About use of the textbook

Some of you have probably wondered why we used the textbook so little this year. I have explained this somewhat before, but I'll explain it more here. You have already all studied English for at least six years, so I think you all have a good English foundation. What you need now is to use English independently so that you can develop more fluency. Just doing grammar exercises from a textbook will not give you this fluency. Instead, it's better to focus on activities like projects which expand on topics or points covered in the book. For example, instead of just using the textbook to talk about topics such as culture shock (unit 11), you researched another country and thought about cultural differences between that country in Japan. For this last project, instead of just reading about some random public concerns in the book (unit 12), you researched issues in Japan which are more familiar and important to you. In addition, you used your thinking skills to come up with your own solutions. It's still good to have the textbook, however, as now that the IM course will be finished soon, you can now use it as a reference. It will be good for self-study to review some of the language oints you worked on. So, once again, we didn't use the textbook so much because I wanted to make independent speakers out of you.

Last Quiz Reminder

Remember that our last quiz will be next Monday, July 3rd. Again, here is what you need to do for the final quiz:
1) Choose five of the topics that your classmates presented on for the social issues project.
2) Summarize ONE of their causes and ONE of their solutions.
DO NOT TRY TO MEMORIZE THEIR WHOLE SENTENCE. AS LONG AS YOU CAN DESCRIBE THE IDEA THEY HAD, YOU WILL GET POINTS FOR YOUR ANSWER. REMEMBER, THE POINT IS TO SUMMARIZE OTHER GROUPS' IDEAS, NOT WRITE ORIGINAL SOLUTIONS. SINCE YOU ALREADY LISTENED TO PRESENTATIONS BY THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT. BELOW ARE THE SUMMARIES OF ALL THE TOPICS. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE SUMMARIES FOR THE RIGHT CLASS!

ECO: NEET

I. Issue and reason

The reason we chose this topic is it is something happen all over Japan now, so it is important for us.

II. Causes

In the following, we’ll show the factors that cause the explosive increase of the NEET population.

1) It’s because the parents are spoiling the children. (spoiling=treating them too softly and giving them whatever they want.)

2) It’s also because of the increase in young people who lack a sense of responsibility.

3) Another cause is more and more young people are unable to build good relationships with others.

4) Finally, it’s because of the difficult employment situation.

III. Solutions

1) One solution to this problem is to help young people to find suitable jobs. The Japanese government should provide guidance and support for young people.

2) Our second solution is to support young people emotionally. For example, an organization called Connexions was established in Britain. It helps young people to cope with their whole well-being, and not just their economic situation.

3) Our final solution is to make full-time employment more attractive in terms of the working environment.

ECO: children who are murdered

I. Issue and reason

Our issue is children who are murdered. We chose this topic because the number of children who are murdered has been increasing year by year. Moreover, we thought we would be anxious about that fact if we had children.

II. Causes

1) First, the age of people committing crimes has been younger lately. They target on weaker people, so the age of victims has been younger too.

2) Second, the number of otaku (“geeks”) has been increasing and they can’t make contact with their own generation, so they try to make contact with the younger generation.

3) Last, now many children go to cram school at night. Because some children have to go to school alone at night, they are in danger.

III. Solutions

We have two solutions to solve this problem.

1) First, the local residents should cooperate with each other and do activities such as patrol, etc. to protect the children. But recently the relationship between people who live near each other is not so strong. Therefore, this solution doesn’t seem so effective, so we quoted another solution from the Cabinet Office:

2) It’s called “The promise of good child.” In detail, it said to children “Don’t play alone,” “Never go somewhere with someone you don’t know,” and “Scream for help when someone tries to take you.” These ideas are a good solution if the relationship between parents and child(ren) is good. So, we have to strive to make a good family relationship. This is our final solution.

ECO: drugs

I. Issue and reason

Our issue is drugs, especially marijuana. We chose to focus on this issue because we would like to know how drugs influence society. First, why are a lot of young people using drugs? Second, how does using drugs affect someone’s health? Third, in how many countries is it possible to legally use/smoke marijuana?

II. Causes

1) The most important cause is that people don’t consider it a drug. It’s easy to grow, it’s easy to smoke, and it’s cheap. So, it’s difficult to recognize it as a drug.

2) In addition, many different countries have different laws and penalties regarding marijuana. We think this is related to dealing/smuggling.

III. Solutions

1) The simplest solution is to legalize marijuana. We don’t believe that it’s dangerous. Cigarettes and alcohol are more dangerous, but they are legal. So, it’s fine for marijuana to be legal too.

2) Another solution is to decriminalize it or make it partly legal. For example, the government is the only one that can sell it. Plus, you can smoke it only in designated places. That will prevent people from dealing/selling it.

ECO: declining birth rate II

I. Issue and reason

We are worried about this issue because the declining birth rate is connected with other issues like the shortage of workers and the pension system. We are afraid of what will happen when we grow old.

II. Causes

1) Firstly, the cost of education is increasing. If this continues, it will be difficult for us to raise children in the future.

2) Second, it is difficult to work hard and take care of the children at the same time.

3) Lastly, the burden of child care is increasing due to the nuclear family. The feelings of couples is causing a decline in the number of children.

III. Solutions

1) Firstly, the Japanese government should support people with educational costs.

2) Second, we should change our feelings about child care.

We emphasize our feelings should change. This problem will certainly affect us in the future.

ECO: Yutori (less strenuous) education

I. Issue and reason

We are very concerned about Yutori education because in schools now many things are being cut from the textbooks. Textbooks are starting to have many illustrations and are easy to understand. So, we are very surprised about this. In addition, many parents are worried about this. So, we don’t think it is good to continue this program.

II. Causes

1) One cause of this problem is the style of education before. It is the style which forces children to study. In this education system, many children felt stressed about learning and children grew tired of it.

2) Another cause is that schools don’t reach enough children, so many parents make their children go to cram school too.

3) Finally, if studying is not forced by schools, most students become lazy. They would probably spend their free time watching TV or playing games. It is connected to the decline in academic ability.

III. Solutions

1) One solution to this problem is that schools must have lessons on the weekends or after school. By doing this, we can make schools where parents feel relieved.

2) Another solution is that teachers must teach children morals instead of Yutori education. This is because we often see on the news that there are many crimes committed by children. This is probably because they don’t have enough knowledge of good and evil. Also, teachers must learn morals/ethics and study it as well.

ECO: pension

I. Issue and reason

We are very concerned about this issue because the pension will surely have something to do with us in the future. In addition, this problem is currently being focused on in the Diet (Koizumi-vs-Okada).

II. Causes

1) The main cause of this issue is the birth rate is decreasing, but older people are living longer than ever before. The reason for the declining birth rate is that women can achieve a higher position in our society, so they continue working into their thirties. This causes people to get married later in life.

2) An additional cause of this problem is that there are many people who don’t pay a pension now.

III. Solutions

1) The best solution to this problem is to sweep away distrust which the young have. The young tend to think that they may not be able to get as much pension as they pay insurance premiums in the future.

2) In order to support this solution, the government should make a solid pension foundation and assure the young the same amount of pensions they pay.

ECO: low birth rate

I. Issue and reason

Our issue is the low birth rate. We chose this topic because this is a big problem but many people don’t realize how serious the situation is. So, we wanted to tell everyone about this big issue.

II. Causes

1) One cause of this problem is that parents have to bear the burden economically. It costs a lot of money to raise children.

2) An additional cause of this problem is parents can’t do anything they want to. If you have children, you lose your freedom.

3) Finally, because people are getting married later in life, the physical task of having children is more difficult.

III. Solutions

1) One way to solve this problem is for parents to have two children.

2) Our second solution is to make it more difficult for teenagers to avoid having children. For example, we could prohibit contraception and raise the cost of an abortion from two hundred thousand yen to one million yen.

ECO: homeless

I. Issue and reason

We are concerned about this problem because we have a bad image about the homeless. When we see them around the train station or in other public places, we are sometimes afraid of them, thinking that they might rob us because they are poor. So, the homeless is a serious problem and a problem which we come across in our daily lives.

II. Causes

1) One cause of this problem is unemployment. After World War II, Japanese industries started to use many machines to make many products the same time. So, people like with such skills or people who couldn’t keep up with the times lost their jobs. The recession was also a cause of unemployment.

2) A second cause of this problem is family problems, especially divorce. A person who gets divorced and loses his house goes to the big city to find a job and someplace to live. But he doesn’t always succeed because of the recession.

3) The final cause is too difficult to solve. This is because some people are willing to become homeless.

These are the main causes of this problem.

III. Solutions

1) One solution is about education. Educators should educate children not to become homeless in the future. For example, if in the future they lose their job and don’t have any money, teachers teach them the existence of places which can aid them. Additionally, educators can also teach people not to discriminate against the homeless.

2) The second solution is a little strict for the homeless. The government should kick them out of the station or other public places.

3) Then, some companies can give people like this a job, a place to live, and a small salary.

The second solution is strict, but it can work well if it’s connected with the third solution. Then we hope the homeless problem can be solved.

BUS: unemployment

I. Issue and reason

There are many unemployed people in Japan, and this is a very serious problem. We chose this topic because unemployment is possible even for us in the near future. This problem is connected to us.

II. Causes

1) One cause is the decrease in job offers. Only 59.9% of university graduates have a job now.

2) The second cause is the increase in part-time workers. One out of five people are part-time workers.

3) The last cause is the increase in people who are not married and don’t work and are still supported by their parents.

III. Solutions

1) First, these days there is a lot of job recruiting information and issues about employment, so people should check it on the internet.

2) Secondly, you should look at many jobs with an open mind to get more interesting information about these different jobs.

3) Thirdly, companies should employ more people. The Japanese economy is getting better, so many companies are starting to make a movement to employ more people.

BUS: social withdrawal syndrome (hikikomori)

I. Issue and reason

Our issue is social withdrawal. This means people who stay inside for a long time. We are concerned because we sometimes want to stay inside and don’t want to see anyone else. Do you feel that way sometimes too? Still, you are not hikikomori because “social withdrawal” is defined as people who stay inside for more than six months. Statistics show that there are one million people suffering from social withdrawal syndrome in Japan.

II. Causes

We think there are three causes for this problem

1) The first cause is social factors. For example, when people are bullied, they don’t want to go to school or to the office. That’s why they tend to stay inside.

2) The second cause is psychological factors. Once people fall into depression or have panic attacks, they always live in fear, so they can’t meet anyone.

3) A final cause is biological factors, such as a birth defect, learning disability, and so on. Many people don’t understand such problems, so they can’t help staying inside.

Social withdrawal syndrome is not so simple to understand. These three causes are connected with each other. That’s why recovery is so difficult.

III. Solutions

1) One way to solve this problem is support from their parents. To help them, their parents have to understand this problem well and change the circumstances of the family. When they come to communicate with their parents, they will accept their advice, such as having a part-time job. This can be a step towards making a commitment to fully joining society.

2) Another solution is a hard measure or a kind of tough love. This project’s name is “going to paradise.” What image do you have of this? First, someone (such as their parents), gives them a sleeping pill and takes them on an airplane to another country, a resort, etc. When they wake up and see the beautiful scene, it makes them surprised and touched. Finally, they want to stay or live there, so they start working to save money for that. As a result, they can achieve a full return to society. In order to carry out this project, we need cooperation from the government, doctors, etc.

BUS: low voter rate among young Japanese

I. Issue and reason

We chose the low voter rate among young Japanese. We chose this topic because we are facing a crisis in Japan but young people in Japan don’t have any interest in politicians’ policies.

II. Causes

1) First, there is apathy about Japanese policies. This means that young Japanese don’t have any interest in politics, so they don’t want to watch the news on TV or don’t study hard about Japanese policies in school.

2) Second, people don’t believe in Japanese policies. We all think there’s a dark side to Japanese politics. This means that there are many bad things like bribes or amakudari (link between the government and corporations), so young Japanese don’t trust politicians.

III. Solutions

We are in the darkness now, but have hope that there are three possible solutions:

1) The first solution is to make more chances to listen to candidates’ true opinions and what they stand for, such as making TV commercials or discussion programs. This will make elections more attractive and resolve political uncertainty. Only going around the city with noisy vans is a waste of time and money.

2) The second solution is to give people something if they vote in the election. For example, we can get tomato juice when we donate blood.

3) The third solution is to lower the voting age so that more people can participate in and be interested in elections. The moment we have the right and responsibility to vote, we have to pay attention to candidates’ policies. Now, we rarely have the opportunity to imagine voting. The third solution is to give them the good chance!

BUS: computer file-exchanging

I. Issue and reason

We chose the problem of file-exchanging program as our topic. We found that this is now becoming a big problem of violating copyright laws by exchanging music, comics, movies, etc. without paying or permission. Also, this problem might lead to another problem—the outflow private or secret data.

II. Causes

The following three factors cause people to use exchange programs even though they know it’s illegal:

1) All these exchanging programs are free, so there’s no need to pay a lot of money for music or movies.

2) Second, it is easy to do. Even people who are not too familiar with computers can use these programs without much difficulty.

3) The last factor is there are billions of people using these programs, so people don’t believe that they could be arrested. Therefore, by continuing to use these programs, consciousness that it’s a crime becomes lower and lower.

III. Solutions

To solve this problem, we need to plan for it in the long-term.

1) First, the Japanese government needs to train young politicians familiar with computers or the internet to correspond to such file exchanging software. Currently, there are few people in the government or Ministry of Justice who have a lot of knowledge about computers and the internet.

2) Another solution is to legalize all these file-exchanging programs, but have the government regulate them. If the government manages the programs, it will be very easy to expose the illegal downloading. Even if any new exchanging programs appeared, the government could warn the developer to mediate the government’s computer or he will be arrested.

BUS: declining birth rate/aging society

I. Issue and Reason

We have heard that Japan will become a society where one young person will have to support four old people in the future. Additionally, we recently saw goods such as mobile phones marketed for elderly people.

II. Causes

1) One cause is the rise in women’s educational backgrounds. Therefore, women’s salaries have become higher than before so now it is hard for men feed their family just on one salary.

2) Related to the first reason, many people are getting married later in life, staying single, or having dual income families.

3) Many women don’t want to quit their jobs to get married. Furthermore, some women don’t want to have any children.

III. Solutions

1) The government should provide support for families which have more than two children.

2) If people are over forty and don’t have any children, they should have to pay extra taxes.

3) Companies should have nurseries so women can leave their children there while they are working.

BUS: garbage/the environment

I. Issue and Reason

We thought this problem is becoming serious as we are using too many natural resources. We also need to know how much garbage exists, what’s in it, and where it all goes.

II. Causes

1) One cause is that people demand too much convenience. Companies in developed countries supply too many products that are over-packaged.

2) In addition, people in developed countries think nothing about buying. They buy easily and throw away easily.

3) Finally, companies encourage consumers to buy things through TV commercials, free magazines on the street, junk mail, etc.

III. Solutions

1) If we buy only one bottle of something or a pack of gum, we should say “I don’t need a bag” or bring our own bag.

2) We should encourage consumers to avoid buying products with too much packaging

3) Wash and reuse glass products.

4) Divide garbage into at least three categories: burnable, unburnable, and hazardous waste.

5) Always carry your own chopsticks.

6) We also have to cut down on unnecessary purchases.

7) Finally, companies must play their part and start thinking about the environment more than just their profits.

BUS: NEET

I. Issue and Reason

Our issue is NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). We chose to focus on this issue because a lot of people who are NEET are from the same generation as us.

II. Causes

1) First, it is because of economic circumstances such as the recession. Now, there is a recession in Japan, so even if NEET people try to get a job, it is difficult to find one.

2) Secondly, young people aren’t taught to take care of themselves.

3) Finally, a third cause of this problem is inferiority complex because of their grades in schools. This turns them into hedonists because in Japanese society so much importance is put on grades.

III. Solutions

1) First, NEET can exchange information with people who have some problems and seek countermeasures. Then, they can support each other.

2) Second, the government and local public bodies should do something for them. For example, the government could support them in finding jobs.

3) Third, they should communicate with their family so they don’t feel inferior. If they have good communication with their family, they will try to improve themselves.

BUS: Sexual harassment

I. Issue and Reason

Our issue is sexual harassment. The reason why we chose this topic is that someone in the group knew a teacher who was arrested for sexual harassment, so we have personal reasons.

II. Causes

1) One cause is that there are some differences between men and women’s sense of values.

2) Another cause is that in Japan there is the stereotype that women are thought to be weaker than men, so this can lead to sexual harassment.

III. Solutions

1) We should understand the difference in values among men and women.

2) We should make everyone know how serious sexual harassment is. For example, companies can distribute pamphlets warning employees that they’ll get fired if they do it.

3) We should make sexual harassment laws stricter. For example, people who do sexual harassment have to pay heavier fines.

BUS: Juveniles who murder parents

I. Issue and Reason

We talked about juveniles who murder their parents. What could possibly drive them to kill their own parents? We might be able to sympathize with them even if we are not juveniles anymore because we are still young. That’s why we chose this issue.

II. Causes

1) There is a lack of communication among the family or at school.

2) Another cause is excess pressure by parents or other adults in a competitive society. These factors include different problems, for example divorce or remarriage of parents, bullying, etc.

3) A final cause is the prevalence of games, comics, TV programs, and movies which have a bad influence on society. In other words, there is a lack of consideration in society.

III. Solutions

1) One solution is to increase communication between parents and children and face each other seriously.

2) Another solution is for adults not to press their hopes on their children. This solution goes for parents, teachers, and other adults. The most important thing is to show children that you love them.

3) A final solution is to strictly regulate violent games, comics, movies and other media. This might be difficult in this information age, but we hope it can be improved.

Yakushima: A Cool and Rain-Free Trip!

I have talked a lot about different countries I've visited, but I should write something about Japan! Of course I love traveling in Japan too, so I'll write about a cool trip I took here last year. Before I finally someday leave Japan, I would like to see as much of this great country as possible. For some reason, I am especially attracted to unusual or hard-to-get-to places. That is why I finally took a trip to Yakushima this past summer. Of course Yakushima is not unusual, as it gets hordes of tourists, but almost none of my Japanese friends have been there.

I was also attracted to Yakushima because I'm an outdoorsy person. Two of my biggest passions these days are hiking and mountain biking. This might sound boring to younger people, as I also wasn't into activities like these at all when I was a student. But these days one of the most important factors in my travel plans is finding places with big, beautiful mountains and breath-taking scenery. Of course Yakushima has both!

I was incredibly lucky during my stay in Yakushima. Yakushima is known as the rainiest part of Japan, and the locals even joke that it rains 35 days a month! When I was there, however, I was blessed with three days of gorgeous, non-stop sunshine. I had the perfect lifestyle on Yakushima. I woke up by 7 AM, had a nice breakfast at my inn, and then I was riding my bike or climbing a mountain by 8 or 9. Then, after a hard day working my body and taking in awesome views, I could kick back with a big cold beer and then a filling dinner.

What I probably liked most of all about my stay in Yakushima, however, was the lodging! My travel book highly recommended a little place called the Chinryu-an Guesthouse. I don't always like to listen to guidebooks, but it seemed like a cool place. Well, the guidebook definitely hit the nail on the head this time. When I stay somewhere, I am most concerned with comfort and atmosphere. Chinryu-an absolutely had both. It looks like a tiny log cabin from the outside, but it manages to somehow be both spacious and cozy on the inside. Plus, I could sleep on a cool bunk bed that was like 10 or 15 feet high above the ground. I felt like a kid again, even though it was such a pain climbing up and down the ladder whenever I forget something.

One of the cool things about this guesthouse was the host, Chinryu. He used to be a Tokyoite, but has now settled for the more peaceful pace of Yakushima. He definitely made me and everyone feel right at home. He gave me tons of useful information about the local mountains and other interesting spots. What I liked most about him was he wasn't afraid to give his honest opinion. After he warned me not to go to a certain place because there would be too many tourists, I had a lot of respect for him. He definitely knows the island like the back of his hand, as he told me, "if you go hiking in this place, you'll only see about 5 people all day." And I ended up seeing exactly 5 people. It was a little creepy but very very cool!

Another good thing about the guesthouse is that it's an interesting mix of Japanese and foreign guests. So, I got to chat with an Italian who was traveling around Japan, meet a nice British couple who were working on organic farms in Japan, and also meet nice and interesting Japanese people from all over the country. I even talked to one girl who had stayed in the same guesthouse more than 1o times.

Anyway, I have a lot of places left to see in Japan, but hopefully I'll find time for Yakushima again. My goal next time is to cycle all the way around the island, which will take around 8-10 hours. That will be quite a feat, but with cold beer, great food, and Chinryu's big, crazy smile waiting for me, I'm sure I can do it!
(I'll add some pics of my trip later, but the server is a little slow right now, so stay tuned...)

The Greek masterpiece: souvlaki! 

Sharing another great meal with new Greek friends 

Sharing a meal and Greek wine with friend Nikos 

Greece: a culinary paradise

Foreign travel has always been one of my passions in life, and, like most people, sampling new and exotic foods is one of the most exciting part of any trip. On my recent trip to Greece, I was blown away by the cuisine and I miss it already.
One of the most well-known staples of the Greek cuisine is the Greek salad, which is a simple but heavenly mix of vegetables and cheese. It is usually piled high with tomatoes, onions, olives, and maybe cucumbers, and then, of course, topped off with a humongous chunk of feta cheese. A piece of feta cheese that size would probably cost several hundred yen in Japan, so the cheese alone makes the price worth it. It's intimidating to see all that cheese on a salad, but if you are sharing, it will disappear quickly. Another famous Greek staple is souvlaki, which is essentially pita bread stuffed full with lamb or chicken, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki, a lovely sauce of yoghurt and garlic. Obviously, souvlaki is terrible for your breath, but wonderful for your tummy! Despite rising prices in Greece, you can usually get a souvlaki for around 1.5 euro, which makes for a filling and economical lunch. If you want coffee with your meal, however, add 3 more euro--twice the price of your lunch!
What I especially liked about Greek cuisine was the approach to eating. Although Greeks tend not to eat dinner until the unbearable hour of 9 or 10 at night, the wait is well worth it. Greek food often consists of a series of mezes, which are small dishes to be shared. This makes eating in Greece a much more communal affair than in the US, as people share everything when they eat, similar to eating in a Japanese izakaya. Eating is very casual and enjoyed, as people stick their forks straight into each dish and place pieces of bread right on the table.
Another great aspect of the Greek approach to eating is if you wash everything down with ouzo, the most famous Greek alchohol. Although this drink has the unique and acquired taste of black licorice, it goes surprisingly well with food. It goes to the head quickly, so it is guaranteed to make dinner conversation livelier and more interesting.
Finally, despite constantly stuffing my face while in Greece, I always felt like I was having a healthy meal. Greek food is full of vegetables, seafood, and the good oil (olive oil), so you could eat a lot while feeling like you were giving something good to your body as well.
Again, eating is the highlight of any trip, and I will daydream of Greek cuisine for months to come...

Peruvian dance party near Lake Titicaca 

A llama at Machu Picchu