英語に差し替えて）、子供達とディスカッションしてください。（特にお父さんと）使うと血肉になります💖のでここ、重要です！

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題017

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで「質問を２つ」考えてきて下さい。ノートにも写しましょう→出力の練習になります。今週は「新天皇への代替わり」から。日本の天皇Emperorについて、あなたはどこまで話せますか？

日本語訳を知りたい方はお申し付けください✨ [email protected]   Kazueまで

Throne should be transferred smoothly after law enacted

thorough preparations 周到な準備

plenary session 本会議

lifetime tenure 終身在位

demise 崩御

regent 摂政

ascension to the throne 即位

succession to the Imperial throne 皇位継承

change the name of an ara 改元（する）

first in line to the throne　皇位継承順位が一位

female Imperial family branch　女性宮家

The Emperor’s abdication will become a reality. The government is urged to make thorough preparations to smoothly carry forward the succession of the crown prince.

A special measures bill to enable the Emperor to abdicate has been passed into law after the House of Councillors approved it at a plenary session. All parties except the Liberal Party, whose members walked out before the vote, supported the legislation. The law will be enforced within three years after its promulgation.

This will be the first abdication by an emperor in about 200 years — Emperor Kokaku stepped down in the latter part of the Edo period (1603-1867). It will be the first abdication not due to the demise of an emperor since the previous Imperial House Law, enacted in the Meiji era (1868-1912), made the position of emperor a lifetime tenure.

Govt handled well

Modern Imperial history has reached a major milestone. The fact the parties formed a broad consensus without politicizing the abdication issue can be applauded.

“When I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the State with my whole being as I have done until now.” Last summer, the Emperor said this in a video message to the public.

The public sincerely empathized with the Emperor’s feelings. In an opinion survey conducted shortly after the message, about 80 percent of respondents supported abdication.

The premise of the current Imperial House Law is also that the emperor stays on the throne until death. If the emperor is unable to fulfill his duties, the basic procedure involves appointing a regent.

Legalizing an abdication directly based on the Emperor’s “message” could have conflicted with Article 4 of the Constitution, which stipulates the emperor “shall not have powers related to government.” With this in mind, the handling of the abdication issue by the government and the Diet appears to be largely reasonable.

The government set up an expert panel to establish the pros and cons of various contentious points regarding the issue. Leaders and deputy leaders of both chambers of the Diet coordinated the opinions of each party and formed a Diet consensus. The government formed the bill based on this.

After procedures were carefully taken, the public’s empathy toward the Emperor’s feelings was cited as a reason for the legislation. The principle of a lifetime tenure as emperor has been kept in place, but the abdication will be allowed as an exception. Considering the public’s opinion, this was a realistic result.

(The Yomiuri Shimbun)

アカデミークラスはアメリカ現地校の教材で学習しています。

＜アカデミー１クラスへ（小６〜中２、新大学生）＞

文章の組み立て、段落も考えながら読みましょう。まずそのまま写した後に、文章をあちこち変えて書き直してみましょう。記者になったつもりでイメージして書いて下さい。

今夏からアメリカの大学へ、バスケ進学する生徒さんも参加しています✨頑張っていますよ！

＜アカデミー１クラス以外の皆さんへ（小４〜中１）＞

アカデミー２（金6:10）、３（火5:30)クラスにも配信しています。

まず書き写しましょう！一行でも二行でもいいので量を決めて取り組みましょう。

続けると慣れていずれ簡単になります！

単語は興味があれば調べてみて下さい。

但し時間は10〜20分で。それ以上かかる場合は日を改めましょう。

続ける事が何よりも重要なポイントです。欲張ってやりすぎると楽しくなくなります。興味がわかないと学習効果は上がりません。

おうちの方は、記事について日本語でいいので（新しく知る単語のとこだけは英語に差し替えて）、子供達とディスカッションしてください。（特にお父さんと）使うと血肉になります💖のでここ、重要です！

英検/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題016

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで「質問を２つ」考えてきて下さい。ノートにも写しましょう→出力の練習になります。今週は 映画の脚本、"A Monster Calls"（怪物はささやく）から。

原作は、パトリック・ネスによる傑作児童文学『A Monster Calls(邦題：怪物はささやく)』。癌のため47歳でこの世を去ったカーネギー賞作家シヴォーン・ダウドの遺したアイディアを、2011年にカーネギー賞を受賞した作家パトリック・ネスが引き継いで完成させた作品。

 

 

be listened to: 受動態にすると「耳を傾けるべき」というニュアンスが強くなります。

who is to say that: who's to say (that): 「一体誰が〜だと言える？（誰も言えない）」という反語表現です。

Slay : 「殺害する（やっつける）」ファンタジー小説に出る古風な言い方。過去形はslew。

flying in: fly in「飛行機に乗ってくる」

You're coming to : come to ... をbe coming to...と進行形にするとwillよりも予定が「すでに決まっている」というニュアンスになる。

 

<Scene 1>

The Monster: What took you so long? It is time for me to tell you the first tale.

Conor: I don't need a tale. I need a bus ticket for my grandma.

The Monster: It is time for me to tell you the --- Where do you think you're going? I will be listened to! I am as old as this land. (Omission) I know everything about you, Conor O'Malley. 

Conor: No, you don't! If you did, you'd know I don't have time to listen to stupid stories from a stupid tree that is just a dream.

The Monster: A dream? What is a dream, Connor O'Malley? And who is to say that it is not everything else that is a dream?

Conor: Never mind. I came to see you today because I thought ...

The Monster: You thought I might have come to topple your enemies. Slay your dragons.

Conor: Or at least help me with my grandmother. But all you want t do is tell me stories.

The Monster: Stories of how I topple my enemies.

 

<Scene 2>

Grandma: Good, you're home. Your mom's upstairs. She wants to talk to you. (Omission) Your father's flying in on Sunday.

Conor: Dad's coming? From America?

Grandma: Go on. She's waiting. And pack a bag. you're coming to stay with me for a few days. Go on!

Mom: That tree is amazing. It's been here for thousands of years. (Showing a wig) What do you think? I think grandma is trying to turn me into Tina Turner. She must be a fan.

Conor: Why am I going to stay with grandma? Are you going back to hospital?

Mom: Come here, Con. This latest treatment's not doing what it's supposed to. So they're going to adjust it, try something else.

 

アカデミークラスはアメリカ現地校の教材で学習しています。

＜アカデミー１クラスへ（小６〜中２、新大学生）＞

文章の組み立て、段落も考えながら読みましょう。まずそのまま写した後に、文章をあちこち変えて書き直してみましょう。記者になったつもりでイメージして書いて下さい。

今夏からアメリカの大学へ、バスケ進学する生徒さんも参加しています✨頑張っていますよ！

 

＜アカデミー１クラス以外の皆さんへ（小４〜中１）＞

アカデミー２（金6:10）、３（火5:30)クラスにも配信しています。

まず書き写しましょう！一行でも二行でもいいので量を決めて取り組みましょう。

続けると慣れていずれ簡単になります！

単語は興味があれば調べてみて下さい。

但し時間は10〜20分で。それ以上かかる場合は日を改めましょう。

続ける事が何よりも重要なポイントです。欲張ってやりすぎると楽しくなくなります。興味がわかないと学習効果は上がりません。

おうちの方は、記事について日本語でいいので（新しく知る単語のとこだけは英語に差し替えて）、子供達とディスカッションしてください。（特にお父さんと）使うと血肉になります💖のでここ、重要です！！！

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題015

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、「質問を２つ」考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。今週は 「労働力不足をロボットで」について。今後どのような職種が人口知能AIやロボットに代わっていくでしょうか？そしたら人間には何が残る？（生まれる？）

Desperately short of labor, mid-sized Japanese firms plan to buy robots

（Reuters file photo
Humanoid robots work side by side with employees in the assembly line at a factory of Glory Ltd., a manufacturer of automatic change dispensers, in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture, in July 2015.）

 

Desperate to overcome Japan's growing shortage of labor, mid-sized companies are planning to buy robots and other equipment to automate a wide range of tasks, including manufacturing, earthmoving and hotel room service.

According to a Bank of Japan survey, companies with share capital of 100 million yen to 1 billion yen plan to boost investment in the fiscal year that started in April by 17.5 percent, the highest level on record.

It is unclear how much of that is being spent on automation but companies selling such equipment say their order books are growing and the Japanese government says it sees a larger proportion of investment being dedicated to increasing efficiency. Revenue at many of Japan’s robot makers also rose in the January-March period for the first time in several quarters.

"The share of capital expenditure devoted to becoming more efficient is increasing because of the shortage of workers," said Seiichiro Inoue, a director in the industrial policy bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, or METI.

If the investment ambitions are fulfilled it would show there is a silver lining as Japan tries to cope with a shrinking and rapidly aging population. It could help equipment-makers, lift the country's low productivity and boost economic growth.

The government predicts investment in labor-saving equipment will rise this fiscal year, Inoue said.

The way Japan copes with an aging population will provide critical lessons for other aging societies, including China and South Korea, that will have to grapple with similar challenges in coming years.

"More than 90 percent of Japan's companies are small- and medium-sized, but most of these companies are not using robots," said Yasuhiko Hashimoto, who works in Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd’s (7012.T) robot division. "We're coming up with a lot of applications and product packages to target these companies."

Among those products is a two-armed, 170-centimeter (5-foot-7) tall robot. Kawasaki says it is selling well because it can be adapted to a range of industrial uses by electronics makers, food processors and drug companies.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305.T) says it is getting a lot of enquiries for its computer-programmed digging machines that use a global positioning system to hew ditches that are accurate to within centimeters and can cut digging time by about half.

"We focus on rentals and expect business to pick up in the second half of the fiscal year, which is when most companies tend to order construction equipment for projects," said Yoshi Furuno, a company official. Hitachi Construction declined to provide figures.

Mid-sized companies are planning on increasing spending much more than large-caps, which are projecting just a 0.6 percent increase in the fiscal year, according to the Bank of Japan. Smaller companies tend to have less flexibility in overcoming labor shortages by paying workers more or by moving production overseas.

（ロイター Stanley White | TOKYO）

 

＜アカデミー１クラスへ＞

そろそろ文章の組み立ても見ながら読んでみましょう。同じような文章が書けるようになるようにイメージしてみて下さい。

アカデミー１には今秋からアメリカの大学へ進学する生徒さんも参加しています✨頑張っていますよ！

＜アカデミー１クラス以外の皆さんへ＞

アカデミー２（金6:10）、３（火5:30)クラスにも配信しています。

取り組みを続けると慣れていずれ簡単になります。まずは一段落だけでも読みましょう。

意味は分からなくても書き写しましょう。単語は興味があれば少しだけ調べてみて下さい。

但し時間は10〜20分で。それ以上かかる場合は日を改めましょう。

続ける事が何よりも重要なポイントです。欲張ってやりすぎると楽しくなくなります。興味がわかないと学習効果は上がりません。

おうちの方は、記事について日本語でいいので（新しく知る単語のとこだけは英語に差し替えて）、子供達とディスカッションしてください。（特にお父さんと）使うと血肉になります💖のでここ、重要です！！！

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題014

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、「質問を２つ」考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。今週は 「自動翻訳」について。人工知能の翻訳機があれば英語できなくてもよくなるでしょうか？

２つ目は「お弁当」日本のお弁当を英語でどれくらい説明できますか？

 

 

課題１ Use automatic translation cleverly to break down language barriers

(photo:geeky-gadgets.com)

音声認識 voice recognition

〜に遠く及ばない be far inferior to

Automatic translation should be used wisely to communicate with foreigners smoothly.

Automatic translation services that recognize the content of a conversation and instantly translate between Japanese and a foreign language are continuing to grow.

A system developed by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology to better communicate with foreigners looks likely to be especially handy at scenes of emergencies. The system started being supplied to fire department headquarters nationwide in April.

When an emergency service worker says something such as, “Where does it hurt?” in Japanese into a smartphone, a translation is displayed on the screen. It also can provide audio output. The system can handle 15 languages including English, Chinese and Thai.

The system was introduced earlier in Sapporo. It is said that it enabled the swift treatment of foreign tourists during emergencies at locations including the Sapporo Snow Festival.

The spectacular development of artificial intelligence has brought great improvements in the performance of automatic translation services. Sophisticated calculation methods also used in Go software programs that have defeated top professional Go players have been applied to automatic translation, making accurate voice recognition and natural translations possible.

In April, Microsoft Japan Co. launched an automatic translation feature that can handle Japanese for its internet calling service. A smartphone app developed by U.S. company Google Inc. is also popular.

 

課題2  Nutritious, appetizing 5-color lunchbox

A  five-color combination of okazu, or main and side dishes, is key for a colorful and nutritionally balanced bento box, says Reiko Tsunabuchi, a teacher at the Ecole de Cuisine Egami.

The color of the main dish is usually brown, meaning salisbury steak, fried chicken or fish saute. These are best accentuated by red, green, yellow and black side dishes.

Red and green vegetables are usually high in vitamins. A fried or boiled egg, adding yellow to the bento box, boosts the nutrition of the entire lunch. Black can come from seaweed, including hijiki, or stir-fried mushrooms such as shimeji and maitake. These are rich in minerals and fiber.

The addition of white rice completes the nutritious bento. Cherry tomatoes and broccoli can readily represent the needed red and green, although using these go-to items too often can make the bento boring.

"Use other vegetables that can produce the same hues, and also change the seasoning," she said. "It will make the bento taste better."  Red bell peppers can be marinated, and purple cabbage works well, too. Vinegar keeps the food from going bad while helping to mix things up a bit. 

Tsunabuchi suggested tossing spinach, asparagus or snap peas with peanut butter. "Peanut butter makes the food taste richer than if you use grated sesame," she said. "It will also delight men and children," Tsunabuchi said to boil spinach, squeeze any excess water out, drizzle it with soy sauce and then squeeze the sauce out to keep the vegetable from becoming soggy. "If you find it difficult to use five colors in your bento box every day, don't force it -- just do what you can," she said.

(The Yomiuri Shinbun)

 

 

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題013

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。今週は中学生にも話題になっている💕💕フランスのマクロン新大統領❗️「ＥＵ崩壊を防いだマクロン氏」より。

（写真：media-groove）

Macron’s win in French election saves EU, but challenges remain

It is safe to say that the worst-case scenario of a possible collapse of the European Union has been averted. Will France’s latest election result facilitate political stability in the country?

Former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist candidate who is pro-EU integration, won a runoff for the French presidency by a wide margin, defeating the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen, who campaigned on a platform promoting French secession from the EU. Macron, 39, will be France’s youngest president in history.

In his victory speech, Macron vowed to “fight the division that undermines France” and to “guarantee the unity of the nation and ... defend Europe.”

The main reason for his win was the desire of French voters to preserve the status quo, as they appeared reluctant to rapidly turn away from the EU. Macron’s denouncement of Le Pen’s election pledge to withdraw France from the eurozone as dangerous appears to have been persuasive.

There is no doubt that Macron’s electoral bid was also boosted by a favorable tailwind supplied by established political parties — the center-right and center-left wings — when they swung over to him after their candidates had been defeated in the first round of votes.

Le Pen won a record number of votes for a National Front candidate, adding to her gains in the first-round ballot. She enjoyed broader support in regions where the manufacturing industry has suffered a decline. Serious divisions clearly exist in French society.

Solve mountain of problems

Voter turnout in the latest election dropped from that in the 2012 presidential race, and the number of blank and invalid votes reached a record high. This seems to indicate that a number of voters rejected both Macron, who hails from the elite, and Le Pen, who stresses a firm rejection of immigration.

After selecting a lineup of cabinet members for his new administration, Macron will attempt to lead his new political party to win seats in June’s National Assembly election. The assembly has the power to put forward a vote of no-confidence against the cabinet, and it is not easy to win a sufficient number of seats to avert such a move.

If Macron seeks to carry out such election promises as economic rejuvenation through deregulation and job creation, he will need to adopt a flexible approach, such as tie-ups and cooperation with the established political parties.

France, the second-largest economy in the eurozone, has served as a driving force for European integration. Macron’s endeavors are vital to reinforce the unity of EU members at a time when they are undergoing the difficult process of Britain’s exit from the bloc.

In many EU nations, populist parties seeking to protect the interests of their own countries have sought to reject refugees and immigrants. These parties have been attacking the EU’s austerity policy line and contesting established political parties in their countries.

Anti-EU forces did not fare too well in the recent Netherlands lower house election, and such forces in France were stopped from snatching power in the latest presidential poll. Top political leaders of EU countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have welcomed the electoral results.

However, the EU cannot afford to feel satisfied with the current situation. There is a mountain of problems to be solved, such as devising effective refugee policies and reducing economic disparities between northern and southern Europe. Serious efforts must be made to implement reforms, while also stemming an increase in the strength of populist parties in various parts of the region.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9, 2017)

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題012

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。今週は「将棋の最年少プロ✨藤井聡太四段（１４歳）」より。

（写真：朝日デジタル）

Shogi world brightened by rise of brilliant young star, 4th-dan Fujii

無限の可能性 infinite possibilities

プロ入り（する）turn professional

〜の）手ほどきを受ける be taught rudiments of

〜に昇格する be promoted to

希望の星 rising star

〜は無理もない it is no wonder that ...

下す defeat

磨く hone

力をつける improve one's skills

The winning streak achieved by an extraordinarily gifted professional shogi player who is only 14 years old makes people feel he has infinite possibilities ahead of him.

Since turning professional in October last year, fourth-dan Sota Fujii, a junior high school student, has continued to win, so far scoring 14 successive wins in officially sanctioned matches. He has easily broken the record for consecutive wins, which previously stood at 10. Fujii’s skills are said to already compare with those of a top-notch professional player.

Fujii encountered shogi when he was taught the rudiments of the game, at the age of 5, by his grandmother. The boy attended a shogi class, and when he was a fourth-grade elementary school student, he enrolled at Shoreikai, a professional shogi player training institution.

At the age of 14 years 2 months, Fujii was promoted to fourth-dan, thereby becoming a professional. He thus set a new record for turning pro at the youngest age, which had been unbroken for 62 years. The previous record was held by ninth-dan Hifumi Kato, who had been called “the greatest genius since the dawn of our nation’s history.”

Ninth-dan Kato, along with ninth-dan Koji Tanigawa, and Yoshiharu Habu, who holds three titles, as well as the Ryuo title holder Akira Watanabe, are all shogi players who turned pro during their junior high school days. They constitute the whole list of such players who achieved the elite status.

Shogi circles have seen a rise in the game’s popularity every time a new star emerges. In recent years, the shogi-playing population has remained nearly unchanged at about 10 million. It is no wonder that expectations are running high for fourth-dan Fujii as a rising star.

Fujii’s strength in the final phase of a match can be illustrated by the fact that he has so far achieved three consecutive wins in championships to determine Japan’s top “tsume shogi” problem solver. He is also increasingly sharp in deciding where to move in the initial and middle phases of a match, too. He has defeated triple titleholder Habu in an unsanctioned match, too.

We hope Fujii will further hone his playing style that is well-balanced in both attack and defense.

（The Yomiuri Shimbunより）

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題011

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。

今週は2017年度アカデミー作品賞、脚本賞、助演男優賞を受賞した「Moonlight」(映画）脚本と、「朝鮮半島情勢」（社説）より。

Moonlight

本作のセリフは黒人英語African American Vernacular English （AAVE）が使われており、発音、文法、語彙などが異なります。ingをin'、三単現のsやbe動詞が

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題010

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。

今週は「熊本地震１年」(社説）について

(Photo:毎日新聞）

回復基調にある　on the upswing

公費解体　publicly funded demolition

仮設住宅　temporary housing

災害救助法　Disaster Relief Law

まず　above all

持病　preexisting condition

不眠　sleeplessness

アルコール依存症　alcoholism

手続きの煩雑さ　cumbersome red tape

物件　property

Support kumamoto quake victims so they can rebuild their lives

Friday marked one year since Kumamoto Prefecture was struck by earthquakes, including two that

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題009

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。

今週は「自動ブレーキ」と「インドの大気汚染」について

課題１

Cars with automatic brake devices on rise

An increasing number of cars are equipped with a device that automatically applies the brakes when the car is about to crash. By 2020, or three years from now, almost all domestically produced new cars are expected to be equipped with such devices.

Mazda Motor Corp. plans to install the devices in almost all of its models by the end of fiscal 2017. Daihatsu Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. have already equipped even less expensive mini-vehicles with similar devices.

In the background to this, many traffic accidents are caused by elderly drivers who have become slow to respond in an emergency.

Besides the automatic braking devices, there are cars equipped with other safety features such as automatically steering the car to prevent it from unintentionally leaving the  lane, and preventing it from starting abruptly. however, experts call for drivers not to let their attention wander while driving because it is impossible to totally eliminate traffic accidents.

ブレーキをかける apply the brakes

車種 model

反応がにぶくなる become slow to respond

急発進する start abruptly

〜Yomiuri KODOMO Shinbun〜

 

課題２

Deaths from India air pollution rivaling China

New delhi

India's air now rivals China's as the world's deadliest, according to a new study amid warnings that efforts to curb pollution from coal will not yield results anytime soon.

India's notoriously poor air quality causes nearly 1.1million premature deaths every year, almost on a par with China, concluded a joint report by two U.S. - based health research institutes.

But whereas deaths linked to air pollution in China have steadied in recent years, the rate has soared in India where smog readings in major cities routinely eclipse safe exposure levels.

India has recorded a nearly 50 percent increase in early deaths linked to fine airborne particles known as PM2.5 between 1990 and 2015, the report found.

These microscopic particles are so light they float on air and lodge deep in the lungs, and have been linked to higher rates of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and heart disease.

"India now approaches China in the number of deaths attributable to PM2.5," said the report by the Health Effects Institute and the Institute for health Metrics and Evaluation.

Together, the two Asian giants accounted for more than half of all global deaths related to PM2.5 exposure, the report said.

Efforts to reduce smog in China -- which jostles with India for the unenviable title of world's most polluted country -- have seen early deaths from PM2.5 stabilize at around 1.1 million since 2005.

インドでは２０１５年に大気汚染が原因で早死にした人の数が１１０万人近くに達っし中国とほぼ並んだとの報告書が発表された。

〜AFP時事通信〜

 

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題008

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んで、意見を考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。

今週からアカデミー２（金6:10）、３（火5:30)クラスにも配信します。おうちの方は関連ニュースを簡単でいいので話してあげて下さい。

 

アカデミー１（金5:40）クラスは新学期から社説も始めます。時事ニュースは日本だけに限らず世界観を持つ視点を養います。意見を言える力を貯金しましょう🌟

 

今週は「サウジアラビアのサルマン国王」「天皇陛下の退位」について

Abe eyes diversified Saudi ties

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pledge to fully support Saudi Arabia's efforts to end its dependence on oil illustrates Japan's policy of attaching great importance to maintaining stability in the Middle East to ensure a stable supply of energy resources from the region.

Japan's support for Saudi Arabia was expressed in a meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz on March 13, underscoring the fact that Japan regards Saudi Arabia, a major power in the Middle East, as the key to maintaining stability in the region.

"Saudi-Japan Vision 2030," the document for cooperation released by Abe and the king after the meeting, includes expanded cooperation with Saudi Arabia in a wide range of fields, such as infrastructure investment, Japanese companies advancing into Saudi Arabia and cultural exchanges.

"We would like to more aggressively develop relations with Saudi Arabia, the cornerstone of stability in the Middle East," Abe stressed during the meeting.

Specific projects on which the two countries plan to work together include the following: to consider establishing a joint research group to look into listing Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, demonstration testing of desalination by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization and a Saudi public corporation and, holding a "Japanese culture week" in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in April.

a huge entourage　大規模な随行団

pin hopes on...　〜に期待を寄せる

end its dependance on oil　石油依存から脱却する

low crude oil prices　原油価格の低迷

look for a less oil dependent growth strategy　石油への依存を減らした成長戦略を模索する

wean 乳離れさせる

wean the country off its dependence on oil exports　同国の石油輸出に頼った経済を徐々に断ち切る

economic power 経済大国

world powers　世界の列強

---

Diet unity for special abdication law brought about by 'will of the people'

It is significant that a proposal was finalized after political parties and parliamentary groups overcame their differences in opinion.

On the issue of the Emperor's abdication, the chiefs and deputy chiefs of both chambers of the Diet coordinated the opinions and compiled a proposal put forward from the Diet. It calls for establishing a special law to allow the current Emperor to step down. House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima presented the proposal to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Article 1 of the Constitution stipulates that the Emperor's position is derived from "the will of the people." The views of the Diet, an institution that represents the people, should be fully respected.

Abe said, "I accept [the Diet proposal] solemnly and will work on formulating legislation immediately." The government intends to submit legislation to create the special law to the Diet sfter the upcoming lengthy holidays. It can be said that a certain course has been set for the abdication issue.

The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito consistently advocated the creation of a one-off special law to apply only to the current Emperor. They favor such a special law because it would be difficult to set requirements for abdication in a system that applies to future emperors.

The Democratic Party initially called for establishing a permanent abdication system by revising the Imperial House Law to incorporate requirements for abdication, including the will of the Emperor.

The Diet proposal seeks a new supplementary clause in the Imperial House Law stipulation that the special law is integral to the Imperial House Law. It has also called for mentioning in the legislation that the Emperor's message about his intention to abdicate has won broad public understanding.

 solemnly　厳粛に

certain course　一定の道筋

 

〜2017.3.18  The Yomiuri Shinbun〜

ヤングアメリカンズ・ジャパンツアー2017夏がスタート！

感じたことを表現することの大切さを学ぶ

ヤングアメリカンズはアメリカの学生たちと熱中した２−３日を体験するプログラム。年に一度福岡にもやってきます🌟

まずは無料説明会に参加してみては？

北九州　5月14日（日）14:00〜、16:00〜

北九州まなびとESDステーション（北九州市小倉北区魚町銀天街内）
〒802-0006 北九州市小倉北区魚町3丁目3-20　中屋ビル地下1階
北九州モノレール　小倉線　平和通駅　徒歩3分

福岡　5月20日（土）13:30〜

福岡女学院大学　エリザベス・リーホール
〒811-1313　福岡市南区曰佐3丁目42-1
鹿児島本線 南福岡駅または西鉄天神大牟田線 井尻駅より西鉄バス45番「福岡女学院前」下車

 

ヤングアメリカンズとは、1962年、若者の素晴らしさを音楽によって社会に伝えようと、ミルトン・C・アンダーソンによって設立された非営利活動団体です。厳しいオーディションを勝ち抜いた17～25歳の若者たちが来日し、ミュージック・アウトリーチという教育ワークショップを開催、大勢の子供達が参加してきました。

ミュージック・アウトリーチとは、小・中・高校生たちがヤングアメリカンズと一緒にわずか2〜3日間で歌やダンスのショーを作り上げます。子どもたちはヤングアメリカンズと世界共通言語である音楽を通して共に学び、お互いの強みを尊重し、自分の可能性を発掘します。

恥ずかしがり屋さんや歌ったことも踊ったこともない子ども達がたった２日でステージで堂々とパフォーマンスする姿はプライスレス！感動以外何ものでもありません。子供達の自身に対する自信、そして周囲に対する信頼が創り上げられる瞬間です。是非一度体験して下さい！

ミュージック・アウトリーチの教育目的

 

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題007

メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んできて下さい。メンバーは課題を金曜までに読んできて下さい。記事に対する自分の意見も考えてきて下さい。ノートに写すと力💪になります。

今週は「テニスの試合」と「ポイントカード」

課題１

ストレート勝ち：defeat in straight sets

ノーシードの：unseeded

ぼう然とさせ：stun

決め：fire

初勝利に至るまで：en route to his first career victory

賛辞を贈って：give praise

生涯忘れることはない：remember for the rest of my life

Querrey stuns Nadal in Acapulco final

Unseeded American Sam Querrey stunned second-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6(7-3) on March 4 to win the ATP Mexico Open and end the Spaniard's run of perfection in Acapulco.

Querrey, ranked 40th in the world, fired 10 aces, backed up by powerful, precise groundstrokes, en route to his first career victory over Nadal in five meetings.

The Spaniard, the 2005 and 2013 champion, had never even lost a set in Acapulco.

"I'm ecstatic," Querrey said. "To do it against Rafa makes it even a little sweeter."

Querrey captured his ninth ATP title in an impressive week that saw him beat four top -10players- Belgian David Goffin, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Australian Nick Kyrgios and sixth- ranked Nadal.

（ACAPULCO, Mexico AFP-Jiji, The Japan News, yomiuri）

 

課題２

New practice promotes everyday altruism

A growing number of people are "paying it forward," repaying a received favor to a third person instead of the original benefactor. The practice spreads goodwill through such gestures as giving away free meal coupons, and is becoming popular as an easy way for people to express altruism.

"To a twin like me. I pray that twins the world over can happily enjoy coffee together."

On any given day, there are typically around 100 cards with messages like these affixed to a cork board at the entrance of "Cohaze Coffee," a coffee shop in Tokyo.

The cards on the board are the shop's loyalty cards, with customers getting one point for every drink they order. Once they collect 12points, they receive a coupon for a free cup of coffee. However, instead of using the coupons for themselves, customers give them to others.

 

 

2017年4月開講 ベビークラス

NEW! 2017年4月開講

「赤ちゃんと私のクラス」
Baby-and-Me English Class

赤ちゃんとママが共に遊びを通して心をつないでいく特別な時間です。

オールイングリッシュで、赤ちゃん達の五感を刺激しながら、音楽、歌、ライム、指遊びや絵本を通して赤ちゃんと心の結びつきを深めていきましょう。

リズムにあわせて発音を真似ることから始めましょう。母国語と同様に英語の音を聞く力が身につけられ、さらに様々な音（英語）で自己表現できることに楽しみを覚えていきます。

ママ（パパ）と一緒に何かをするということは子ども達にとって、とても嬉しい事です。ご家庭でも一緒になって英語の歌を歌ったりフレーズを覚えていきましょう。自宅で使えるママ英語レッスンも行い、日頃の英語育児をサポート致します。

The Baby and Me program is an immersion-based parent & child english language class designed for children ages 3-18 months.

At this age children are developing an ear for both their native language as well as their second language. They are also beginning to express themselves and learning how to make all sorts of sounds.

The Baby and Me program will provide you with a special time for enhancing and nurturing your relationship with your little one through music, creative movement, singing, simple games, rhymes, finger plays, chants and books.

クラスにはいつからでも参加頂けます。
Registration is always open- You can register for Baby-and-Me Class at any time!

対象：３か月〜１８か月の赤ちゃんと保護者
月３回　木曜日　11:00am-12:00pm
月謝7800円　入会金5400円

For babies (3 months – 18 months) and Mom, Dad, or Caregiver
Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm
7800yen per month　Registration Fee= 5400 yen

講師：Kazuko Nishihara
イーマックプリスクール（２−３才クラス）マネージャー
CA国際線８年（海外勤務）、現役キャビンアテンダントアカデミー講師
現役英語試験面接官

 

英検準１級/TOEFLスタディグループ 課題006

メンバーは課題１と２を金曜までに読んできて下さい。できればノートに写すと力💪になります。今週は「東京五輪マスコット募集」。

課題１

アイデアを募る：ideas are sought

疑いが出る：suspicions emerge

（〜を）盛り上げる：boost the mood for ...

注目を集める：attract attention

Games mascot ideas sought from public

It has been decided that the public will be invited to submit designs for the mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Ideas for the designs are likely to be widely sought from everyone from children to adults.

When the logos for the Games were chosen, a designer's ideas were initially adopted. But suspicions emerged that the designer might have plagiarized other designs, and so the selection was done over from the beginning. The selection process was criticized for not being open to the public, so to avoid having this kind of thing occur again, it was decided that the general public will also be asked to think about the designs of the mascots.

As mascots contribute to boosting the mood for the Games, hey will attract huge attention. It may be fun for you to think about ideas for the mascots.

 

課題2

幕府を開く：found a shogunate

天守：castle tower

まっすぐ進む：proceed in a straight line

勢力を保つ：remain influential

Map offers insight on Edo Castle's strength

Was Edo Castle really the strongest castle?

A detailed drawing of Edo Castle from around the time it was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who founded the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo(now Tokyo) in 1603, has been discovered for the first time.

The place where the castle was built is the location of the Imperial Palace, in which the Emperor lives.

Details of the original castle have been unclear, as there were fires and it was rebuilt. But the drawing shows that the big castle tower was connected to the small one by a fence and other strubtures. There are many open spaces surrounded by walls so enemies could not proceed in a straight line.

Ieyasu built the castle after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. However, the Toyotomi family remained influential in Osaka.

An expert said, "Perhaps[Ieyasu]built the strong castle in preparation for battle with the Toyotomi family." 

（The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shinbunより）