Would you like to enjoy a comedy drama in English and become a good person at the same time? The Good Place (2016-2020 on Netflix) might help you with that.

The story of The Good Place begins when Eleanor (Kristen Bell – you might recognise her voice: she played Anna in Disney’s Frozen) finds herself in an unknown, office-like location. She is told by Michael (Ted Danson) that she is dead, and she is now in “the good place”. According to Michael, who designed the good place in which Eleanor is now, everyone is put into the good place or the bad place after their death based on their actions on earth. For example, on the one hand, if you remember your friend’s birthday, you earn a couple of points. On the other hand, when you cut in line, you lose some points. People who have a lot of points can be put into the good place. Eleanor, an environmental lawyer who dedicated her entire life to saving others, seems to be a perfect fit in the good place.

The only problem is, however, that there has been a mistake: Eleanor is, in fact, quite selfish. She was not even an environmental lawyer – she worked at a company that sells fake medicine to the elderly. What should Eleanor do to stay in the good place? Should she stay in the good place? Would it be possible for her to become a good person?

One of the important messages in The Good Place is that we cannot exist on our own; we communicate with and depend on each other every day. As one of the characters says, we “choose to be good because of our bonds with other people”. As a member of a community, we should at least try to help other people and make each other better.

The Good Place helps us think about what makes one a “good person”. Being a good person is not always easy - there are countless reasons which make you think that it is okay to be selfish, that you do not have to care about people around you. However, doing even a tiny bit of good action for someone can give you a sense of belonging to a community, and that feeling will brighten your world a little. After watching The Good Place, you will want to go do something good.

Photo credit: cotton bro@pexels

Quiz

Q1. What example is given in the blog as a way of earning points to get into the good place?

Q2. What is Eleanor’s problem in the good place?

Q3. What is one of the important messages in The Good Place?

Scroll down for answers

A1. Remembering your friend's birthday.

A2. She is selfish and does not deserve to be in the good place.

A3. That we cannot exist on our own.

The Japanese TV variety show, "プレバト" (Prebato) has recently become popular, and the haiku segment is one of the most highly regarded.

Haiku are written not only in Japan but also around the world. Many people use words to sketch scenes and convey emotions in a short 5-7-5 phrase along with a seasonal word (Kigo).

In Japanese, it is easy to count the number of sounds in a word. In English, the 5-7-5 patterns must be counted using syllables. It is important to point out that in English haiku, the use of seasonal words and 17 syllables is not required, although recently, a 3-5-3 syllabic pattern has become widely accepted.

One of my best friends, an American who publishes under his full name, Stephen J. DeGuire, is also fascinated by haiku. He seems to spend his life constantly trying to create haiku, sharpening his senses throughout his everyday life.

Here are three of Steve’s original haiku, one of which was acknowledged in a haiku contest.

1  One flower fallen

    the whole field diminished—

    an unsettling sun

    (Asahi Haikuist Network, 2006)

2   Basho’s road

     throughout Tohoku

     hope remains

     (Asahi Haikuist Network/L.A. Times, 2011)

3  Summer moon

    awakens sleeping

    Moonflowers

    (Itoen Haiku Contest N. America, 2016)

Can you visualise the scene of each haiku?

The following is Steve’s explanation:

“The first haiku holds a special place in my heart. It was the first haiku I ever wrote; it was also my first attempt at publication and it became my first published haiku. It is also my only published haiku that, at 16 syllables, comes close to the traditional 5-7-5 syllabic pattern. Everyday haiku words (flower, field and sun) were used to hide a deeper “unsettling” or disturbing meaning. It was written after a breakup with a girlfriend and after reading numerous articles regarding bullying and child suicide. On one level I am the “fallen flower”. More importantly, every lost child or “fallen flower”, is a loss for all mankind and all adults, who are responsible for nurturing the “whole field”.

The second haiku, also dear to my heart due to the subject, was written days after the 3/11 disaster. It refers to Basho’s “Oku no Hosomichi”, the tale of Basho’s wanderings through Tohoku, and relates it to the areas and people affected by the disaster. I longed to see a light at the end of a dark tunnel. So much was lost, both people and places, but “hope” remains.

The third haiku utilises two common haiku themes, the moon and flowers, to turn a very common experience, waking and sleeping, upside down. People and flowers usually wake up with the sun and sleep at night. The moonflower, asleep during the day, blooms in darkness as the moon rises.”

Could you picture the scenes in your mind?

In Japan, we are fortunate to have a wonderful culture and beautiful art forms like haiku. We should continue to proudly pass on these wonderful cultural and artistic treasures to the world.

Photo credit: Suzie@Pexels

Quiz

Q1. What pattern is often used in English haiku?

Q2. How many syllables did he use in his first haiku?

Q3. When did the poet start writing haiku?

Scroll down for answers.

A1: 3-5-3

A2: 16

A3: 2006

I have two major passions in life. One is English education, and the other is baseball. These two passions cross paths quite often, but never more than in one particular individual: Shigetoshi Hasegawa.

If you do not recognize the name, let me introduce him a little. He was born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture and graduated from Ritsumeikan University several decades ago. After being drafted by the Orix BlueWave (who are now the Buffaloes) and having a successful pitching career in Japan (Rookie of the Year, All-Star), he spent nine years playing Major League Baseball for the Anaheim Angels and Seattle Mariners. Because his name is so difficult for many non-Japanese to pronounce, he was given the nickname “Shiggy” which I will use the rest of this article.

Shiggy actually did not go to the major leagues because of his baseball aspirations. He went there because he had a fascination with America, and wanted to live there and experience the culture. During his time there, he gained proficiency in English, but also deepened his understanding of the national culture. As such, he was able to understand his own culture better, too. In fact, he has written several books about his experiences in America, plus his methods of learning English. I have not read all of Shiggy’s books, but what I have read, I have thoroughly enjoyed.

A book called {素晴らしき！メジャーリーガーの人生}. is a collection of the monthly columns he wrote for a Japanese newspaper while he was playing baseball in America. He also has one called {メジャーリーグで覚えた僕の英語勉強法}, and most recently, he put one out called {好かれる英会話}. In fact, last year during the pandemic (and online classes for many of us), he did an exclusive “webinar” for Ritsumeikan students and staff based on this book, which is about how to really enjoy speaking English. The webinar was truly enlightening and helped me see that Shiggy has transcended nationality and culture in his life. He is able to objectively see America for what it is, and the same is true of Japan.

This nation of ours (Japan) has a lot of TV shows that focus on how foreigners view Japan. While I enjoy programs like “YOUは何しに日本へ？” It feels a little superficial at times. It also comes across (to foreigners) as Japan tooting its own horn. The show seems to be declaring, “Look at how awesome the world thinks we are!” Shiggy kind of does the opposite in his writing: how does Japan view America? What I enjoy about Shiggy and his writing is that he does not put his own country OR his adopted country on a pedestal. He promotes understanding and acceptance while encouraging people to learn and love English. Oh, and of course, he loves baseball, too.

I highly recommend that you check out Shiggy’s books and aim to emulate one of your fellow Ritsumeikan graduates.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Quiz

Q1. Which baseball team did Shiggy not play for?

a) Orix BlueWave

b) Orix Buffaloes

c) Anaheim Angels

d) Seattle Mariners

Q2. Why did Shiggy want to play Major League Baseball?

a) He wanted to live in America

b) He wanted to challenge his baseball abilities

c) He wanted to teach Japanese to his teammates

d) He wanted to write books about learning English

Q3. What does the writer of this blog appreciate about Shiggy?

a) He loves Japan so much

b) He loves America so much

c) He can see Japan and America without bias

d) He watches TV shows like YOUは何しに日本へ?

Scroll down for answers

A1. b

A2. a

A3. c

Students often ask me how they can improve their English. My advice is almost always the same: you need to review new vocabulary a lot. Everyone knows this, but it can be difficult to get motivated to actually do it. Research shows a student needs between 3,000 and 5,000 words in order to understand an unsimplified text. Making it more difficult, it takes between 5 and 16 exposures to a word before it can be learned.

So how can you even begin to recycle so many words, that many times? Flashcards are great, and many students already use them, but it can take a long time to make good sets, and they can be lost easily.

Luckily, there is an app for you, and it is free and popular. Some students already know about Quizlet (https://quizlet.com). You can use it on your smartphone or tablet, or play it on your computer through any browser.

To get you started you can find and use any number of word-sets such as TOEIC words, for example. Even better, you can make your own flashcards, or adapt ones that have already been made.

You can choose to have the meaning of the words in English or any language you choose. You can write the definition yourself, or use ones supplied in the app. You can even add pictures to help you remember.

Once you have some flashcards, there are various ways to play. You can do the traditional flashcard way of looking at the definition and trying to recall the word; you can listen to the word and practice your spelling; you can drag and match the meaning to the word, and you can even play a game of Asteroids. Finally, you can also play live games against your friends, which is very motivating and fun.

I have used this app with many students over the past 4 years and it is always very popular, so please do check it out. It is not magic - you will still need to put in the time, but it should make it easier for you to learn new words.

Photo Credit: Pixabay@pexels.com

Quiz

Q1. How many words does a learner need to be able to understand an authentic text?

a)    Between 3,000 and 5,000 words

b)   Between 4,000 and 6,000 words

c)    Between 2,500 and 4,500 words

Q2. How many times do you need to review a word before you can remember it?

a)    Between 12 and 18 times

b)   Between 10 and 20 times

c)    Between 5 and 16 times

Q3. Do you have to make your own flashcards in Quizlet?

a)    You can, but you can also use sets that have been made by other people

b)   You need to buy them online

c)    You can borrow them from a friend or classmate

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. a

A2. c

A3. a

Polyglots are people who have learned many languages. The most famous polyglots can speak over 10 languages. Some of the current famous polyglots are Richard Simcott, Steve Kaufmann, and Luca Lampariello. You can look them up on the internet to find out in detail how they study. They might study a little differently than your teachers have told you, but it is hard to argue with their success. This article will summarize what I found out from researching polyglot language learners.

The first thing to know is there isn’t one way to learn a language. Polyglots used a lot of different methods. Some of the methods they recommended were the opposite of what other polyglots recommended. The lesson here is to research what others recommend, try many different methods, and when you find one that works for you personally, use that method. Despite there being many opinions on the best way to learn languages, there were some main themes that emerged.

Maximize Comprehensible Input

Most polyglots were big fans of the American Linguistics Professor Stephen Krashen. Krashen recommends learners expose themselves to as much of the target language as possible. This input should ideally be just above your level and interesting to you. This includes reading easy books, watching videos, and listening to music. The key is to listen and read as much as you can in your target language. Some people call this the immersion approach. Use the time you have such as when you are traveling to school, doing housework, or winding down at the end of the day.

Review Words, Phrases, and Sentences from the Input

Most polyglots advised reviewing what was learned from the input using a Spaced Repetition System (SRS). This is similar to studying from flashcards, but the software tells you when to study the information again just before you forget it. There are many computer applications you can use but the most famous one is called “Anki”. When a word or phrase repeatedly catches your attention, make a study card, and review it until you can recall it easily.

Practice Speaking and Writing

Although most polyglots advise to focus on listening and reading at the beginning stages of learning a language, speaking and writing can help to reinforce and solidify language already learned. To practice writing, the most obvious example given is to write a diary. For speaking, the most obvious thing to do is to speak to others in the target language. If this is not possible, recording yourself can also be good practice.

Learning a language should be fun if you follow the polyglot language learners’ advice. Immerse yourself in as much interesting content in your target language as you can. Pick out bits you want to learn and review them with a spaced repetition system like Anki. When you have progressed beyond the beginner level, use speaking and writing to reinforce what you have learned through listening and reading.

But most of all, make sure to have fun!

Photo Credit: Skylar Kang@ Pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. What is a "polyglot"?

Q2. What is the first piece of advice from polyglots?

Q3: According to the article, what is the name of the most famous SRS flashcard application?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

A1. A person who speaks many languages well.

A2. Maximize comprehensible input.

A3. Anki.

There are many varieties of the English language. There are the established varieties such as British-English and American-English. In addition, there are numerous new varieties including Indian-English, Malaysian-English, Singaporean-English and so on. In fact, in this age of globalisation, new English varieties are developing all over the world, and even in countries without an historical connection to the language. 

Why are these new varieties developing? The answer is complex, but a key reason is concerned with the functions of language. Language has three main functions: for communication, to express identity and to convey culture. For example, American-English developed primarily so that Americans could express their identity and culture, in contrast to England's. 

This need for people around the world to express identity and culture is a primary driving force for all new varieties of the language. As a further example, research has demonstrated that Indian people tend to prefer speaking English like Indians, and not like Americans or British people. Therefore, Indian-English has developed to express the identity and culture of Indians. 

This brings me to the main point: what variety of English should the Japanese speak? In my opinion, in an ideal situation, the Japanese should speak Japanese-English. This is because it best reflects Japanese identity and culture. However, Japanese-English is a long way from being an established variety, and has a low prestige in the minds of many people. Despite this, I believe it is becoming an identifiable variety with unique characteristics. For example, there are hundreds of words of Japanese origin (reflecting Japanese culture and identity) that have become English, not just in Japanese-English, but all varieties. Some examples include tsunami, anime, sudoku, miso and bonsai. There are also words such as kawaii and shinkansen that may soon become English. 

In addition, there are lots of acronyms and abbreviations, which identity Japanese-English. These include NEET, CA, OL, JAL, JR and GW. Furthermore, there are shortened words such as sando (sandwich), konbini (convenience store), depato (department store) and live house (concert hall) that characterise it. These shortened words are no different than when British or Australian people say footie (football), barbie (barbecue) and uni (university). 

There are also words in Japanese-English that have had a change in meaning, such as handle (steering wheel), mansion (flat/apartment), furonto (hotel reception desk), circle (club/society) and baikingu (all-you-can-eat buffet). 

Finally, another characteristic, which is cultural in origin, is that surnames come before Christian names in Japanese-English. Who says that a Japanese person must state their name in the Anglo-American style when communicating globally to, say, Chinese or Brazilians? Therefore, I believe Japanese students should be encouraged to express their identity and culture through Japanese-English, especially to people who have at least some familiarity with Japan and its culture. 

If you are a Japanese learner of English, please say with confidence that you are a circle member or work at a konbini. You may have to explain what you mean at times, but that is the same for all English speakers to a greater or lesser extent, especially when discussing one's identity and culture. I argue that all people with an active interest in the teaching/learning of English in Japan should enthusiastically promote Japanese English development and use. Remember: just because your English may be different than British or American English, does not necessarily mean it is wrong.  

Photo Credit: Sincerely Media @unsplash.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. Is Japanese-English a well-established variety of the language?

Q2. How many main functions of language are there?

Q3. Is the word 'tsunami' Japanese, English or both?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. No, (not yet).

Q2. 3 main functions.

Q3. Both.

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

Natural disasters have struck our country frequently in recent years. A strong typhoon accompanied by extensive rain caused wide-spread flooding; several massive earthquakes occurred in different regions across the country, and the most recent disaster has been the COVID-19 pandemic. Because these disasters occur suddenly, we have to stockpile daily necessities to last for several days at home, and learn how to evacuate according to the local government’s evacuation plan. Although we can prepare for disasters, we do not know what will happen when a disaster occurs. Trustworthy information is essential in order to make correct decisions when experiencing an emergency, particularly in bewildering situations, such as at the beginning of an incident.

Kazuyuki Sato advocated that Yasashii Nihongo（やさしい日本語）should be used to deliver essential information to non-Japanese people living in Japan during the confusion caused by the disaster. Kazuyuki Sato was inspired to develop a simple version of the Japanese language when a large earthquake struck the Hanshin area and Awajishima Island in 1995. At that time, essential information for foreigners during a disaster was supposed to be translated; however, local governments were not able to translate the information quickly because the earthquake also impacted government agencies. Therefore, Yasashii Nihongo was used temporarily to deliver essential information immediately after disasters because the common language in Japan is Japanese. Once the situation had calmed down, local governments intended to translate detailed information into foreign languages.

Yasashii Nihongo is currently in general use by local governments and communities. If one accesses Osaka prefecture’s special website explaining COVID-19 and governmental support, one will find a link to the same information in Yasashii Nihongo. As the information is essential in an emergency, it may be helpful for foreign residents who do not have perfect understanding of Japanese.

According to the Ikuno Ward in Osaka City, which encourages the use of Yasashii Nihongo, six aspects are necessary in order to convert standard Japanese into simple Japanese. These are:

1. Speak slowly.

2. Divide long sentences into shorter sentences.

3. Use basic vocabulary.

4. Avoid using words that originated in foreign languages.

5. Use examples.

6. Avoid the use of regional dialects.

Yasashii Nihongo is also used in everyday settings. The conversion process does not seem to be particularly difficult for native Japanese speakers. The number of non-Japanese people living in Japan is increasing, and many of them learn Japanese as a foreign language. At the beginning of their lives in Japan, Yasashii Nihongo may help them to understand and communicate with local residents. This will constitute an internal contribution to globalisation.

Ikuno Ward Office, Osaka City. 生野区「やさしい日本語から、つながろう」. 2020/05/27 Updated. 2020/06/10 accessed

Photo Credit: Lisa Fotios@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. In paragraph 1, what does ‘stockpile’ mean?

A.   To put things in a pile.

B.    To make a shopping list.

C.    To make a collection of things you need.

2. What is the purpose of Yasashii Nihongo?

A.    To encourage non-Japanese residents to learn Japanese.

B.    To assist communication between Japanese and non-Japanese people.

C.    To make websites to teach Japanese.

3. Which of these are examples of Yasashii Nihongo?

A.    Speaking slowly with a standard Japanese accent.

B.    Using short sentences and simple words.

C.    Giving examples and avoiding katakana words.

D.    All of the above.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. D