Photo credit: Nancy Guth @ pexels.com

I used to think, until a few years ago, that the idea of dogs understanding people's feelings and words was just a subjective notion held by dog lovers. However, once I got a dog as a pet, it didn't take me long to realize that dogs are incredibly intelligent and emotionally rich creatures. In fact, I have become convinced that dogs can, indeed, understand human feelings and language.

For example, my dog can distinguish simple words such as his name, 'food,' and 'walk.' My dog's name is Blue. He does not turn around when I say Taro. He doesn't like taking a walk very much, so when I say, 'Let's go for a walk,' he runs away in a heartbeat. Or even if I don't say, "Let's go for a walk," he runs away as soon as he sees me with a walking pouch hanging from my neck. This shows that he not only recognizes his name but also recognizes the context and meaning of the word 'walk.'

What is even more surprising is that my dog remembers our family members' names. One day, my daughter hid somewhere and I said to Blue, 'Huh? Where's Hana (my daughter's name)?', he stopped playing and started scurrying around, going from room to room, earnestly looking for Hana. Isn't it a real surprise?

Furthermore, I often see videos on social media of dogs seemingly conversing with their owners. These dogs communicate using verbal information by pressing buttons that play pre-recorded sounds such as their owner's name, 'walk,' 'cuddle,' 'water,' 'later,' 'now,' or other phrases. It's fascinating to see how some dogs can string together multiple words to form simple sentences.

Scientific studies also support the idea that dogs can understand human emotions and language. Research has shown that dogs can recognize human facial expressions and vocal tones, reacting differently to happy, sad, or angry cues. This ability to empathize and respond appropriately suggests a deep emotional bond between humans and dogs.

In conclusion, the belief that dogs can understand human feelings and language is not just a romantic notion held by dog lovers. It is supported by both my personal experiences and scientific research. Dogs' ability to comprehend and respond to human emotions and words highlights their remarkable intelligence and the profound bond they share with us. Whether it's recognizing their name, responding to commands, or empathizing with our feelings, dogs consistently demonstrate their amazing capabilities.

Questions:

Q1. How did the author's perspective on dogs' understanding of human emotions and language change over time? Why?

Q2. What are two examples that show the author's dog can understand language?

Q3. What have some scientific studies found regarding dogs’ understanding? How do these studies contribute to the overall argument presented in the essay?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

Answers:

A1. The author’s thinking changed when she got a dog as a pet. After she got the dog, she felt that it could understand some words and concepts.

A2. When the dog hears the word “walk” it tries to escape since it doesn’t like going for walks. Also, the dog could seemingly understand that “Where’s Hana?” meant she should look for Hana.

A3. Studies show that dogs can understand some language and emotions. These findings support the author’s observations.

Photo credit: Satoshi Hirayama @ pexels.com

Kyoto, especially Gion Kobu, has been in the news a lot recently. Two typical headlines are: “Tourists banned from private alleys in Kyoto’s geisha district” (The Japan Times) and “Kyoto bans tourists from parts of geisha district amid reports of bad behavior” (The Guardian). The tourist ban that all these stories talk about was supposed to start at the beginning of April. I walked through Gion Kobu in early April, when the cherry blossoms were still in bloom. These are some of the things I saw that day and my thoughts about them.

Since you study at Ritsumeikan University and spend at least some of your time in Kyoto, I hope my thoughts will help you develop your own ideas about the over-tourism in Kyoto issue. When I go to Gion Kobu, I get off the subway at Sanjo Station and walk down Hanami-koji towards the district. Hanami-koji is the main artery through Gion, and is often jammed with tourists, but just a few minutes north of Gion (near Sanjo Dori), the street is mostly deserted. All the shops on the East side are shuttered and have been for years. The buildings are dilapidated.

Once you cross the Shirakawa River, things begin to change. Hanami-koji is lined with bars and restaurants. There are some new hotels, too. Who stays in hotels? Tourists! As I get close to Shijo Dori and Ichiriki, the most famous tea house In Gion Kobu, I start to see tourists dressed in kimono. Some men are dressed in hakama (wide-pleated pants). There are couples and groups of friends. Many of these tourists are not Japanese, but some are.

There are quite a few of these kimono rental shops. I just googled “kimono rental shops Gion Kobu” and found 16 shops within a five-minute walk of the Hanamikoj-Shijo intersection, the center of Gion. People who dress up in kimono are going to want photos of themselves in their costumes for Instagram and other social media sites. And since they are dressed in traditional attire, it stands to reason that they want to take these photographs in front of traditional buildings. And where are the most photogenic buildings and alleys? Gion Kobu, of course!

In addition, many of the mom-and-pop shops on Shijo Dori (a bookstore, a shop that sold authentic maiko and geiko hair ornaments) have disappeared over the years. What replaces them? Convenience stores, souvenir shops, and the like. Who goes to souvenir shops? Tourists! This is cause and effect. If businesses that cater to tourists open in an area, tourists are going to come to that area, especially an area as beautiful as Gion Kobu.

What do you think? Do you think there is too much tourism in Kyoto? Is the bus or train you take to Ritsumeikan too crowded? If so, what can be done, especially since Kyoto needs the money tourists bring to the city?

Questions:

Q1. What does dilapidated mean?

a. in good condition

b. in poor condition

Q2. Only foreign tourists like to dress up in kimono and walk around Gion Kobu.

True or False

Q3. The busiest part of Hanamikoji Dori is near the Sanjo subway station.

True or False

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

Answers

Q1. b

Q2. False

Q3. False

Photo credit: Cottonbro Studio @ pexels.com

I started dancing when I was three years old. My mother took me to my first dance class. It was a ballet class. Since then, I have danced ballet, jazz, contemporary and traditional Japanese dance for over fifty years. There are several reasons why dance experiences have been beneficial in my life.

First of all, it has given me the ability to communicate with various people. Dance taught me the strength of body language. The combination of body language and words can deepen communication. Even if I was not fluent in a language by combining body language somehow, I was able to communicate. This way I have been able to make friends all over the world.

In addition, dance has stimulated my creativity and imagination. I have enjoyed choreographing (creating) new original dance after I acquired dance techniques by attending many classes. I have learned to combine movement and music with a theme to perform on stage. In order to come up with a theme, I read, visited museums, took walks in nature and listened to all kinds of music to be inspired. The imagination has no limits.

Finally, in order to dance, maintaining good health is a must. To dance I have been very conscious about eating healthy food, keeping my body flexible and mind clear. I am constantly thinking about a balanced meal. I try to stretch all the time as I keep a healthy mind.

I believe after all these years I will not be able to stop dancing. It is a big part of my life. I am very grateful towards my mother who took me to my first dance class. At that time, I did not know how it would influence my life in so many ways. I will continue to dance for at least 40 more years if I can.

Questions

Q1. When did the author start dancing?

Q2. In what three ways has dance improved the author’s life?

Q3. How many more years will she try to dance?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. When she was 3 years old

A2. Dance helped her communicate better, use her imagination, and eat well.

A3. She wants to dance 40 more years.

Photo Credit: Anna Shucks @pexels.com 

Incorporating music into your language learning journey can be an enjoyable and effective way to improve your English skills. Whether you're a fan of pop, rock, hip-hop, or jazz, there's a wealth of musical resources waiting to help you on your path to fluency. Here are some tips on how to harness the power of music to enhance your English learning experience.

1. Choose Songs You Enjoy: Start by selecting songs in English that you genuinely enjoy listening to. Whether it's your favorite band or a catchy tune you heard on a streaming app, choosing songs that resonate with you will make the learning process more enjoyable and motivating.

2. Focus on Lyrics: Once you've chosen a song, take the time to listen to the lyrics carefully. Read along with the lyrics while you listen, and pay attention to the pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar used in the song. You can find lyrics online on websites like Genius or AZLyrics. Many streaming apps will also provide lyrics.

3. Break it Down: Break down the lyrics into smaller chunks and focus on understanding the meaning of individual words and phrases. Look up any unfamiliar words in a dictionary and try to learn their meanings in context.

4. Sing Along: Don't be afraid to sing along with the music! Singing along can help improve your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm in English. Even if you're not a confident singer, singing along with your favorite songs can boost your confidence and pronunciation over time.

5. Study Grammar and Syntax: Pay attention to the grammatical structures and syntax used in the lyrics. Analyze how sentences are formed, and identify different tenses, prepositions, and conjunctions used in the song. This will help reinforce your understanding of English grammar in a fun and engaging way.

6. Use Music for Listening Practice: Make listening to English music a regular part of your daily routine. Create playlists of your favorite English songs and listen to them while you're commuting, exercising, or relaxing at home. The more exposure you have to English music, the more you'll improve your listening skills.

7. Explore Cultural References: English songs often contain cultural references and idiomatic expressions that can provide valuable insights into English-speaking cultures. Take the time to research the cultural context behind the songs you're listening to, and you'll gain a deeper understanding of the language and its cultural nuances.

By incorporating music into your English learning routine, you can make language learning more engaging, enjoyable, and effective. So plug in your headphones, turn up the volume, and let the music guide you.

Questions:

Q1. Which stage should you look up unknown vocabulary?

Q2. What are two benefits of singing along?

Q3. What are the outcomes of stage 7

Scroll down ↓ for answers:

ANSWERS:

A1. In the third stage

A2. It boosts confidence and improves pronunciation.

A3. You gain cultural understanding.

Photo Credit: Vallentin @pexels.com 

As an English teacher living in Japan, experiencing the seasons here has been quite different from what I’m used to back in the UK. Both countries have four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—but the way each season feels and is celebrated can be very different.

Spring: Cherry Blossoms vs. Daffodils

In Japan, spring is famous for the beautiful cherry blossoms, or sakura. People in Japan love to have picnics under these pink and white flowers during the cherry blossom festivals. In the UK, spring is also a lovely season, where flowers like daffodils and bluebells cover the parks and gardens. While we don’t have big picnics under the trees, the blooming flowers are a cheerful sight after the cold winter.

Summer: Festivals and Rain

Japanese summers are hot and full of lively festivals. People wear yukata, which are like light kimonos, and enjoy fireworks and street food. In the UK, our summers are usually cooler and, let’s be honest, a bit rainy. We do have music festivals and barbecues whenever the sun decides to shine, which makes for a fun time too.

Autumn: Leaves and More Leaves

Autumn in Japan is as stunning as the spring, with the leaves turning bright red, orange, and yellow. People go to parks and mountains just to see this colorful display. In the UK, autumn is also beautiful with the leaves changing color, but it’s generally more subdued. We enjoy cozy evenings as it starts to get colder.

Winter: Snowscapes vs. Dark Days

Winters can be quite different. In Japan, places like Hokkaido are famous for their snow festivals with huge ice sculptures. In other parts of Japan, New Year is a big celebration where families come together. In the UK, winter is more about short days and long nights. We get some snow, but it’s not as common. Christmas is a huge deal, and cities light up with decorations and markets.

Living in Japan has shown me how differently seasons can be experienced and celebrated in another culture. While the UK seasons are more about subtle changes and quiet beauty, Japan’s seasons are full of vivid colors and festivals. Both places have their unique charm, making each season special in its own way.

Questions:

Q1. What season do British people associate daffodils with?

Q2. What is one problem with summers in England?

Q3. Which of the countries gets more snow?

Scroll down ↓ for answers:

A1. Spring

A2. It is too rainy.

A3. Japan

Photo Credit: Oz Art @pexels.com

Here, I will introduce a powerful technique to improve both your listening and speaking skills at the same time! It's a method called shadowing, where you practice repeating the English you hear, as if you are its shadow.

Let's take The Beatles' "Let It Be" as an example for our explanation.

The Beatles - Let It Be

You can find the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYfEBY9NM4

When you hear "When I find myself in times of trouble," you immediately repeat "When I find myself in times of trouble." As you repeat this, the next phrase, "Mother Mary comes to me," will play, so you quickly start repeating that phrase. You continue in this way with "Speaking words of wisdom..." and so on.

Shadowing is an excellent exercise for both listening and speaking practice. It is great for listening because it trains you to hear and understand English directly, without translating it into Japanese in your head. Additionally, being able to shadow well means you can accurately mimic the unique rhythm of English.

For example, if you can pronounce "When I find myself in times of trouble" in sync with the audio, that means you are able to follow the rhythm rules of English: You stress and elongate content words (words that carry meaning) like "find," "myself," "times" and "trouble," while pronouncing function words (words that indicate grammar) like "when," "I," "in" and "of" weakly and briefly.

If you take too long to pronounce function words like "when" or "I," you won't be able to say the line in sync with the audio. Now, let’s actually try shadowing this song.

As you shadow, avoid looking at the text as much as possible, and focus only on the audio. It might feel difficult at first, but it’s important to practice the same material repeatedly until you can do it.

Observing the rhythm of English in songs and mimicking it is a highly effective learning method. You can practice shadowing with other pop songs, nursery rhymes, and even jazz when you've gotten the hang of it. However, not all English songs are suitable for shadowing, so be selective.

Here, we used a song for shadowing, but anything can be suitable as long as it matches the learner’s vocabulary level and an English script is available for reference if needed. You can practice shadowing with things you enjoy, like dramas or movies. Be sure to incorporate this into your English learning!

Questions:

Q1. What skills improve with shadowing?

Q2. What is the typical rhythm in the English language?

Q3. What tips are given for shadowing?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. Listening and speaking skills.

A2. Content words are pronounced strongly and are longer, while function words are pronounced weakly and are shorter.

A3. Focus only on the sound/ Repeat the same material multiple times.

Photo Credit: Ivan Samkov @pexels.com

Risk is an essential part of our human journey. We take risks all through our lives as we grow up. Think about how you learned to speak your native language. You experimented with sounds and meanings all the time. You used humor and emotion and wild ideas. You took risks. And it felt natural to do so.

How can you imitate that natural risk taking in your learning of a new language?

Firstly, think about the environment you have cultivated around your language learning. Do you study alone? Do you mostly read or listen to the target language? Are you a passive learner in this sense? Or do you prefer to interact with others in the language and use it primarily to communicate and connect and share? In this way, you might be a more active learner.

Everyone is different in their approach to learning, but what is essential is that you take a risk by stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself to use the target language in new settings and in new ways as much as possible. Join a discussion circle in the BBP Communication Room on campus, make friends with students from other countries, set up a social media account in the target language and chat with other accounts in real time online (chatting during live sports matches is a great way to do this). All these activities involve a certain amount of risk taking.

Secondly, set challenging goals. Use one of the many online level checks for a language proficiency test. If it’s English, there is EIKEN, IELTS, TOEIC, or TOEFL. Ideally, target a level that is a little beyond your current ability. As extra motivation, register for a test at the same time as a friend for some friendly competition. Set achievable and measurable goals that push you harder. If it’s within your ability to remember 10 new words a week, try 10 new words a day. If it’s easy for you to write 100 words without pausing, try writing 1000 without looking at a dictionary or erasing any words. Using an official language test as a goal and targeting a level that is currently a little above your ability is a great way to add more risk to your language learning.

Adding an element of risk is a great way to become a better language learner. And maybe it’s easier than you think.

Questions:

Q1. True or false: it is unnatural to take risks in life.

Q2. True or false: commenting online in a foreign language about a soccer game is a fun way to interact.

Q3. True or false: language learners should only take aptitude tests that match their levels.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. False

A2. True

A3. False

Photo Credit: Maitree Rimthong @pexels.com

Savings and Investing

Children often learn their money skills from their parents. For example, parents often tell their children to make a habit of saving money.

The problem is that many parents have very poor money management skills. Studies show that in America more than 25% of people have less than $1000 savings.

This situation is obviously stressful for the individual, as any job loss would spell disaster. The individual is locked into a job that they may not like, and they, and their family, are in a financially precarious situation.

The importance of saving and investing, and teaching these skills to our children, cannot be overemphasized. The power of compounding interest shows that a person who invests $10,000 at the age of 20 and leaves it in an ETF paying 7% would have over $210,000 if they retire at the age of 65 (and almost $300,000 if they retire at 70!!) with no additions!

Do you save? Do you have a part time job?

What are your financial goals for your 20s? For your 30s?

What age would you like to retire?

What does financial stability mean to you? How much money do you need to reach financial independence?

Recently, the idea of financial independence and even early retirement has taken hold in American and many western countries. What financial independence means to one person will, of course, be different from another person. One person can live a simple life surfing and playing guitar in a small beach town, and live very frugally. Another person may wish for boats and sports cars.

Neither preference is better or worse than the other. The important point is, however, to be true to yourself, and know what will make you satisfied with your own life.

How much do you need to retire (or become financially independent)? The question is not one of values, but a simple mathematical equation. When your income from passive investments (or “passive income flow”) exceeds your outgoing expenses, you have reached a position of financial independence.

The art of learning to save money (and learning to invest our savings) is a skill fundamental to our daily life. Unfortunately, this skill is very poorly taught at schools. The necessity for schools (and parents) to instill the mental requirements for saving and investing in children has many additional positive effects.

Questions:

Q1. What percentage of US citizens have less than $1000 in savings?

Q2. Who teaches kids about money?

Q2. What is the main problem when parents teach their kids about money?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. Over 25%

A2. The parents

A3. The parents are poor money managers, so they do not know how to teach good habits.

Photo credit: The author 

As an architect and a designer, Antoni Gaudí has spoken to countless people through his many creations, most of which can be seen in Barcelona. Do you know that one of the people to whom Gaudí’s work has spoken quite loudly and eloquently used to attend a university in Kyoto? It’s true. He is the Japanese stone cutter, Etsuro Sotoo. 

Sotoo, a graduate of the Kyoto City University of Arts, traveled to Europe in 1978, one year after he graduated. As you can see, he was not much older than most of the students at Ritsumeikan University when he did that. That’s amazing, isn’t it? 

After arriving in Barcelona, he was so moved by Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, that Sotoo chose to stay and learn about him, his genius, and his work. He said “I just came to Europe to carve stone. I was looking for stone and stone introduced me to La Sagrada Família and La Sagrada Família introduced me to Gaudí” (National Geographic, 2013). 

Sotoo strove to understand Gaudí and honor him through his own stone cutting work. In so doing, he has, for more than 40 years, made significant contributions to the construction of La Sagrada Família. This includes the work Sotoo did on the east façade of the basilica. It is there, in the Nativity scene, that we can see fifteen statues of angels that Sotoo created. He even created a few of them with Asian faces. After all, according to Sotoo, angels from the east are needed, too (Public Relations Office, Government of Japan, 2012). (A photo of Sotoo’s angels can be seen above.) 

Sotoo’s passion for Gaudí’s work caused him to reconsider his values and to become Catholic. As you can see, art can be a very powerful language. Does it speak to you? If so, which medium (language) do you prefer to listen to, or with which one do you prefer to create? 

References  

National Geographic (2013, Dec. 14). Unorthodox sculpting. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MW5Us3E--0  

Public Relations Office, Government of Japan (2012, Dec.) Realizing Gaudi’s Unfulfilled Wishes: Etsuro Sotoo (Spain).

https://www.govonline.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201212/201212_05.html

Questions:

Q1. When did Sotoo travel to Europe?

a. Straight after he graduated.

b. A little while after graduation.

c. A year before he graduated.

Q2. Where can you see many of Gaudi’s works?

a. Barcelona

b. Ritsumeikan University

c. In the Public relations Office of the Government of Japan

Q3. How did Sotoo show his passion for Gaudi’s work?

a. He introduced Gaudi to Japanese visitors.

b. He helped to build Gaudi’s greatest work.

c. He looked for stone to use for La Sagrada Família.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1: b

A2: a

A3: b