Would you like to be able to write faster and more freely in a language you are learning and perhaps in your native language too? Students have often told me that they find writing to be a slow and tedious process, mainly because they worry so much about spelling and grammar rather than just getting their message across on paper. Today, therefore, I would like to introduce the concept of freewriting, an easy writing activity that can be done at home and can make writing practice fun. 

So…what exactly is freewriting? Basically, it involves grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, setting a time limit, choosing a topic of interest to you, and then writing as quickly as possible without stopping and without worrying about spelling or grammar. Let’s go through the steps one by one. 

First, after securing some paper and a writing tool, you will need to set a time limit. Most people I know who practice freewriting set a limit of 10 minutes, although some people write for 15 or 20 minutes. Next, you will need to choose a topic. Many people just choose to write about whatever is in their head at that moment, recent experiences in their lives or specific interests such as sports, books, movies, or music. However, my favorite way to practice freewriting is to link it with video material. This means watching an enjoyable YouTube, movie or TV program and then writing about it. Whatever topic you choose, freewriting is a good way to get facts, memories, and personal feelings down on paper. Last, take a minute of silence to think about what points you would like to write about and then start the timer and write, write, write very fast, without stopping. Just enjoy the process of getting words down on paper rather than on style or grammar. If you always write in the same notebook, it will act as a kind of a personal journal, and you will be able to see your progress.

Freewriting on a regular basis can help to promote writing speed, fluency, creativity, organizational skills, confidence, and overall enjoyment of writing. Although freewriters are not meant to worry about grammar, most of my students find that it naturally improves after several weeks. You can hasten this improvement by, for example, consciously practicing verb tense by writing about a past event one day and a future event another day. You can also focus on new vocabulary by making a short list of perhaps five words that you would like to use that day while writing.     

If you can spare 10 or 15 minutes each day, I highly recommend picking up a pen and trying some freewriting fun!

Photo Credit: Lisa Fotios @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. According to the blog, what is the second step in the freewriting process?

a. Choosing a topic

b. Writing quickly without stopping

c. Finding a pen and paper

Q2. The word ‘grabbing’ in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following.

a. To look for

b. To seize suddenly or quickly

c. To write

Q3. According to the blog, what skills can freewriting help to improve? 

a. Confidence, speed and fluency

b. Enjoyment and creativity 

c. Organization, grammar and vocabulary

d. All of the above

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. a

Q2. b

Q3. d

In 1803, as the story goes, fishermen working in the sea off Ibaraki prefecture spotted an unusual looking vessel in the sea. Curious they towed the vessel to shore. It was like nothing they had ever seen. Circular in shape they report it as being 3.3 meters high and 5.45 meters across, and ‘resembling a wooden rice pit.’ The lower part appeared to be covered in polished metal while the upper section had windows of glass or crystal protected with strong iron bars and sealed with some kind of tree resin.

The nervous fisherman peered inside and were amazed by what they saw. The inside of the vessel was adorned with texts of an unknown language. There were soft carpets on the floor and two bed sheets. They found a bottle containing 3.6 liters of water, as well as some cake and meat. 

Most surprising of all there was a young woman. She was about 20 years old and roughly 150 centimeters tall. She is said to have had a face of indescribably beauty with soft pale skin. Her red hair was very long with light streaks of what appeared to be either fur or white powder. She was dressed in long and flowing garments of a smooth unknown material.  

The men tried to talk with the girl, but she spoke a language they had never heard before. She seemed calm other than she was clutching a small box of a mysterious light-colored material. The box was approximately 60cms across and appeared to be of great value to the woman. No matter how hard the fisherman tried she would not let anyone come near the box. 

It appears that her arrival caused disquiet among the local villagers. It was decided that her presence would be disruptive, so she was put back onboard her vessel and once again set to drift in the sea. 

Based on a true experience.

It was 10 AM on October 3.

His 13th birthday. 

Andy was alone in the house. His parents were at work. He was upstairs, lying in bed. He had just woken up and he was wondering what kind of birthday it would be.

Suddenly he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the driveway to the house. 

“Who could that be?” he thought. 

Then he was surprised to hear someone open the front door.

Andy called out, “Mum? Dad? Is that you?” His parents were at work and he wasn’t expecting anyone.

Then, “Is anyone there?”

There was no reply.

He then heard the sound of footsteps slowly coming up the stairs and began to feel afraid. Someone was approaching his bedroom. They stopped outside the door. 

Andy was breathing heavily. He pulled his blanket over his face, shaking with fear.

The door opened and someone walked into the bedroom. Andy pretended to be asleep, his eyes closed tight. Suddenly the mysterious visitor sat on the bed. Andy was terrified. He could feel their eyes peering down at him.

Then he was astonished to feel the blanket being pulled down from his face. He squeezed his eyes closed, trapped in absolute fear.

Moments passed, but it seemed an eternity. After a minute, the blanket was pulled back over his face. The visitor stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Andy heard them go down the stairs and out of the front door. He heard steps walking back up the driveway.

Andy immediately jumped out of bed and ran out of the house. Wearing only his pajamas, he found himself standing at the top of the driveway, looking up and down the street.

But there was nobody there.

He was sure someone had visited him. But who? 

Andy ran back into the house, picked up the telephone and hurriedly called his mother at her workplace. Still shaking with fear, he told her what had happened.

“Oh don’t worry,” his mother said, “You don’t need to be afraid.”

“What do you mean?” he said.

“It was only your grandmother’s ghost. She came to wish you a happy birthday.”

Photo Credit: Ryan Miguel Capili @pexels.com

Blog Quiz

1. Which of the following came first?

A. Andy got out of bed.

B. Andy pulled his blanket over his face.

C. Andy called his mother.

2. In the sentence, "he could feel their eyes peering down at him", the word peering is closest in meaning to:

A. To look intently

B. To look briefly

C. To look with only one eye

3. Who visited Andy that morning?

A. His mother

B. His father

C. His deceased grandmother

 Scroll down for the answers to the quiz.

 Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. A

Q3. C

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