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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

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

1. Sleep has an import role in learning.

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

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

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. T

2. T

3. F

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

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

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

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

Blog Quiz

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

A.    Using color to predict your future.

B.    Choosing colors that best match your skin color.

C.    Coordinating your clothes with the seasons.

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

A.    They help to cheer you up.

B.    They make you feel more relaxed.

C.    They encourage you to work harder.

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

A.    Blue.

B.    Orange or yellow.

C.    Green.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. A

3. C

Housing issues are always annoying. One visits many real estate agencies before finding a property. When one finds a good property, it still takes time to settle in. While it is exciting to begin a new life in a new place, all the processes involved can be irritating. Some students may have started their lives in new apartments this Spring, while others still need to find rooms for the Fall semester.

Having had several experiences of looking for accommodation and moving, I have two tips that I would like to share with you.

My priority is that my apartment has sufficient sunlight because I had the unpleasant experience of living in a very dark room previously. The rent was affordable, the room was quite large, and I found the new kitchen appliances to be attractive. However, the lack of sunlight was simply awful. Although the room had a balcony on the south side, the room was dark because there was a factory just in front of it. Therefore, I had to keep the lights on all the time, even during the day; my bedding grew mould even in summer, and the room was icy cold in winter, even when the heater was on. I now believe that the power of sunlight gives me the energy to wake up and tells me when it is time to relax as it moves from east to west.

The second point is that after moving several times, I realised that it was easier to live with limited furnishings. When I embarked on my life in Tokyo as an undergraduate student, it was fun to buy ornaments and put them on shelves. At the same time, I had a part-time job at a clothing store, which increased the amount of ‘stuff’ in my cupboards. When I graduated from university, I moved to a new apartment. At that time, when the staff at the moving company saw my room, they said, “Wow, this is a big job…” They were right. I had too many things that I did not use often, or never used at all. Since then, I have attempted to decrease my possessions. I am not a minimalist, but I feel good when I keep my closet and kitchen shelves tidy.

By the time I moved into a student dormitory in London, I was surprised to find that I could pack everything I needed into two suitcases that I had brought from Japan. When I arrived in London, I purchased some pans and blankets to live a comfortable life as a student there. I began to wonder why I felt that I needed so many things when I was an undergraduate. Our society is materialistic, and the economy is based on consumption; however, the number of possessions someone has does not indicate whether the person is happy or wealthy.

Photo Credit: cottonbro@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Why did the author dislike the dark room he lived in?

A.    It was cold.

B.    Mold grew easily.

C.    Both A and B.

2. In paragraph 4, what does the author mean by ‘minimalist’?

A.   A small room.

B.   A person with few possessions.

C.   A person who hates moving.

3. How does the author currently feel about possessions?

A.   He thinks they are not that important for happiness.

B.    He needs more pans and blankets.

C.    He wants to be more materialistic.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. C

2. B

3. A

(continued from last week)

Alternatively, Japanese sports education and culture has quite a long history of basketball. In 1917, Japan entered a basketball team in the Olympic games for the first time. When I first came to Japan to teach English, I was so jealous to realize that much like American children, Japanese children have grown up for generations learning the game that I had grown to love.

In my middle school’s changing rooms, our sports teachers decorated the walls with posters of various famous sports stars. I knew a lot of those faces from watching TV, but there was one poster in particular that caught my attention. It was a photo taken from above the basketball ring, looking down. There was a tall handsome man training on his own, jumping high into the air with a basketball in one hand. In the bottom left corner of the poster was a small red box with the word ‘Nike’ in it. I didn’t know who he was then, but that is my first clear memory of seeing the world-famous Michael Jordan. I wanted to know more.

A few years later at high school, I got my first chance to learn how to play. The school had an old indoor court that had no 3-point line, and three larger spaces in a building that we nicknamed ‘the shed’. I made new friends with other boys and girls, some who knew more about basketball than me, and we began to practice and teach each other. Although the high school had a team, it was nothing like a Japanese school’s sports clubs. Practice was only once a week. Some of the older students told us about a private club that was being run at evenings and weekends by a professional player in the neighboring town called Gateshead. We nervously made the journey over there to see if we could take part. I remember walking onto my first proper basketball court and being amazed by the speed and intensity of the game and the players. I was hooked. I must have played, watched, and talked about basketball every day between the ages of 15 to 22. I was never a great player, but I loved the game and I still do now.

Photo Credit: Markus Spiske@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. When did Japan first enter a basketball team into the Olympic games?

2. What famous sport star did the author become interested in as a middle school student?

3. How often did the author’s high school basketball team practice?

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. 1917

2. Michael Jordan

3. Once a week

Football (soccer), as it is called in my native country, is by far and away the most popular sport in the UK, and like other hugely popular sports, football culture is ‘not just a sport’ to those who love it, it is a way of life. The north east of England has a long history of football culture. My hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, much like many other cities and towns throughout the UK, has thousands of people who loyally follow the various local football clubs, from school teams, to amateur teams, to the big-money big-business teams of the premiere leagues. Of course, there are people who actively dislike football and the culture surrounding it, so when the larger culture is not appealing, subcultures emerge from groups of people who have different beliefs and interests. These days, basketball is a globally popular sport thanks to the NBA, its amazing athletes, and the Internet. However, in 1990’s England, being a basketball fan meant that you were part of a subculture.

I started first (elementary) school in 1985 and I was never very good at playing football. I didn’t understand why so many boys wanted to play it. Equality in sports was still an underdeveloped idea, so in those days, it was very rare to see girls playing football, and even rarer for a school to have a girls’ football club.

At middle (junior high) school, I found out in P.E. class that I enjoyed athletics the most, especially the high jump and the long jump. It was exhilarating to throw myself as high and as far through the air as I could. The school had a football team for which many boys were very keen to play. My teachers suggested that I take part in athletics competitions. However, P.E. classes and serious competitions are two different worlds. It was so boring to sit and wait for my event in the day’s long schedule.

European or American basketball game highlights were only very rarely shown on British TV. I was intrigued by this strange looking game that was played in a small space with only ten people on the court. I didn’t know until I was much older that there was a small but loyally followed English professional basketball league. Also, like many other schools across the UK, my middle school had a very large grassy field with a football and rugby pitch, but it didn’t have a basketball court.

(To be continued next week)

Photo Credit: Markus Spiske@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. What is the most popular sport in The United Kingdom?

2. What sport did the author enjoy playing most in junior high school?

3. How often did the author see basketball on TV when he was in junior high school? 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. Soccer (football)

2. Athletics (long jump and high jump)

3. Rarely

During the COVID-19 outbreak, most of us have been spending a lot of time at home. It has been a difficult challenge, but at the same time it presents an opportunity to learn a new skill, for example playing a musical instrument. In my case, I’ve been improving my guitar skills.

The guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world and it can change your life in profound ways. It’s quite easy to play basic guitar and you can soon play simple songs. I myself have been playing for 45 years and I can attest that there are many advantages to learning guitar. For example, three of the most important benefits are creative, social and cognitive.

Learning to play the guitar is incredibly satisfying and the challenge of learning an instrument helps to release your creativity. Mastering chords, perfecting songs and playing solos are great challenges, and the sense of achievement you gain is wonderful. There is a deep emotional connection with music and you may even start writing your own songs and expressing your emotions in beautiful and unexpected ways. This new creativity may even help you discover surprising things about yourself.

Secondly there are huge social benefits from playing guitar. It is a great instrument when it comes to uniting people. Bring one out at a party, and you will soon become the center of attention, instantly elevating everyone’s mood and creating positive emotions. Not only that, playing together with other people, in a duo or even in a band, is a great way to make friends and form relationships.

Finally there are proven cognitive benefits from playing guitar. Research suggests that musicians’ brains work a bit differently to everyone else’s. Music theory is in fact built on mathematics and the art of learning to play chords and read music opens up pathways in the mind. Children with attention problems sometimes learn an instrument to improve concentration, and research has shown that the areas of the brain responsible for memory become stimulated while playing the guitar. Obviously this is a great benefit as you become older.

So in conclusion, playing the guitar has many benefits. It can help you to explore your connectivity, form friendships and it also has many cognitive benefits. So if you are looking for a hobby which will help you through this strange time, why don’t you think about learning the guitar?

Photo Credit: 42 North@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. When did the author start playing the guitar?

A.    To learn a new skill.

B.    Almost 50 years ago.

C.    During the COVID-19 outbreak.

2. What is one social benefit of playing the guitar?

A.    It releases your creativity.

B.    It can bring people together.

C.    You can discover things about yourself.

3. What does the phrase ‘cognitive benefits’ refer to?

A.    Attention problems.

B.    Elevating someone’s mood.

C.    Things that help the brain develop.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. B

3. C

What is your little treat in your daily life when you finish your important exams or achieve your goals? I am sure that everyone has their own little treat. In my case, one of my little treats can be having my favorite chocolate, which can make me feel happy and relaxed. According to the Chocolate and Cocoa Association of Japan [http://www.chocolate-cocoa.com/statistics/index.html], people in Germany ate 11.1 kg of chocolate per person in 2017 while people in Japan had 2.19 kg of chocolate per person in 2018. It is said that chocolate is unique because it can be used for both luxury and nutritious food. Chocolate can be good not only for recovering from exhaustion but also for preventing high blood pressure. However, it is recommended that people should not have a lot of chocolate at one time but have about 5-10g of chocolate per day (= about 1-2 pieces of bitter chocolate or a cup of hot chocolate). In fact, eating chocolate between meals can be an energy supplement and drinking a cup of hot chocolate in the morning or before exercise can improve blood flow.

The Chocolate and Cocoa Association of Japan [http://www.chocolate-cocoa.com/dictionary/history/world/w01_a.html] explains that chocolate was born in Mesoamerica, which is southern Mexico and central America, between around 1500 BC and 400 BC. Chocolate was not easy to get since the production area of cacao was limited, so only upper-class people such as people from the royal family or nobles could have it. People today enjoy chocolate both as food and drink. However, previously chocolate was tasted as a special drink and was drunk in a reception or after dinner. Not only was chocolate used for a drink but also as an offering in a ceremony, medicine, a tribute or even for money! For example, one male turkey was worth 200 cacao beans and one big tomato was worth one piece of cacao bean. The time when chocolate as a drink spread to ordinary citizens was in the 16th century after the Aztec Empire was conquered by Spain. It is said that there are four major inventions using chocolate. The first invention was hot chocolate by Dutch Coenraad Van Houten in 1828, who improved hot chocolate into a more convenient drink by making melty cacao powder. Then in 1847, British Joseph Fry produced the first solid chocolate by mixing cacao powder, sugar and cacao butter. After that, milk chocolate was invented by Swiss Daniel Peter in 1875 with Henri Nestle, who is the founder of Nestle. Finally, Swiss Rodolphe Lindt invented Conche (one of the machines to make chocolate) - it is said that he made smooth chocolate by accident, when he forgot to turn off the machine for 72 hours!

By the way, do you have your favorite chocolate brand? Global Brands Magazine Brand Awards 2019/2020 [https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/top-chocolate-brands-in-the-world/] announced the Top and Best Chocolate Brands as follows;

Ferrero Rocher

Guylian

Patchi

Domingo Ghirardelli

Toblerone

Cadbury

Lindt and Sprungli

Mars bars

Snickers

Kit Kat

Galaxy

Is there a chocolate brand you like in the list? Why don’t you try some of these chocolates when you buy chocolate next time for yourself or as a small gift?

Photo Credit: Polina Tankilevitch@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. How much chocolate do Japanese people eat?

A.    5 to 10 grams per day

B.    Approximately one-fifth the annual amount that German people do

C.    11.1 kg per year

2. According to the author, what are some benefits of consuming chocolate?

A.    it gives energy

B.    it helps your blood circulation

C.    both A and B

3. Where is chocolate from?

A.    Spain

B.    Switzerland

C.    Central America

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. B

3. C

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

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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

The Philippines has many young people with passion and enthusiasm to work for their people. In the summer of 2017, I joined a study tour led by an NGO in Kyoto to visit several places in the Philippines to meet local people and to learn about their life under difficult conditions. The NGO has been supporting the local people in the Philippines for more than 20 years and gave us an opportunity to meet them. The average age of the country’s citizens was 23 years old, much younger than Japan. We saw many ambitious young people, and I would like to introduce some of them.    

When we visited the largest disadvantaged area, Tondo District in Manila, we met Jel, one of the energetic young people who came to talk to us about their life. She was a twenty-year-old mother with a two-year-old son. Jel, her son, and her husband were living in Tondo District, close to Smokey Mountain. In the district, many people were making a living by collecting recyclable garbage and selling it. Jel and her younger siblings were raised by their grandmother there. Their life was hard; however, she never gave up learning. She became the best student in the sixth grade and got 13 medals. In junior high school, she worked as a babysitter to support her family. She went to school from seven in the morning to four in the afternoon. After school, she baby-sat four children until eleven o’clock at night. Even though she was very busy, she studied hard and became the second-best student. When she was sixteen, she joined the NGO youth group. She experienced a variety of activities, such as playing sports in a team and working as a volunteer. She learned the importance of human relationships like family and friends and also wanted to support other young people. She said to us, “I want to be a president of this country in the future and help the people in need.” We were quite impressed by her strong will and big smile.

Another ambitious young person was Rommel in Perez, Alabat Island, about five hours from Manila by bus and boat. He was a seventeen-year-old high school student and a youth group leader in the district. The NGO has been working for young students to finish elementary education in the district for about twenty years. In Perez, many fathers are low-income farmers or fishermen who work for long hours, and many mothers are busy working at home and taking care of five or six children. They have a severe financial situation and some of their kids cannot even finish elementary school. The NGO helps them financially with scholarships and also encourages them to engage in learning together through after school activities. Rommel used to be one of the scholars and has been supported by the NGO. Later, he joined the NGO youth group and became a leader of the group. He was taking care of younger members and planning some activities for their physical and mental health. He wanted to go to college and study to be a police officer to protect vulnerable people. We admired his action and friendly smile.

Before visiting the Philippines, I was not sure what to talk about or what kind of questions to ask even though I really wanted to communicate with the local people. However, their heartwarming welcome helped all of the participants, including me, to relax and get to know them. We spent time together and were able to become friends. They were very energetic and full of hope and inspired us to take action to extend our friendship. I want to keep my eye on future young leaders who are determined to contribute to their communities and their country.

Photo Credit: The Author

Blog Quiz

1. Which of these didn’t Jel do?

A.   Earn awards for academic success.

B.   Become a politician.

C.   Work taking care of children.

D.   Volunteer for an NGO.

2. Which of these describes Rommel?

A.   He is a youth group leader.

B.   He supports the health of others.

C.   He wants to study at a university.

D.   All of the above.

3. What is the main idea of the story?

A.   How a young mother overcame difficulties.

B.   What happens on an NGO tour.

C.   How a young man became a policeman.

D.   How people in the Philippines inspired the author.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. B

2. D

About two years ago, I started running. I was not the kind of person that liked doing any kind of sports, and I did not do any exercise what so ever before I started running. Interestingly, running is now an important part of my life and it has made my life very easy in the least expected way.

So, what got me into running? What happened three years ago?

I went to a conference in a rural part of a country. The city was quite big and public transportation was available. They even had rental bicycle spots. I’ve always had some reservation in using buses when I went abroad for conferences: “What happens if I get on the wrong bus and cannot get off?”, “What happens if I am late because of the traffic jam?”. I always thought that it was best to take the route and the method that I’d have more control over. Rental bicycles seemed to be a better option. However, I was not comfortable riding a bicycle in a country that the drivers drive on the “wrong side” of the road (i.e. driving on the different side of the road from Japan). Therefore, I started to walk. As I wrote earlier, the city was quite big. I arrived one day before the conference so that I would be able to figure out how far the conference venue was from the hotel I was staying at. I also wanted to walk around the city too. Although there was Wi-Fi available at my hotel and in some cafes and restaurants, I could not rely on my smartphone for directions. Though I did not get too lost finding the conference venue, it was about a 1-hour walk. I was not tired and on the contrary, I felt good after having a long walk in the morning. My mind was refreshed and I had a very fun and productive day.

After I returned to Japan, I continued to walk in the morning on my day off, and in the evening after work. When I walked around the park in my neighbourhood, an elderly man ran past me. And I suddenly thought, “I wonder if I can run?” And the next day I went to buy a pair of running shoes and started to run slowly. Only once or twice a week, but it is now an important part of my life and it feels weird if I don’t run at all in a week.

Photo Credit: Tirachard Kumtanom@pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Which of the following is not a reason why the author does not like to take a bus?

A. getting on a wrong bus

B. being worried about traffic jam

C. being afraid of road accidents

2. How did the author feel after walking to the conference venue?

A. refreshed

B. regretted it

C. tired

3. The author started running instead of walking because:

A. they do not enjoy walking anymore

B. they thought it’s worth trying

C. they thought running is better for health

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

1. C

2. A

3. B