The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation I Trimester 3 Wk 5

Uploaded to Flickr by wutsunu

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to do our demonstration presentations. Then we are going to start talking about "the visual message". 

Look at the photo above. In the photo you can see Garr Reynolds. Garr Reynolds is one of the best presenters I've ever seen. His slides are great. He has a very good book that I recommend called Presentation Zen. 

Like zen, and bentos, the key to a great presentation is balance and simplicity. 

Please click the link to see Garr Reynolds top 10 slide tips.

OK, in your next presentation you will compare two countries. You will have to gather some data and make some slides. You need a title slide, a slide for your outline, 3 data slides, and a slide for your questions. Please bring your slides with you next week.

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation II Trimester 3 Wk 5

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to do our second presentations. Then we'll move on to our next topic: Using Visuals. First, let's watch a video made by a great teacher in Japan called Tom Kenny.


OK, now let's learn more about using visuals. Click the link to see some previous posts about visuals.

The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 5

Hello everyone, Today we will continue discussing Love and Marriage. Look at the picture above. This is a picture I took of a Bangladeshi bride and groom at a wedding reception I attended in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In the photo below you can see me with my colleagues. The men, including me, are wearing a traditional Bengali shirt called a "panjabi". This shirt is called a Kurta in India. We were a little embarrassed because all the Bangladeshi men wore European business suits. 


 


Let's listen to two people talking about Love and Marriage in Bangladesh. Some people in Bangladesh have arranged marriages. Let's listen to a conversation about arranged marriages on my friend Todd Beukens' great website English Listening Lesson Library Online (ELLLO). Please listen to the conversation and do the quiz. 

Next, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross cultural awareness and English vocabulary.

Now, let's learn more about Bengali weddings. Please click the link. Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What is a Ghotok?
2. What are the four parts of the Bengali wedding?
3. What is Gaye holud? 
4. What is the Mahr?
5. Who arranges the wedding ceremony?
6. What do many of the wedding ceremony traditions revolve around?
7. Who arranges the reception?
8. What is the "flower bed" ceremony?

Finally, please leave a comment. What do you think of Bengali wedding traditions?

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Trimester 3 Week 4

Photo by Se Bon

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed the holiday. Today we are going to review. Then we'll do a quiz about chapters 1-11.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles Vocabulary.

Now let's do the quiz. Click the link and download the quiz: Hound of the Baskervilles Week 4 Review Quiz.




Finally, for homework please read chapters 12 and 13.

Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing II Week 4

Good morning everyone, welcome back. Today we are going to start with some review. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.

Next, let's comment on some posts made by our peers on our University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog.

Our next task will be to write about life at the University of Tsukuba. Let's read what students at Shibaura Institute of Technology say about their life at university. Please click the link: Life at Shibaura.

Finally, please write a paragraph of 200 words or more about your life at the University of Tsukuba. Send your first draughts to me by e-mail. Please don't forget to refer to our writing style sheet. Please send your first draughts to me by noon Tuesday 15 January.
Enjoy!!

The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing I Week 4

Hello everyone, welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the holidays. I suspect that most of you didn't use English during the break. I saw only a few comments on our University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog, and I didn't see many English Tweets by University of Tsukuba students either. So, I think we need some review.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.

Next, let's comment on some posts made by our peers on our University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog.

Our next task will be to write about life at the University of Tsukuba. Before we start writing, let's read what students at Shibaura Institute of Technology say about their life at university. Please click the link: Life at Shibaura.

Finally, please write a paragraph of 200 words or more about your life at the University of Tsukuba. Send your first draughts to me by e-mail. Please don't forget to refer to our writing style sheet. Please send your first draughts to me by noon Friday 11 January.
Have fun writing, and see you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation II Trimester 3 Wk 4

Hello everyone, welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the holidays.
Last time we learned about formal and informal introductions, and how to make introductions better. We talked about stating your purpose too.
Today we are going to talk about effective openings. An effective opening grabs the audience's attention. It creates interest in your presentation. One way to create interest is to surprise your audience.
Look at the image on the left. Who are the people in the image? What do you think they have in common? I think the answers to these questions will surprise you....

Your second presentation will be a repeat of your first presentation. This time you must rewrite your introduction so that it is informal,  has an effective opening, and it states the purpose of your presentation.
Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Trimester 3 Wk 3

Hello everyone, welcome back. Today we are going to read an article about soccer. The article is called, "Heading a soccer ball can injure brain". The article comes from a great website called BreakingNewsEnglish.com.

In the article we learn about an injury called "concussion" (脳震とう). Let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-PhysEd B3 Vocabulary.

People can get a concussion while playing many sports. Can you think of three sports in which a concussion is a common injury? I'll give you a hint. Concussions are a big problem in my favourite sport.



Have you ever had a serious injury while playing a sport? Please post a comment.

The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 4

Hello everyone! Welcome back. Today we are going to review what we've learned about love and marriage in Botwana, China and Crete. Then we'll learn about some Jewish wedding traditions.

First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross cultural awareness and English vocabulary. After you have studied for five minutes, scan pages 147 and 148 in your textbook. Add any words you don't know to our vocabulary flashcard set.

Now let's learn about superstitions have Jewish wedding customs special.

What do you think of the superstitions you have read about. Are you superstitious? Can you think of any superstitions associated with Japanese wedding customs? Please post a comment.

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation I Trimester 3 Wk 4

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you enjoyed the winter break. Since we haven't had a class for a couple of weeks, today we'll start off with some review. Then we are going to learn about voice inflection - stressing, stretching and pausing. After that we will prepare for our next presentation. Our next presentation will be a demonstration speech. To demonstrate means to show. Usually a demonstration shows how to do something. Let's watch a video. This video shows how to make miso soup. This video is a step-by-step demonstration. Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation II Trimester 3 Wk 3

Merry Christmas everyone,

Today we are going to do our very first presentations. Then we are going to start all over again from the beginning and fine tune our presentations skills starting with introductions.

Next week you will repeat your first presentation with a new and improved introduction. Today you will learn some important phrases to help you write both formal and informal introductions, to state your purpose clearly and to have an effective opening.

Have a nice holiday. See you next year!

The University of Tsukuba Christmas Day Lesson

 メリークリスマス！Nollaig shona duit! Joyeaux Noel! Merry Christmas everyone! Today Christmas Day is being celebrated in many countries around the world. However, the 25th of December is not the only day Christmas is celebrated on. Christmas Day will be celebrated on the 6th of January in Armenia, and it will be celebrated on the 7th of January in Ethiopia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova. 

In Japan, Christmas is mostly a secular (世俗的な) commercial celebration. Interestingly, Christmas Eve has become a time for Japanese couples to have romantic dinners and exchange gifts. 





Our Cross Cultural Awareness and English lecture today will be on love songs sung on the island of Crete in Greece. By the way, "Merry Christmas" in Greek is Καλά Χριστούγεννα!
Click the link today's lecture topic: The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 3

The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing II Week 3

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review the structure of a paragraph, edit our self introductions again, and post to our class writing blog. Actually it is a blog for both of my writing classes, so you will have a chance to read posts by students in my other class too. An important part of the writing process is sharing your writing with friends and colleagues. The comments you receive from your friends and colleagues will help you improve the content of your writing and also help you develop an understanding of your readers.






Let's get started. Please click the link: The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog. Read the posts written by the students in my other writing class. Then post a comment. Please comment on at least 3 posts.
Happy holidays!

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Trimester 3 Week 3

Hello everyone, Today we are going to review chapters 5 -9 of The Hound of the Baskervilles. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles Vocabulary. Now, let's do a quiz. Please answer the questions in the Quiz form below. Some of the questions are the same as the questions in last week's quiz.

Now let's watch a video. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse Part 2. Watch the video and take notes.
Now please click the link and download today's worksheet: Hound of the Baskervilles Chapters 1-9 Worksheet.
For homework please read chapters 10 and 11. There will be another quiz next class.
Happy holidays!

The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing I Week 3

Adapted from an image uploaded to Flickr by stevendepolo

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review the structure of a paragraph, edit our self introductions again, and post to our class writing blog. Actually it is a blog for both of my writing classes, so you will have a chance to read posts by students in my other class too. An important part of the writing process is sharing your writing with friends and colleagues. The comments you receive from your friends and colleagues will help you improve the content of your writing and also help you develop an understanding of your readers.



Let's get started. Please click the link: The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog. 

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Trimester 3 Wk 3

Hi everyone,

Look at the image to the left. What do you think we are going to talk about this class? Write 5 questions about the picture. Have a 2-minute English conversation with a partner.

Before we continue discussing today's topic, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-PhysEd B3 Vocabulary.

OK, today we are going read another article from BreakingNewsEnglish.com .
Please click the link to go to the article:
Energy Drinks Irreversibly Damage Teeth.




So, what do you think? Will you stop drinking sports and energy drinks? Please post a comment.
See you next class!

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation I Trimester 3 Wk 3

Hello everyone, Today we are going to do our first presentations.

After that we are going to learn more about gestures.

Look at the picture. What does the gesture mean? Do you ever make this gesture? When? Where? or Why?

Your next presentation will be a layout speech. For homework, please prepare your speech. You will give your presentation at the beginning of next class, so don't be late!

Your presentation must be one minute.
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Trimester 3 Wk 2

Hello everyone, I hope you had a nice week-end. Let's start today with a video. Watch the video. Where was the video taken? What is happening in the video?

 

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

Today's lesson is about the 2012 Copa Sudamericana Final between Sao Paulo and Tigre. Please click the link to download today's worksheet: South America soccer title won after riot. Today's worksheet was adapted from a lesson written by Sean Banville (@SeanBanville on Twitter). Sean has an excellent website called BreakingNewsEnglish.com. You can see the original lesson that this lesson is based on by clicking the link: http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1212/121215-copa_sudamericana.html
So, what do you think about violence in sport. Please post a comment.
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 3

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to learn about μαντινάδες (Mantinades), which are love poems sung at weddings on the island of Crete. Crete is the largest island in Greece. It was once the centre of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was the oldest civilization in Europe, so Crete has a rich cultural tradition. This rich cultural tradition has given the people of Crete some wonderful wedding customs, including the Mantinades.

Before we learn about the Mantinades, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross cultural awareness and English Vocabulary. 
Now let's listen to a mantinades. The song is called Please click the link: 

Ο ΥΜΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΝΑΣ - ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΖΕΡΒΑΚΗΣ . 

The title means, "Hymn to Mother". The singer says that there are many kinds of love in the world but the one kind of love that stands out is love for one's mother. Why do you think that a man might sing a song about his love for his mother at his wedding?

Ok, now please turn to p. 142.

What do you think of Mantinades? Are there any similar types of poetry in Japanese culture, or in the cultures of other peoples? Post a comment below.

See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Academic English Presentation I Trimester 3 Wk 2

Adapted from an image uploaded to Flickr by MML

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to start learning how to give good presentations.
First, let's look at the course outline.
Now, lets look at a bad presentation. Watch the presentation and take notes. What mistakes are the presenters making?

Last week we learned a little about good presentation posture and good eye contact. Let's review.





Your first presentation will be an informative speech. For homework, please prepare your speech. You will give your presentation at the beginning of next class, so don't be late!

Your presentation must be one minute.

See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Trimester 3 Week 2

Hello everyone, Today we are going to review chapters 1 -4 of The Hound of the Baskervilles. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles Vocabulary.

Now, let's do a quiz. Please answer the questions in the Quiz form below.



For homework please read chapters 5 - 9 Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba Academic English: Presentation 2 Wk 2

Adapted from an image uploaded to Flickr by knittymarie

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to review the basic presentation skills you learned in Presentation 1.

Look at the image on the left. What's wrong with this presentation? can you think of two things that are wrong with this presentation?
Now let's look at a really bad presentation by some American university students. Watch the presentation and take notes. What mistakes are the presenters making?



OK, your first presentation will be an informative presentation. You should introduce yourself and your hometown. You should make 4 slides and your presentation should be 2 minutes long. Your presentation will be judged on the following criteria: Posture, eye contact, volume, voice inflection, gestures, content, organisation, and slides.

Have fun, and see you next week!

The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 2

Hello everyone,
Last week we talked about marriage in Botswana. We learned about the Botswanian practice of Labola. Labola is sometimes translated into English as "bride price".

This week let's talk about marriage in China. Chinese marriage customs include a bride price too. Chinese marriage customs also include a dowry. You can read about Chinese pre-wedding customs by clicking the link.



Let's watch a video of a Chinese wedding. Please click the link.

Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English Vocabulary.


Now lets read about how modern technology is changing the traditional Chinese dowry.
Finally, what do you think of Chinese wedding customs? Please post a comment.
See you next week

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Trimester 3 Wk 1

Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the break. Today we start a new trimester and a new topic. Today we start talking about health and fitness. Look at the image below:

 This is called a Food Pyramid. As you can see, fats, oils, and sweets are at the top of the pyramid. These are things that we should try to avoid. Below fats, oils ands sweets we have the 5 food groups. Which food group are we supposed to eat the most?
Draw a pyramid on a piece of paper. Divide your pyramid into the 5 food groups plus fats, oils and sweets. Now draw the things you ate today in the appropriate section of the pyramid. Did you eat healthy meals today?



Now lets review some vocabulary and learn some new vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-PhysEd B3 Vocabulary.

Next we are going to read an article about vegetarianism. Some famous people are vegetarians. You can find a list here: http://www.happycow.net/famous_vegetarians.html

Finally, please post a comment. Describe your diet. What kinds of food do you usually eat every day?
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Trimester 3 Week 1

Hello everyone,

I hope you enjoyed the break. Today we start a new trimester and a new Sherlock Holmes mystery. The Hound of the Baskervilles is perhaps the most famous Sherlock Holmes story. The novel is mostly set on Dartmoor in Devon in the West Country of England.  Click the link to see Devon on a map of England. Now read the blurb (裏表紙の宣伝文) on back of your reader. What kind of place is Dartmoor? Now let's learn some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles Vocabulary.

Now, let's watch a video. Watch the video without sound. Work with a partner. Make a list of all the things you see in the video. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse.

Now lets start reading. Read chapters 1-4. Enjoy!

The University of Tsukuba Cross Cultural Awareness and English Trimester 3 Week 1

Hello everyone!
I hope you are rested and relaxed after the break. Today we start a new trimester and a new topic - Love and Marriage. To begin, let's make a list of words we know related to love and marriage.

 As the song says, "Love and Marriage" go together like a horse and carriage. "Love" and "marriage", and "horse" and "carriage" are collocations. (コロケーション、語と語のつながり、語の配列、連語（法）、連語構成語) Can you think of any more collocations related to the topic of love and marriage? With your partner, please make a list.

Now, let's learn some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English Vocabulary. Please add any words on page 122 in your textbook that you don't know to our vocabulary flashcards. After that, please study the flashcards for 5 minutes. 

Our first reading is about a marriage tradition in Botswana. Please look at the map below. Where is Botswana? The titles of our first reading is Brides for Sale. What do you think you will learn from the reading? Finally, please leave a comment. Do you think that marriage must include love? See you next week!

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.

The University of Tsukuba IE Engineering C1 - Week 5

Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the long week-end.
Today we are going to review Chapters 6 & 7. 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.

Two Great Andamanese Men

In Chapter 7, from the last paragraph on p. 45 to the seventh line on p.46,  Holmes and Watson talk about Jonathan Small's accomplice (共犯者). look at the picture to the left and read about the Andamanese Islanders. Is Holme's description of the Andamanese islander accurate? Why? Why not?

OK, for homework please read Chapters 8 and 9, and do the tasks on pp. 56,57, and pp. 70,71.

Have a great week-end. See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba CE Science and Maths C1 - Week 5

Hello everyone,
Today's reading is called Waste not, want not. In Japanese we have a similar saying,  勿体無い (Mottainai), which expresses regret concerning waste. Mottainai is an important part of Japanese culture. You can see "mottainai" written in many places in Japan including on Pizza Hut boxes.

However, despite the importance of mottainai in Japanese culture, there is a lot of waste, especially food waste. 


According to the Japan Times, about 23 million tons of food were discarded in 2007, which was worth about ¥11 trillion ($120 billion).  Japan's annual agricultural output is worth about ¥11 trillion too. So that means that Japan wasted as much food as it produced. Furthermore, it cost ¥2 trillion ($21 billion) to process that waste. What do you think of that? 

Another thing that is wasted all over the world is water. 
Today we are going to read about reclaimed water.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: CE Science and Math C1 Vocabulary.

Now let's read the article and answer the questions.




Finally, please post a comment. Do you waste a lot of food? Is Mottainai important to you? How do you practice Mottainai?
See you next week!

The University of Tsukuba IE Phys. Ed B3 Week 5

Hello everyone, Today we are going to talk about the history of baseball. First let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE Phys Ed B3 Vocabulary.

Now please download today's lesson materials: Week 5.

Now let's talk about baseball in Japan. Can you answer these questions:

1. Who introduced baseball to Japan?
2. When was baseball introduced to Japan?
3. What was the name of the first Japanese baseball team?
4. What was Ichiko, and why is it important in the history of Japanese baseball?
5. Which two universities began a fierce rivalry (the Sokeisen) in 1903?
6. Who became a national hero in Japan by striking out Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig, among others?

If you don't know the answers you can find them here: Baseball in Japan.

Have a nice week. See you!

The University of Tsukuba CE Humanities A Week 5

Hello everyone, Today we are going to talk about culture in language. First, let's study some vocabulary: Please click the link: CE Humanities A Vocabulary. One way we can see culture in language is through idioms. Let's watch a video about English idioms by Sarah of the Daily English Show.

It's time for your first assignment. Click the link to download Assignment 1. Please submit your assignment by e-mail. The due date for this assignment is 15 October.
See you next week.