The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Week 9

Baker Street Tube, London

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to finish our fan fiction projects and review for the final exam. Your final exam is next Thursday, 15 November. Please click the link to download your study guide. Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Vocabulary.

Next, I have error coded your fan fiction stories. Please click the link to download the Writing Errors Codes document. Use the Writing Error Codes document to help you edit and rewrite your story. Your final draught is due next Thursday.



Please send your final draught to me by e-mail and also please print a copy and bring it to class next week.


See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Presentation I - Week 9: Final Presentation Part 2

Hi everybody,
Today we are going to finish preparing for our final presentations and do some practice too. First, let's watch one of the best presentations ever - Steve Job's introduction of the MacBook Air, one of the greatest inventions ever!

OK, keep practicing. See you next week.

The University of Tsukuba CE Science and Maths C1 - Week 9

Bison skull pile

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to talk about endangered species. Some species become extinct naturally. For example, dinosaurs became extinct because of a natural disaster. However, some species become extinct because of human behaviour. Look at the picture on the left. Hundreds of Bison were killed in order to make this pile of skulls. The Bison nearly became extinct because of hunting in the 19th century.
Click the link to see a video showing endangered species.



Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE Science and Math C1 Vocabulary.

Honshu Wolf

Look at the picture on the left. The Honshu wolf is extinct now. The Hokkaido wolf is extinct now too.
What do you think of buying products made from endangered species, for example: shamisen picks (撥) and Japanese seals (はんこ) made of ivory? Please post a comment.





Don't forget, your final test is next week. Study hard!

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Week 9

Sports People by Emerson Utracik

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to finish working on our projects and do some review for the final test.

First let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-PhysEd B3 Vocabulary.

Now, look at the picture. Can you guess which sports these people play?

Finally, click the link to download your second semester final exam study guide.

Your final exam will be next Monday. 

Good luck, and study hard!

The University of Tsukuba CE Humanities A Week 9

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to talk about Gender and Culture. Look at the image on the left. This image represents Yin-Yang (陰陽). By understanding this symbol, we can understand part of the Taoist idea of gender.  The white part, Yin, is considered feminine. The black part, Yang, is considered masculine. According to wikipedia, "They fit together as two parts of a whole. The male principle was equated with the sun: active, bright, and shining; the female principle corresponds to the moon: passive, shaded, and reflective. Male toughness was balanced by female gentleness, male action and initiative by female endurance and need for completion, and male leadership by female supportiveness." 

Now let's pause in order to study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE - Humanities A Vocabulary.

These ideas about gender are similar to ideas about gender in other cultures too. A culture's ideas about gender are also reflected in that culture's language. Can you think of ways Japanese is different for men and women? Please post a comment. 

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Week 8

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to review The Sign of Four, study some vocabulary and study some grammar.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Vocabulary.



Now look at the image. It's a timeline of The Sign of Four. In your note book, complete the timeline. After that, do the grammar exercises on 77-83 in your textbook.
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Presentation I - Week 8: Final Presentation Part 1

Steve Jobs introducing the iPad

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to begin preparing for our final presentation. Our final presentation is a Persuasive Presentation.

Steve Jobs' presentations were legendary. His presentations were very persuasive. Let's watch part of Steve Jobs' presentation introducing the iPad. Watch and do the following:

1. Describe the visuals Steve Jobs uses
2. Make a list of adjectives Steve Jobs uses, eg. "Extraordinary!"

Please click the link: Steve Jobs Introduces iPad (Part 1).

OK, please click the link to download your Final Presentation Worksheet.

The University of Tsukuba CE Science and Maths C1 - Week 8

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to talk about animal trapping. Animal trapping is a controversial topic. Organisations including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) campaign against animal trapping. A Japanese celebrity, Aya Sugimoto has participated in PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked anti-fur campaign. On the other hand, some people depend on animal trapping.



Before we read about trapping, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE Science and Math C1 Vocabulary.

What do you think of animal trapping. Please post a comment.
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Week 8

Ye Gude Olde Days

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to start our project.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-PhysEd B3 Vocabulary.

Now click the link to download your project:
IE-PhysEd Project.



We'll continue working on this project next week. Please finish the first draught of your  essay by next week.

The University of Tsukuba CE Humanities A Week 8

Hello everyone,
I hope you had a nice week-end. Today we are going to discuss politeness.
Look at the picture on the left. There have been some very interesting manner posters in Japan. Click the link to see some interesting manner posters. Which poster do you think is most effective (最も効果的な) ?

Let's study some vocabulary.


Everyone thinks that their culture is the most polite. Canadians are very proud of their reputation for politeness. Japanese also take pride in their reputation for politeness. However, politeness is a culturally defined phenomenon. Behaviour that is considered polite in one culture may be considered eccentric or even rude in another culture. This makes politeness very difficult in international situations. To make matters worse, manners change over time, even within the same culture. For example, people of my parents' generation always wore hats outdoors, but it was considered bad manners for men to wear hats indoors. Now people don't wear hats so much, but when they do, they wear them where ever they please. Also, when I was a boy, I always had to stand when a woman entered the room. I always had to hold doors open for people too, especially women, but now women prefer to open doors themselves.

Can you think of ways manners have changed in Japan? Please post a comment below.

One more thing, I have made a study guide for you. The Final Exam will be Monday 12 November. Click the link to download your second semester study guide.
See you next week.

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Week 7

Hello everyone, Today we are going to review the Sign of Four and start our first project. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Vocabulary. Now look at the mind map below. Copy the mind map in your note book. Then complete the mind map. Add more information.


 
Create your own mind maps at MindMeister

Next, let's start our project. Our project is a fan fiction project. Click the link to download your project task sheet: The Sign of Four Fan Fiction Project.
The three best stories will be published on this blog, and the students who write the three best stories will receive a book as their prize.
Please submit your stories by e-mail. Your stories are due on the 1st of November.
Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba Presentation I - Week 7: Explaining visuals

Hello everyone, Today we are going to learn how to explain visuals. First, let's watch a great video made by a man in Bahrain. English is not his native language, and he made a couple of grammar mistakes. Nevertheless, this is a really good video to watch in order to learn what TO DO, and what NOT TO DO. Enjoy!

OK, your homework is to prepare your comparison presentation. You will give your comparison presentation next week.

The University of Tsukuba CE Science and Maths C1 - Week 7

Chilean fisherman catching Jack Mackerel

Good morning everyone,

Today we are going to continue talking about overfishing. Look at the picture on the left. The net has caught 400 tons (about 360,000 Kg) of Jack Mackerel. Jack Mackerel is a similar species to the Horse Mackerel.
Some countries, including Japan use factory ships that can catch, fillet, and freeze the fish before the ship returns to its home port!



OK, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE Science and Math C1 Vocabulary.

Tuna at the Tsukiji Market

As promised, I have made a study guide for you. Please click the link to download your semester 2 final test study guide.

The final test will be on the 13th of November.

Finally, don't forget. Assignment 1 is due next week.

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Week 7

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to read about Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Jackie Joyner Kersee was an Olympic athlete. She had to overcome a health problem (病気を克服する) - asthma (喘息). You can read a Japanese wikipedia article about Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE PhysEd B3 Vocabulary. Do you know any athletes that have had to overcome a challenge (試練を乗り越える)? Please post a comment below.

The University of Tsukuba CE Humanities A Week 7

Hello everyone,
I hope you had a great week-end.
Today we are going to talk about individualism.
People who believe in individualism are individualists. Individualists value independence and self-reliance (自力本願、自立、自己依存、独立独歩、自信). Let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE-Humanities A Vocabulary.
You can read a Japanese wikipedia article about individualism.
Do you consider yourself to be more individualist or more collectivist? Please post a comment below.

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Week 6

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review chapters 8 and 9. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes the Sign of Four Vocabulary. 
Now let's watch a video and do a quiz. The quiz should be easy if you have done the reading.

Ok, for homework please read chapter 10. Have a nice week-end. See you next week.

The University of Tsukuba Presentation I - Week 6: Making visuals

Death by Powerpoint (and how to fight it)

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to learn about making good slides. So many presenters make very bad slides that we have a new expression in English: Death by Powerpoint. Click the link to read a Japanese blog post about Death by Powerpoint.

If you want to read a really good book about making presentations, I recommend Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. You can get some great FREE tips from his website too.

OK, let's make some great slides now!

The University of Tsukuba CE Science and Maths C1 - Week 6

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to start our next unit, Only One Earth. This unit is about the environment.

Today we will also start our first assignment. Please click the link to download Assignment 1.
You can see some examples of work done by students at Shibaura Institute of Technology.
Please click the links to see Gentaro's Report, and Seiya and Dan's Reports.

Today we are going to talk about fishing.
First let's study some vocabulary. Please click this link: CE Science & Math C1 Vocabulary.

Look at the photo on the left. What kind of fish am I holding? Do you like fishing? Do you like to eat fish? Do you think overfishing is a problem? Please leave a comment below.

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Week 6

Hello everyone,
I hope you had a great week-end.

Today we are going to talk about our favourite athletes.

In Japan, Homare Sawa is very popular.

Please answer the questions below about Homare Sawa.

1. How many Asian players have won the Woman's World Player award?
2. Who did Ms. Sawa sit next to at the award ceremony?
3. When did she scoop the award?
4. How old was she when she was given the award?
5. What colour kimono did she wear to the award ceremony?
6. Who is the manager of the Japanese Women's National Soccer team?
7. Who was Woman's World Player for the 5 previous years? 

Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link:  IE - PhysEd B3 Vocabulary


Now please click the link to download today's lesson materials.

Please post your answers to these questions as a comment.
Do you like Homare Sawa? Who's your favourite athlete?

Ok, see you next week!

The University of Tsukuba CE Humanities A Week 6

http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-3360396220

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to talk about body language. First let's study some vocabulary.

Look at the picture on the left. What are the girls saying?

Click the link to learn more about the V sign.

You can learn more about body language by reading this article: How to read Body language.



Describe your favourite gesture. Post a comment below.