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08 .28A way to learn English that is out of this world!Photo Credit: AstroAi @ PixabayIf you want to make learning English a more fun and rewarding experience, one way is to learn through your interests and hobbies. If, like me, you are a science fiction fan, for example, you can use this genre as a tool to improve your English skills. Here are some tips on how to do that. Start by reading short stories or novellas in English. Science fiction is known for its imaginative and thought-provoking stories, such as Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, Harrison Bergeron, or some of Isaac Asimov’s robot stories. However, you should choose stories that are at your level, so one good place to start is at the Ritsumeikan library in the graded reader section, or at the BBP.Watch movies and TV shows in English with subtitles. Science fiction is a popular genre in both mediums, and there are many great films and TV shows that you can watch to improve your English. Some great examples are Star Trek, Star Wars, or Interstellar. As you watch, pay attention to the dialogue and try to imitate the way the characters speak. If you watch on some streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ you can even watch with English subtitles to help improve your listening and reading at the same time!There are also online communities or forums where people discuss science fiction in English. This can be a great way to practice your English skills in a real-life setting and learn from others who share your interests. You can also share your own thoughts and opinions on the stories and characters that you love.Use science fiction to learn about new topics and expand your vocabulary. Science fiction often explores futuristic or hypothetical scenarios, and reading or watching these stories can introduce you to new ideas and concepts. There is even a new science fiction dictionary online that explains science fiction words and where they first appeared. {Dictionary of Science Fiction [https://sfdictionary.com/]} As you encounter new words and phrases, make sure to look them up and add them to your vocabulary list.Have fun! Learning English through science fiction can be a fun and engaging way to improve your language skills. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things, and remember to enjoy the process. With dedication and practice, you can become a proficient English speaker and a true science fiction fan.Questions:Q1. What is the name of the short story by Kurt Vonnegut mentioned in the blog?Q2. How can you enjoy reading and listening to English at the same time?Q3. Where can you find meanings to words that commonly appear in science fiction novels?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:A1. Harrison BergeronA2. Use English subtitles while watching TV series and movies.A3. In the online dictionary (sfdictionary.com).BBP Staff
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08 .07Discover the Best Fireworks Festivals in Shiga: A Local's GuidePhoto Credit: designecologist @ unsplash.comAre you ready to enjoy your summer vacation after spring semester? I would like to introduce you to local information about fireworks near BKC, Ritsumeikan University. In Shiga, Japan, firework displays are a popular summertime tradition. These displays are usually held from July to September throughout the country, including Shiga. One notable event is the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival, where 10,000 fireworks are launched into the air over Lake Biwa. This stunning display of light is accompanied by jets of fountain water, creating a harmonious spectacle. The festival takes place on August 8th, 2023. The launch time is from 19:30 to 20:30. The festival is held in Otsu city, which has convenient access by train from Kyoto and Osaka. You can take the JR Tokaido Line to Otsu Station and then transfer to the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line to Hamaotsu Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the festival venue.Another fireworks event in Shiga is the Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks, which will be held on September 5th to 8th, 2023. The launch time is from 20:30 to 20:50 each day. The venue for this event is Nagahama Port in Nagahama City, and it can be accessed by an 8-minute walk from JR Nagahama. For more information, please visit the link: https://hanabi.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0725e00792/data.htmlIn addition to these specific events, there are likely other firework displays and festivals that take place in Shiga during the summer season. These events provide an impressive show and are a fantastic way to enjoy the summer in Shiga. Please check official websites or local sources for the most up-to-date information on firework events in Shiga. Enjoy!Questions:1: What is the Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Firework Festival known for?2: How many fireworks are launched during the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival?3: When does the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival take place?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:Answer 1: It is known for launching more than 10,000 fireworks, focused in the always impressive star mines, beautifully illuminating both the summer sky and the stunning Lake Biwa.Answer 2: 10,000 fireworks are launched into the air over Lake Biwa during the Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival.Answer 3: It will be held on August 8th, 2023.Akiko Watanabe
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07 .24SportsPhoto Credit: Remaztered Studio @ PixabayThe joy of sports is something that I have had since childhood. I have been playing some kind of sport for over 40 years. Whether it be playing basketball or going to watch pro games, sports have played an important role in who I am.When people think about sports, the first thing that comes to mind is often the physical benefits of doing sports and of course this is true. People who participate in sports often maintain a healthier body weight and suffer from fewer chronic diseases. There are also the psychological benefits of sports. Sports require communication skills, leadership and the ability to create and maintain interpersonal relationships.While all of these factors are important, I think there is one that is often overlooked. Sports are a vehicle for self expression. As an athlete I am constantly reminded of the fact that no matter how many athletes do the same sport, no two athletes do it exactly the same way. In the example of basketball, there have been countless words written comparing Lebron James, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but in truth, each is uniquely a different athlete and expresses their game different ways.For me, the day to day preparation, practice, and eventual performance of competition form is not only an athletic endeavor but also an artistic one that is uniquely human. The same can be said of the individual and community experiences of fan bases. Groups of fans often have their own attire and rituals associated with their favorite teams and players, and these rituals often mimic those of religious groups. These shared experiences give a certain meaning to the fan bases and collectively identify them as members of a community.In short, it is my hope that in some way you may begin to see the benefits of sports as not limited to only the physical and psychological, but also reaching into the society in general.Questions:1. What are some benefits of sports?2. Who are the athletes mentioned in this entry?3. How long has the author been playing sports?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. a. Physical benefits of health,b. psychological benefits of communication skills, leadership, and interpersonal relationships,c. the opportunity to express oneself.2. Lebron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant3. Over 40 yearsJason Stayanchi
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07 .17Kyoto's Five Geisha DistrictsPhoto Credit: Satoshi Hirayama @ PexelsEvery visitor to Kyoto has heard of geiko (the term for geisha in Kyoto) and maiko, but many don’t know where they live. Geiko and maiko live in hanamachi (Flower Towns or geisha districts), and there are five hanamachi in Kyoto. Four are located around the Shijo Kawaramachi intersection in central Kyoto, and the fifth is located about a twenty-minute walk from Ritsumeikan’s Kinugasa campus.The biggest and most famous geisha district is Gion Kobu, which is located very near Yasaka Shrine, mostly to the south of Shijo Dori. Gion Kobu had just under 100 geiko and maiko before the pandemic started, and the numbers have decreased a bit since then. Gion Kobu is well-known throughout Japan and beyond because of Miyako Odori, the Cherry Blossom Dance, held every April 1 – 30. If you have a chance, you should definitely try to see it at least once while you are in Kyoto.The second largest hanamachi is Miyagawa-cho, which is a little west of Gion Kobu, south of the Minamiza-theater, east of the Kamogawa. Miyagawa-cho had about sixty geiko and maiko in 2019. Miyagawa-cho also holds a popular dance in April, Kyo Odori. It usually runs for two weeks. Since the Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo is smaller than Gion Kobu’s, Kyo Odori is a bit more intimate than Miyako Odori although it as not as famous. Ponto-cho, the third largest district with fifty geiko and maiko, is named after the famous narrow street that is jammed with restaurants and tourists just west of the Kamogawa River. Ponto-cho’s annual dance, the Kamogawa Odori, is named after the river.The final two geisha districts are much smaller than the first three but no less interesting. Gion Higashi, like Gion Kobu, is located very close to Yasaka Shrine, but whereas Gion Kobu is mostly south of Shijo Dori, Gion Higashi is mostly to the north. Gion Higashi is the only one of the five hanamachi that has its main dance in the fall. Gion Odori is held from November 1 – 10 every year at Gion Kaikan, which has operated as a movie theater at other times of the year. If you are on Instagram and are interested in the culture of geiko and maiko, you might want to follow @tomikiku_gionhigashi. Tomikiku is an ochaya (tea house) in Gion Higashi, and the proprietress speaks English. All the posts are in Japanese and English and feature behind-the-scenes photos that you won’t see in many other places.Kamishichiken is the oldest hanamachi in Kyoto and the closest to Ritsumeikan. It is located next to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Both Gion Higashi and Kamishiciken have less than thirty geiko and maiko in their districts. Kamishichiken’s main dance is Kitano Odori, which begins at the end of March. Because Kamishichiken is located quite far from central Kyoto, it is the quietest. There are not as many tourists roaming the streets, which makes for a very pleasant experience.Questions:1. Miyako Odori is the first major dance held every year. True False2. Gion Higashi is bigger than Gion Kobu. True False3. Both Miyagawa-cho and Ponto-cho are located adjacent to the Kamogawa. True FalseScroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. False (Kitano Odori begins at the end of March)2. False (Gion Kobu is the largest)3. TrueFoster John Paul
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07 .10Superhero MoviesPhoto Credit: Andrew Martin @ PixabayI grew up reading American comic books. I remember going to weekend swap meets and buying them for 10 cents each. My brother and I had stacks and stacks of comics in our room. Although I had a lot of funny comics such as Richie Rich and Archie, superhero comics were my favorite. That is why I am so happy with the world-wide popularity of superhero movies now. I can see the characters I loved in my youth come alive on the big screen. In addition, while comic books were something of a nerds’ hobby when I was young, modern superhero movies are mainstream and have become the most popular movies. In America there are two major superhero comic book publishers; DC Comics and Marvel Comics. DC superheroes include Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the Justice League. Marvel superheroes include Iron Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Avengers. Although there have been some crossovers of these characters in comic books, they don’t exist in the same fictional worlds and don’t appear in movies together.DC superheroes were the first to have successful live action TV shows and movies. Superman movie serials were produced in the 1940’s and 1950’s, and the first big budget superhero movie was ‘Superman’, which debuted in 1978. It was so successful that it spawned three sequels. Similarly, Batman featured in a popular TV series in the 1960’s that had its own movie spinoff. The first megahit Batman movie opened in 1989. It led to three sequels with different directors and different actors playing Batman. Batman was also the star of a trilogy of smash hit movies that started with ‘Batman Begins’ in 2005. Likewise, ‘Wonder Woman’ was a hit TV show for four years in the late 1970’s.Marvel was quite late to the game compared to DC. Spider-Man’s live action debut didn’t happen until late 1978 and the show was cancelled after only 2 seasons. ‘The Incredible Hulk’ fared much better, as it was broadcast on TV from 1978 to 1982 and led to three TV movies in the late 1980’s. Marvel’s movie success didn’t come until the X-Men series (which had 10 movies) started in 2000 and a Spider-Man trilogy which began in 2002. However, even though Marvel had a slow start, they would greatly outdo DC in the modern era of superhero movies.The modern DCEU (DC Extended Universe) began with 2013’s ‘Man of Steel’. Since then, 9 other DC movies have appeared with heroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam and the Suicide Squad. The movies have had varying degrees of success. On the other hand, the modern MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) started with 2008’s ‘Iron Man’. Currently, there are 30 movies (which have almost all been major hits) with more coming seemingly every month. The MCU features superheroes such as Captain America, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Captain Marvel and Black Panther. Marvel superheroes have become unstoppable juggernauts at the movie theater and their DC counterparts are definitely playing catchup. However, superhero fans such as myself are the real winners because there is no end in sight to more of these amazing, action-packed films.Questions:1. Who is a DC superhero?A. SupermanB. SpidermanC. Archie2. How many movies were there in the X-men movie series?A. 3B. 10C. 303. When was the first movie of the modern DC universe (DCEU) shown in theaters?A. 1978B. 2005C. 2013Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. A2. B3. CJason Henwood
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06 .19Shadowing and Language LearningWhat is shadowing?Shadowing is a language learning technique which requires learners to listen to an audio recording of the language they wish to improve and try to ‘talk along’— to repeat aloud almost simultaneously with the speaker, or as close behind the speaker as possible. This technique is used to help learners improve speaking speed, pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and flow, and accent by mimicking what they are hearing. It can also be an effective way to learn useful vocabulary and grammar, and to develop a sense of the common sentence structures and collocations used in the language. With easy access to online recordings of all types (TV, streaming sites, podcasts, YouTube, TED talks etc.), this method of learning is accessible to almost anyone.How to get started!It is, of course, best to choose recordings about topics that are both of interest and easy to understand. Most learners will benefit from access to a transcript or subtitles, allowing them to read and talk along at the same time, although more advanced learners may be able to shadow simply by listening. Before trying to speak aloud, it is a good idea to first listen to the recording several times and take note of key vocabular,y words and phrases. After that, it is helpful to try silent shadowing before attempting to speak aloud. Since this technique can be a bit tiring, it is best to start with a short section of the listening, perhaps just a minute or two, and slowly increase the shadowing time as appropriate. For those who find talking along with the speaker difficult, it is also possible to listen to an entire sentence or two and then repeat.Shadowing as feedback in conversation.Shadowing can also be used in actual conversation with another person to show that you are listening and interested in what others have to say. An example can be seen in the short exchange below.A: I had a great summer. I travelled abroad for the first time.B: Wow! You travelled abroad! How exciting!In conclusion, while shadowing is not always easy, it can be a fun challenge, can be done in private without fear of judgement, and can improve speaking skills if practiced regularly.Questions:1) What does 'shadowing' mean in this reading?A. Being a ninjaB. A way of studying EnglishC. To hide in the dark places2) What are three things that shadowing can help language learners to improve?A. PronunciationB. Speaking speedC. CollocationsD. All of the above3) What should learners do before attempting to 'talk along' with a recording?A. Silent ShadowingB. Look for listening passages with text or subtitlesC. Listen to the passage two timesD. All of the aboveScroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. B2. D3. DBBP Staff
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05 .22Seven Hours to the Beach
Photo Credit: マサコ アーント @ pixabay
One cheap way to get to the beach in Japan is to fly with Peach Airlines from Kansai International Airport to Ishigaki Island in Okinawa. In March, I flew round trip for ¥15,000, and with a bargain deal on a new hotel with a free breakfast for ¥6,000, the choice to see the ocean before school started was an easy one over a weekend stay in an urban setting in Tokyo.
After exiting the new airport on Ishigaki even with a Starbucks cafe, I took a city bus 15 minutes to my hotel in front of the new Intercontinental ANA Resort Hotel and walked to the beach in 5 minutes. Without a car, I had to take a bus around the island. The main gem of a beach is called Kabira with clear, clean water and star-shaped grains of sand. It was an undeveloped beach in a pure state, very peaceful and beautiful. That is in contrast to the downtown area with many izakayas serving Orion beer and souvenir shops selling ceramic shisa figurines. Almost all of the homes in Okinawa have a pair of shisa dragons on the roof or at the entrance. One of the shisa has an open mouth beckoning for good fortune to enter, while the other one has a closed mouth to expel bad fortune. These figures are seen everywhere as spiritual guardians.
The other lyrical touch that I appreciated was constantly hearing the music of the sanshin, I guess Hawaii’s counterpart being the ukulele.
The vibe down there is mellow, and it is a place that needs more tourists to survive economically. This is a great place for students since the costs are low and the warm weather will make it easy to pack a light carry-on suitcase.
Questions:
1) What musical instrument is heard on Ishigaki Island?
A - ukulele
B – sanshin
C – guitar
2) What is special about the sand on Kabira Beach?
A – it has gold in it
B – it smells good
C – there are star-shaped grains of sand
3) What Okinawan figure/decoration/guardian is also connected with luck inside and outside the house?
A – Setsubun
B – Maneki Neko
C – Shisa
Scroll down ↓ for the answers
Answers:
1) B
2) C
3) C
Jane Ward -
05 .08The Joy of Vinyl RecordsPhoto Credit: Merve @ pexels.comMany people today listen to music using streaming services like Apple Music or downloaded mp3 files played through smart phones. When I was a child in the early 1970’s, we mostly listened to music with vinyl records. Then cassette tapes became popular because they were more portable, and you could record your own music onto them. Later in the 1990’s, CDs became the most popular medium for music. My favorite way to listen to music is the vinyl record. In recent years, records have become trendy again, partly due to their popularity with DJs. I am not a DJ, but I have several other reasons why I like vinyl best.If taken care of properly, records last a long time. I have several hundred records; most of them I bought in my youth or came from my father’s even older collection. Today I listened to the very first record I ever bought – Led Zeppelin IV. It still sounds great, even though the vinyl record is over 40 years old. None of the cassettes from my childhood work at all now, and even some of my CDs from the 1990’s don’t really work well anymore. My old records; however, have become some of my most prized possessions.I believe the analog format of vinyl records provides a better, warmer sound than digital formats. Even the pops and crackles you hear on scratched or dusty records can have some nostalgic attraction for people of my generation. Many audiophiles think analog records contain a wider range of sound waves and give a rich, truer, more authentic sound.Finally, and most importantly, listening to music with records is a more involved, satisfying experience. First, I have to physically find a record by looking through my record collection. The artwork on the record covers trigger memories and helps me choose what I want to hear. Then I have to take out the record from its sleeve, decide if I want to hear side A or B, put the record on my turntable, and manually place the needle at the song I want to hear. Often, I will start from the beginning using the automatic function. This makes me listen to all of the songs in the order the artist intended, something I think is mostly lost today when we skip through and just pick single songs from our mp3 collection. As I listen to the record, I usually spend some time looking at the artwork and the information printed on the album sleeve, and sometimes I can read the lyrics to the songs if they are printed on the sleeve. I think listening to music with records is a more focused, complete, artistic experience than using other formats. When I play vinyl records, I can most fully appreciate what I am listening to.Questions:1. Which of the following is the oldest music medium?A. CDsB. Streaming ServicesC. Vinyl records2. In paragraph 4, what is an ‘audiophile’?A. A professional musician.B. A notebook with notes about music.C. A person who is enthusiastic about high-quality sound.3. Why does the author like vinyl records?A. Because they are very convenient.B. Because the author thinks they provide a better listening experience.C. Because the author is a DJ.Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. C2. C3. BBrett Morgan
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03 .13Learning a Language through Loving a TV Program
Do you know what the longest-running animated television series is? Do you think it’s The Simpsons? South Park? Family Guy? Well, it’s my favourite Japanese show–Sazae-san.
You all know that the Isono and Fuguta families never get old, that there’s no way Katsuo can fit his K T-shirts over his head, and that by the end of the credits we begin to feel down at the prospect of the end of the weekend.
But did you know the power of one TV show you love to help your understanding of a language? How many people in the world today have learned Dutch through Nijntje en haar vriendjes, French through La Famille Barbapapa, and Russian through Cheburashka? I can’t tell you which TV program is best for learning English—that you’ll have to do yourself. It’s really just as long as you love the program and want to watch it again and again like I like watching Sazae-san again and again.
Here are some tips. But first you’ll have to have Amazon Prime or Netflix or use your digital recorder. Next, you’ll need a friend. Nobody speaks a language by themselves.
List of tips:
--Watch for 10 minutes, then predict what you think will happen.
--Watch the entire episode, then summarize what happened.
--Freeze any random frame, then describe what is happening.
--Watch a scene with your eyes closed, describe what happened, then watch what really happened.
--Watch a scene with no sound and write down what you think was said, then check.
--Have your friend write down the English subtitles, then erase a few words.
Next, you watch without the subtitles and try to fill in the blanks your friend made.
--Turn the sound off and practice reading the English subtitles aloud.
Afterwards, with the sound on, check your pronunciation and intonation.
--Together write down an English-subtitled dialogue, then practice acting it out.
You both may be better than some of the actors you find on TV these days.
I hope you will try one or two of these tips on your own beloved TV program. As for me, it’s time that I finally figure out what Ikura-chan is really saying. So, from now on I’m going to try to translate everything he says into perfect English.
Photo Credit: Taryn Elliott@pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. What is the longest-running animated television series?
Q2. Which languages can you learn if you watch Nijntje en haar vriendjes,La Famille Barbapapa, and Cheburashka?
Q3. What is the best TV show to help you learn English?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz AnswersQ1. Sazae-san.
Q2. Dutch, French, and Russian.
Q3. The one that you love.Paul Meyer -
02 .13Lessons Learned from Being on TV (Part 2)
Unfortunately, the last three that I mentioned aired really late at night, so not too many people were able to watch them. This is why I was so glad to have gotten this most recent chance.
October 7: MBS Yonchan. This news program showed my feature at 6:40 p.m., which means more people had a chance to watch. It was the longest corner yet, at roughly 12.5 minutes, and the TV crew even came and filmed me at Ritsumeikan University! By then, I had been filmed so many times that I was not too nervous, but I did sense that students and other teachers were a little shy. Anyhow, I learned something about TV on this day, and it is unfortunate. They are not always accurate and do not always want to portray the truth. They want to tell the story that they think will get them the biggest audience. They also do not always allow the subject of the feature to check it ahead of time and make corrections. There were no fewer than six errors or fabrications on the program, including my age, which they got wrong by 5 years.
All in all, I am happy to be getting recognition for the work I am doing to promote the Hanshin Tigers in English to people all over the world. If you want to study English by reading (and hearing) about the Tigers, why not check out my website [www.thehanshintigers.com]?
Photo Credit: Martin Péchy@pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. According to the writer, why did more people watch MBS Yonchan than several other programs he appeared on?
Q2. What mistake did the most recent TV program make about the writer?
a) Six
b) His age
c) His family members
Q3. Overall, is the writer satisfied with his experiences appearing on television?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
Q1. Because it was shown at 6:40 p.m.
Q2. B
Q3. Yes
Trevor Raichura