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11.11Dance Experience and Benefits
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.
Heidy Durning -
11.04Learning English with Music
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.
BBP Staff -
10.28Comparing the Four Seasons in Japan and the UK: A Foreign Teacher’s View
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
BBP Staff -
10.21Tips for Improving Your English
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.
Takuya Hattori -
10.14Savings and Investing
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.
BBP Staff -
10.07When learning a language … take risks!
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
BBP Staff -
09.30Language and Art
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
Dawn O'Day -
09.23Do You Know Lacrosse?
Photo Credit: Styves Exantus@pexels.com
Lacrosse, often hailed as Canada's national summer sport, has a rich history and has seen significant development over the years. Originating as a game played by Indigenous peoples, lacrosse has grown into a beloved sport across Canada and is now gaining popularity in countries like Japan.
Historical Roots and Evolution in Canada
Lacrosse has deep roots in Canadian history, tracing back to Indigenous tribes who played early versions of the game. These tribes, including the Iroquois and Algonquin, used lacrosse for more than just recreation; it was a spiritual and community activity, often referred to as "the Creator's Game." The game played an essential role in their culture, serving purposes from training warriors to settling disputes. European settlers in the 17th century observed these games and started to play lacrosse themselves. By the mid-19th century, lacrosse had evolved significantly, and in 1856, William George Beers, a Canadian dentist, founded the Montreal Lacrosse Club. Beers is often credited with modernizing the game by setting standard rules and equipment, which transformed lacrosse into an organized sport. Lacrosse gained immense popularity, becoming Canada's national game in 1867. The first national governing body, the National Lacrosse Association (now the Canadian Lacrosse Association), was established in 1867. Since then, the sport has continued to thrive, with various leagues and teams forming across the country. Canadian lacrosse now includes multiple forms, such as box lacrosse, field lacrosse, and women's lacrosse, each with its own unique rules and playing styles.
Lacrosse Today - A Global Perspective
While lacrosse remains a significant part of Canadian sports culture, it has also started to spread internationally. One of the surprising new hotbeds for lacrosse is Japan. Over the past few decades, the sport has seen a remarkable rise in popularity. Lacrosse was introduced to Japan in the 1980s by exchange students returning from North America. The first official lacrosse team was established at Keio University in 1986. Since then, the sport has grown rapidly, especially at the collegiate level. Today, Japan has a robust lacrosse community with numerous teams and leagues for both men and women. Japan’s national teams have also made impressive strides on the international stage. The men's team first competed in the World Lacrosse Championship in 1994, and since then, Japan has consistently been a strong competitor. The women's national team is also competitive, often ranking well in international tournaments.
The Future of Lacrosse
Lacrosse's development in Canada and its spread to countries like Japan highlight the sport's global appeal. With ongoing support and promotion, lacrosse continues to grow, fostering international camaraderie and competition. As the sport evolves, it remains a testament to its roots, celebrating both its Indigenous heritage and its modern incarnations around the world.
Blog Quiz
Q1. Who is credited with modernizing lacrosse in Canada?
a) John A. Macdonald
b) William George Beers
c) James Naismith
Q2. When did lacrosse become Canada's national game?
a) 1867
b) 1900
c) 1980
Q3. When was the first official lacrosse team established in Japan?
a) 1976
b) 1986
c) 1996
Scroll down to see the answers below.
Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. b
Jason Henwood -
09.16Legacy
Photo Credit: Julian Jagtenberg@pexels.com
When you are younger, you usually do not spend time thinking about what it means to be “old” because you’re too busy doing the things that will become your life as you get older. When you’re older, you can get caught in the trap of looking back and wondering “what if I did this” or “what if I didn’t do that.” Both have very innocent reasons behind them, but have their strengths and weaknesses, positives and negatives.
At a younger age, you are (hopefully) full of inspiration and focus and in the pursuit of possibilities. There should be any number of things for you to pursue and consider, and only your willingness to explore may decide your path. A negative side of this freedom is you could get lost in the labyrinth that life can become sometimes, ever wandering and not sure how you got where you are. Sometimes that part of the journey and the deeper lesson have value, but it can also lead to restlessness in not knowing what you’ll find.
Once you get “older,” your life has (hopefully) balanced itself out and it’s easier to settle yourself on the things you want to do and not be thrown off by the events that don’t seem to go your way. You can afford to be content with what you’re doing and how you got there. On the other end, though, some people settle too soon and the comfort of predictability can narrow your vision of other things. You may question those who have made different choices than yourself, or, over time, begin to question your own choices. This can still lead to a positive path and some people get a new lease on life by reinventing themselves despite the challenge in doing so, but it can also push someone into the famed mid-life crisis.
The “why’s” and the “what’s” that life tests you with are not the same as other people, but they’re not meant to be predictable or avoided. Young or old, some people would try to minimize or soften the bumps by making the ride as smooth (and uninteresting) as possible. Wherever the destination may be and however you choose to get there, don’t worry about what you might leave behind or how difficult it may be to get there. The world is full of people who traded ambition for safety.
Don’t be afraid to be a little careless as your explore possibilities for yourself, and on the other hand, do not doubt yourself if you think you found what you want to do. A truly dangerous person is someone who knows what they want and are willing to give it their all once they found it.
Blog Quiz:
Q1. What decides where a person can be when they’re younger?
Q2. How can someone overcome problems when they’re older?
Q3. According to the author, what does he think the world has too much of?
Scroll down to see the answers below.
Answers:
1. A willingness to explore
2. Reinventing themselves by choosing something new for their life
3. People who have traded ambition for safety
Jesse Patterson