Many people enjoy sightseeing and visiting famous places in different parts of the country. Many of the historical sites are beautiful to look at, and you can enjoy them for themselves; however, some of them have stories that can make them even more interesting.

Zuiganji Temple in Sendai provides a good example of this. It is connected to the famous warlord Date Masamune, who paid for it to be restored. Its rooms are beautifully painted with a variety of designs. In one of these rooms, the paintings meant something more.

The walls (and sliding doors) of the Hawk Room (Taka no Ma) are decorated with paintings of hawks and other birds in natural surroundings showing trees, rocks and water. This was the room where Masamune’s followers would wait when he was visiting the temple.

Hawks were a popular motif with the samurai. They represented the ferocity and strength of the warrior. These paintings had additional meanings – it is believed they were meant as instruction for Masamune’s followers, explaining how samurai should behave.

The paintings contain puns – a kind of joke where a word has two meanings – as well as straightforward illustrations of sayings or proverbs.

One painting shows a hawk catching a duck. This is a pun, because the word kamo, means both ‘duck’ and ‘to be made a fool of.’ The hidden meaning is ‘Samurai should not allow themselves to be made fools of.’ 

Another painting shows a hawk catching a kind of bird called an egret or heron. In Japanese it is called sagi. Of course, sagi has another meaning – fraud, so this is a pun that means ‘Don’t get involved in fraud.’ 

Another part of the paintings shows a pheasant being chased by a hawk. There is a saying in Japanese: ‘If the pheasant didn’t cry out, it wouldn’t get shot.’ This probably means you should not speak if you don’t need to. Good for the samurai, but not so good in English class.

Finally, there is a picture of a hawk staring at a rabbit. Maybe there is another one we can’t see. This illustrates the saying: ‘If you chase two rabbits, you won’t even catch one.’ This means you should focus on one thing at a time, rather than try and multi-task. This may be good advice, but it seems more and more difficult in today’s busy world. Who knows? Maybe Date Masamune’s samurai felt the same way.

Photo Credit:

(No attribution required from Pixabay.com)

Blog Quiz

Q1. What does the author find particularly interesting about Zuiganji Temple?

A. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

B. The paintings contain hidden meaning.

C. You can learn about the ferocity of the samurai.

Q2. What is a ‘pun’?

A. A soft sticky type of bread.

B. A play on words. 

C. A small duck.

Q3. According to the author, how can Samurai teachings be applied to today’s modern world?

A. Stay silent when you are hunting animals.

B. Speak more in English class.

C. Try to focus on one task at a time. 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. B

Q3. C 

Are you a dog person, or a cat person? If you had asked me this question three years ago, my answer would have definitely been that I was a dog person. I believed that cats never felt attachment towards humans but rather their houses. Moreover, I was scared of cats and couldn’t even touch them, but now I’m a typical cat person living with three cats. 

Two years ago, when I got home after work, my daughter and her friend showed me one tiny kitten in a cardboard box. The kitten was under the wooden deck in my garden with my dog. I couldn’t hold the small monster, which was meowing and had a thin and dirty body. I had no idea what I should do, so my daughter and I left her in the bush of a temple in front of my house. Keeping cats was out of question to me at the time. In a couple of hours, we heard a cat meowing again; she had returned to my house. Fortunately, one of my coworkers wanted a female cat, so I took care of her fearfully for several days until my coworker adopted her. After she left, I was suddenly sad and realized the cat was something special to me. That was the beginning that opened the door to my new world of cats.

Cats are independent, clean, and soft, and they don’t bark like dogs. Whenever I go upstairs, my three cats follow me. We sleep in the same bed during winter. They are definitely affectionate toward their owners, which went against my expectations. In addition, their body parts, eyes, tails, ears, and paws etc., are extremely cute. Among all of them, I like their tails which are very different from dogs’. They move flexibly, slowly, and elegantly. Every cat has a different tail with a different color and shape. My third cat has an unusual tail called “a kinked tail” (see the photo). It is said that genetic mutation causes kinked tails. When I saw her for the first time, I thought she might be a defective cat with a meandering tail. Afterward, I learned that since the shape was similar to a hook, some people in Western countries believed that cats with kinked tails could hook you good luck. If you find cats with a kinked tail, the cat might bring you good luck and happiness.

Sometimes we judge people or animals based on our preconceived ideas or by their appearance. I had never thought something I disliked would have made me happy. You can easily understand how soothing three cats are under these tough coronavirus outbreak conditions. My everyday life is full of joy and smiles thanks to them. Now I’m waiting for more happiness and good luck, which might be brought about by the kinked tail. Setting aside and overcoming our preconceptions can lead to greater happiness.

Photo Credit: Author

Blog Quiz

Choose the best answer.

Q1. How did the author get to like cats?

A. She started keeping a stray cat.

B. She temporarily took care of a stray cat.

C. She was attracted by cats’ eyes.

Q2. Kinked tails are considered to bring happiness because…

A. they are caused by genetic mutation

B. they are popular in western countries.

C. they are said to hook good luck

Q3. What is the key to becoming happy?

A. Having a cat with a kinked tail as a pet 

B. Sticking to our ideas we already have.

C. Not being haunted by fixed ideas

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. C

Q3. C

Would you like to be able to write faster and more freely in a language you are learning and perhaps in your native language too? Students have often told me that they find writing to be a slow and tedious process, mainly because they worry so much about spelling and grammar rather than just getting their message across on paper. Today, therefore, I would like to introduce the concept of freewriting, an easy writing activity that can be done at home and can make writing practice fun. 

So…what exactly is freewriting? Basically, it involves grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, setting a time limit, choosing a topic of interest to you, and then writing as quickly as possible without stopping and without worrying about spelling or grammar. Let’s go through the steps one by one. 

First, after securing some paper and a writing tool, you will need to set a time limit. Most people I know who practice freewriting set a limit of 10 minutes, although some people write for 15 or 20 minutes. Next, you will need to choose a topic. Many people just choose to write about whatever is in their head at that moment, recent experiences in their lives or specific interests such as sports, books, movies, or music. However, my favorite way to practice freewriting is to link it with video material. This means watching an enjoyable YouTube, movie or TV program and then writing about it. Whatever topic you choose, freewriting is a good way to get facts, memories, and personal feelings down on paper. Last, take a minute of silence to think about what points you would like to write about and then start the timer and write, write, write very fast, without stopping. Just enjoy the process of getting words down on paper rather than on style or grammar. If you always write in the same notebook, it will act as a kind of a personal journal, and you will be able to see your progress.

Freewriting on a regular basis can help to promote writing speed, fluency, creativity, organizational skills, confidence, and overall enjoyment of writing. Although freewriters are not meant to worry about grammar, most of my students find that it naturally improves after several weeks. You can hasten this improvement by, for example, consciously practicing verb tense by writing about a past event one day and a future event another day. You can also focus on new vocabulary by making a short list of perhaps five words that you would like to use that day while writing.     

If you can spare 10 or 15 minutes each day, I highly recommend picking up a pen and trying some freewriting fun!

Photo Credit: Lisa Fotios @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. According to the blog, what is the second step in the freewriting process?

a. Choosing a topic

b. Writing quickly without stopping

c. Finding a pen and paper

Q2. The word ‘grabbing’ in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following.

a. To look for

b. To seize suddenly or quickly

c. To write

Q3. According to the blog, what skills can freewriting help to improve? 

a. Confidence, speed and fluency

b. Enjoyment and creativity 

c. Organization, grammar and vocabulary

d. All of the above

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. a

Q2. b

Q3. d

In 1803, as the story goes, fishermen working in the sea off Ibaraki prefecture spotted an unusual looking vessel in the sea. Curious they towed the vessel to shore. It was like nothing they had ever seen. Circular in shape they report it as being 3.3 meters high and 5.45 meters across, and ‘resembling a wooden rice pit.’ The lower part appeared to be covered in polished metal while the upper section had windows of glass or crystal protected with strong iron bars and sealed with some kind of tree resin.

The nervous fisherman peered inside and were amazed by what they saw. The inside of the vessel was adorned with texts of an unknown language. There were soft carpets on the floor and two bed sheets. They found a bottle containing 3.6 liters of water, as well as some cake and meat. 

Most surprising of all there was a young woman. She was about 20 years old and roughly 150 centimeters tall. She is said to have had a face of indescribably beauty with soft pale skin. Her red hair was very long with light streaks of what appeared to be either fur or white powder. She was dressed in long and flowing garments of a smooth unknown material.  

The men tried to talk with the girl, but she spoke a language they had never heard before. She seemed calm other than she was clutching a small box of a mysterious light-colored material. The box was approximately 60cms across and appeared to be of great value to the woman. No matter how hard the fisherman tried she would not let anyone come near the box. 

It appears that her arrival caused disquiet among the local villagers. It was decided that her presence would be disruptive, so she was put back onboard her vessel and once again set to drift in the sea. 

Based on a true experience.

It was 10 AM on October 3.

His 13th birthday. 

Andy was alone in the house. His parents were at work. He was upstairs, lying in bed. He had just woken up and he was wondering what kind of birthday it would be.

Suddenly he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the driveway to the house. 

“Who could that be?” he thought. 

Then he was surprised to hear someone open the front door.

Andy called out, “Mum? Dad? Is that you?” His parents were at work and he wasn’t expecting anyone.

Then, “Is anyone there?”

There was no reply.

He then heard the sound of footsteps slowly coming up the stairs and began to feel afraid. Someone was approaching his bedroom. They stopped outside the door. 

Andy was breathing heavily. He pulled his blanket over his face, shaking with fear.

The door opened and someone walked into the bedroom. Andy pretended to be asleep, his eyes closed tight. Suddenly the mysterious visitor sat on the bed. Andy was terrified. He could feel their eyes peering down at him.

Then he was astonished to feel the blanket being pulled down from his face. He squeezed his eyes closed, trapped in absolute fear.

Moments passed, but it seemed an eternity. After a minute, the blanket was pulled back over his face. The visitor stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Andy heard them go down the stairs and out of the front door. He heard steps walking back up the driveway.

Andy immediately jumped out of bed and ran out of the house. Wearing only his pajamas, he found himself standing at the top of the driveway, looking up and down the street.

But there was nobody there.

He was sure someone had visited him. But who? 

Andy ran back into the house, picked up the telephone and hurriedly called his mother at her workplace. Still shaking with fear, he told her what had happened.

“Oh don’t worry,” his mother said, “You don’t need to be afraid.”

“What do you mean?” he said.

“It was only your grandmother’s ghost. She came to wish you a happy birthday.”

Photo Credit: Ryan Miguel Capili @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Which of the following came first?

A. Andy got out of bed.

B. Andy pulled his blanket over his face.

C. Andy called his mother.

2. In the sentence, "he could feel their eyes peering down at him", the word peering is closest in meaning to:

A. To look intently

B. To look briefly

C. To look with only one eye

3. Who visited Andy that morning?

A. His mother

B. His father

C. His deceased grandmother

 Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

 Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. A

Q3. C

Do you have a good sleeping habit? How many hours do you sleep every night?

A lot of people may think academic studies, jobs, and relationships are often more important than sleep. However, you shouldn’t take sleep lightly. Sleep actually has a very important role for both human bodies and minds, and even for learning. Let’s have a closer look.

First, as for bodies, lack of sleep can cause daytime drowsiness and low energy. It hurts the body’s ability to stay healthy because the immune system can be impaired by poor sleep quality. The immune system goes to work recharging itself and fighting infection while you’re in the deepest levels of sleep. If sleep time is cut short, the immune system doesn’t get the time it needs to stay healthy.

Second, lack of sleep can also affect your mood significantly. It causes irritability and anger, and you may find it difficult to cope with stress. Chronic sleepiness can put you at greater risk for depression. Depression is closely linked to sleep deprivation.

Third, sleep also plays a significant role for memory and learning. Let’s see some effects of sleep on memory and learning. Sleep has been considered very important for memory and learning, but until recently, there was no proof. A research team at Rutgers University recently discovered a type of brain activity that happens during sleep. The activity is important for memory and learning as it transfers new information from the hippocampus to the neocortex. The hippocampus is a part of the brain which plays a key role in memory and how knowledge is obtained. The neocortex stores long-term memories. As for long-term memories, it’s a type of memory which relates to memory and learning. The biggest categories of memory are “short-term memory (or working memory)” and “long-term memory,” based on the amount of time the memory is stored. As you would imagine, long-term memories are much more complex than short-term ones. We store different types of information such as procedures, life experiences and language, with separate memory systems.

Back to the study at Rutgers University, the team showed how we create long-term memories. The wave activity transfers short-term memories from the hippocampus to the neocortex. Then the neocortex turns the sharp wave ripples into long-term memories. Sleep encourages this brain activity. Therefore, the new information doesn’t have a chance to leave the hippocampus and go to the neocortex if sleep is deprived. In other words, short sleep has negative effects on memory and learning. According to current research, most undergraduates need 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep, and most adults, 7 to 9 hours. So, university students need to sleep for at least 8 hours if they want a healthier body and mind, and greater chances for academic success!

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Read the following sentences. Choose T(true) or F(false).

1. Sleep has an import role in learning.

2. A type of brain activity that is important for memory and learning happens during sleep.

3. Most university students need 6 to 7 hours of sleep.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. T

2. T

3. F

As for me, one of my favorite activities is coordinating colors.

At first, due to my interest in fashion, I used to learn “color analysis,” selecting the most suitable colors based on a person’s skin tone. At that time, I was surprised to know that a person looks more cheerful and confident when wearing appropriate types of colors. This experience increased my interest in colors and escalated my motivation to learn more about the world of colors. Not only coordinating colors for clothes, but also thinking about creating color coordination for everyday things, such as interior design, is a big part of who I am.

To be a successful learner in any field, knowing the colors that influence us to learn positively and help us to make the most use of them can be worth taking into consideration!

I would like to share some tips for you to create an environment which fosters your learning.

Blog Quiz

1. According to the blog, what is color analysis?

A.    Using color to predict your future.

B.    Choosing colors that best match your skin color.

C.    Coordinating your clothes with the seasons.

2. According to the blog, what is the benefit of the colors yellow and orange?

A.    They help to cheer you up.

B.    They make you feel more relaxed.

C.    They encourage you to work harder.

3. According to the blog, what color should you use if you want to concentrate on a difficult task?

A.    Blue.

B.    Orange or yellow.

C.    Green.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C

It is always good to be making more friends. University is probably THE best time in your life to make lifelong friends. At university, we have constant encounters in class and on campus with many people in our peer group. The people we connect with the most we can then easily spend more time with and deepen those relationships. Many of those close friends will be people who are with you all through your life.

Meeting people at university is natural and not that different from meeting people at high school but then there was COVID-19. Suddenly we must do it all online and the rules are a bit different and a bit harder. Here are some hints to help you.  

First, turn on your camera when you can and when it is appropriate. Most importantly, pay attention to your body language on camera. Smile and make eye contact by looking into the camera. Try to have a relaxed body posture. Ask yourself, “Do I seem approachable and friendly?” Offer greetings to others and ask questions when you can. 

Keep the conversation going 

Once you have made a connection in class with others you can make friends outside of class. Privately offer YOUR contact information to others you want to be friends with so you can talk outside of class. Don’t be too disappointed if someone doesn’t follow up. They are probably just busy, and your effort is still appreciated. If someone offers you their contact information, try to follow up soon even if it is just to say it was nice talking to them. 

Don’t give up 

Blog Quiz

1. According to the blog, why is it more difficult to make friends now?

A.    Because the social rules in university are different from high school.

B.    Because Coronavirus means we must interact online.

C.    Because people don't try to make friends anymore.

2. According to the blog, what does 'invite dialog' mean?

A.    Share information about yourself, ask questions and make comments.

B.    Organize a party.

C.    Arrange an online study group.

3. According to the blog, how can you keep a conversation going?

A.    Go to the pub.

B.    Ask for someone's phone number.

C.    Privately offer your own contact details.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C

The Internet wasn’t always so popular as it is now. In the early years of the Internet, it was really a very exclusive platform for people to use. Even after it moved from research and academics into the public, it was still only for those curious enough to try. My older brother and I had connected to a local bulletin board system (BBS) using a dial-up modem that was annoying for the family because it used our one telephone line (we eventually got a second phone number for the computer). 

Those times were much more experimental and friendly than what I’ve seen in recent years. You knew that the other person you were talking to was a human being, and the owner of the BBS even hosted some get-togethers in the real world for people who used it. There weren’t people trying to attack and insult others because of tiny differences, but most often things were just talked about. Part of that is because the software wasn’t ready for the general public, but I also think it attracted a smaller group of people whom genuinely cared about what the Internet could be used for.

This slowly began to change as software improved. Chat rooms became a common feature with easier interfaces, and people who couldn’t handle the technical requirements earlier now had access. The Internet became more of a tool to connect people, but it also challenged what was comfortable for most people. That’s when I began hearing more about people who would eventually become what we know now as trolls. While this wasn’t new to me since I had already developed an understanding of the Internet, it began to turn me off a little bit to what the Internet was becoming.

During college, even though the university had cable Internet access (a revolution at the time), I was less attracted to it. Computers also became an expensive business, so the friendliness of building computers was complicated by convenience. After graduating, I worked in developing countries, and getting the newest, most expensive computers seemed silly. I continued to have technology as a part of my life, but I found the changes made to the Internet less interesting than how they were in the beginning.

Now, the Internet is tightly woven in the fabric of society, especially because of more recent events. In the past it was more of an optional, leisure time outlet for people, recently the Internet’s role as a tool seems to have been made more important. The idea of technology just for the sake of more technology seems less interesting when people just need it to work. In a way, things have returned a little bit to the way things were in the beginning because the Internet is taking a more fundamental role in society. It isn’t easy, but, to some extent, the life side of it makes the “tech” side of everything less obvious. Tech is being replaced by living.

Photo Credit: Burst@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. According to the blog what is a ‘troll’?

a) An ugly mythical creature who lives under a bridge

b) A person who intentionally upsets people on the internet by posting inflammatory messages

c) A small spade used for gardening

2. How did the author’s experiences in a third world country change his view of technology?

a) He realized there were more important things in life than having the latest technologies.

b) He decided to donate all his money to charity

c) He became more interested in travel than technology

3. According to the author why is technology becoming less obvious?

a) People can’t understand technology

b) People who build computers aren’t friendly

c) Technology is taking a more fundamental role in society

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C