2013年3月号-　エイゴパス英会話レッスン　月刊ニュースレター

| 月間ニュースレター |
英語ニュース Current Internet NEWS!!　＜新着ネットニュース＞
英語のビデオ Video News (Domestic and World Events／国内＆世界の動画ニュース)
Business English ＜ビジネス英語フレーズ＞
Grammar Study＜今月の文法学習＞
TOEICクイズ TOEIC Study Quiz＜ＴＯＥＩＣテスト＞
Monthly Column – ＜今月のコラム＞
 
   
—You can read the article below and use it in your lessons to discuss with your teacher. — この記事を読んで先生とレッスンで話し合おう！
Japan National News

— Bullying – Who should be held accountable?–

Bullying has always been an issue in the public education system in Japan, with stories in the news about students being bullied and about their harming or killing themselves or others.

Now that it’s getting out of hand, if it isn’t already, the ministry wants to set up a task force to combat bullying. Just more of the same bureaucratic red tape and secrecy that envelopes every entity in Japan.

How about holding schools, teachers, and students accountable and responsible. When a child is being bullied, there are obvious markers such as change in behavior, attitude, school performance, etc. We are quick to brush things under the rug, turn a blind eye and pretend things are not occurring or not as bad as it seems.

While we may not get every instance of bullying that occurs, when the adults are held accountable for the behavior, discipline, and moral conduct of their charges, change will occur.

 
 

Discussion Point! : Do you think adults should be held responsible for bullying? What experiences of bullying have you experienced in your life? How did you or your parents deal with it?

＜ディスカッションポイント！＞：

いじめの責任は大人が取るべきだと思いますか？又、貴方は人生でどのようないじめを経験したことがありますか？貴方もしくは貴方のご両親はどのようにそれに対処しましたか？

＜日本語訳＞

いじめ　－　誰が責任をとるべきか？

いじめは日本の公教育において常に問題とされてきており、学生がいじめられ、その後に自分または他の誰かに危害を加えるという話がニュースとなっている。

これが手に負えなくなってきている、もしくはなったところで、内閣はいじめに立ち向かうための特別委員会を設置しようと考えている。日本において全ての組織にまとう官僚的なややこしいお役所風の秘密主義が増えただけである。

学校、教師や生徒に責務や責任を取らせてはどうだろうか。子供がいじめに合っている場合、行動や態度、学校の成績などに明らかな変化が現れる。私たちは物事をすぐに絨毯の下に隠し、目を背け、それが起こっていない、もしくはそれほど悪くないとしてしまう。

いじめが起こる全ての瞬間を捉えることはできないかもしれないが、大人が彼らに託された子供の行動、しつけや品行に責任を取らざるを得なくなれば変化は起こるだろう。
 
 

Japan News:

"Where is my boyfriend or husband?"

A smartphone tracking application that was advertised to women as letting them keep tabs on their boyfriends or husbands has generated controversy and was even regarded as spyware, forcing makers to tone down its functions in a new version.The application is called "Kare Log" (boyfriend log) and after installing it on a person’s smartphone, one can use a PC to check on GPS data that shows where the phone, and presumably the owner, are.

One can also see information such as the phone’s remaining battery charge and its call history.The application’s developer, Tokyo company Manuscript, released the application on Aug. 30. The company advertised secretly putting the application on a phone as a way to prevent cheating, and by nighttime on the first day of release had received around 30 protest e-mails. Criticism was also leveled on Twitter.
 
＜日本語訳＞「カレの居場所が分かる」との触れ込みで女性向けに公開されたスマートフォン（多機能携帯電話）用のアプリケーション（アプリ）の「カレログ」が、「プライバシー侵害だ」「スパイプログラムでは」などと物議を醸している。恋人や配偶者の居場所が逐一わかるアプリがもたらした騒動とは。【岡礼子】

　カレログは「彼氏のログ（履歴）」の意味。居場所を知りたい相手のスマホにインストールすると、スマホのＧＰＳ（全地球測位システム）機能などを使って集めた位置情報を、パソコンで確認できる。通話記録やバッテリー残量も分かる。アプリ開発のマニュスクリプト社（東京都中野区）が８月３０日に公開した。

　同社は、浮気防止のため、彼のスマホにアプリを入れてこっそり追跡する使用法をアピール。このため、同日夜には抗議メールが約３０通届き、短文投稿サイト「ツイッター」でも批判が高まった。
 
 
 
   
  New! Learning through News Videos
 
 
 
Business English Expression and Phrases　＜ビジネス英会話フレーズ＞
-Learn expressions such as idioms and slang that is unique to culture, age, and business!
新しい英語表現：　文化・時代・ビジネスで使う特有なイディオム表現や俗語を覚えよう！

Tanaka san and John are having a beer at a local pub in Shinjuku. They are discussing their ideas regarding differences in business styles of Japanese and American corporations.

 
Tanaka: Let me be sure I understand where you are coming from. Your view regarding my proposal was to target customers better?
 
John: Well, in a nutshell, yes. To attract and maintain a strong customer base, you have to get inside their brains. Know what makes the customers of today "click"!
 
Tanaka: I am not quite up to speed with what you mean exactly… Could you give me examples of how we can get into a customers "mind"?
 
John: Do you see that "Bicqlo" over there? How do you feel about two different companies coming together for a common goal?
 
Tanaka: I’m not sure. I don’t see how a merger between two companies from different industries could benefit anyone.
   
John: It isn’t a merger Tanaka san but rather a joint venture or collaboration between two entities with a common goal. To diversify their products in a way that will attract common and potential customers.
   
Tanaka: I don’t get it. How do they have common customers?
   
John: You may think these two corporate entities differ in their target base but by integrating their products together, they are marketing a "lifestyle" using their respective products and creating a new environment for customers to visit. From an American viewpoint, I think this is not unique in how they are utilizing their marketing and branding strategies as US companies have been doing this for years..
   
Tanaka: Really? How so? Which companies in the US collaborate with one another?
   
John: Well to name a few.. Starbucks and Barnes&Noble, McDonalds and Exxon, Burger King and Shell, etc..
   
Tanaka: How do they benefit?
   
John: For starters, they can share operational expenses and lower rent costs. They can also attract customers that would not otherwise visit their stores.
   
Tanaka: I see. This concept I feel is new to Japan.. I wonder how it will hold up in this competitive market.
 

上記の会話の日本語訳はこちらをクリック’（印刷可）: JAPANESE VERSION
 

 
–This section will cover a broad range of different grammar rules and explanations to help you understand sentence structure and improve awareness of English grammar.
このコーナーでは文法の規則や英文の構成についてわかりやすく学べます。
Special! TOEIC REVIEW AND STUDY
Check your understanding by selecting the correct answer below:　
Read each of the following of sentences and select the best answer. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules if you do not understand your mistakes..
Part V – Multiple Choice
 
1. Ms. Andrews is hoping to change ______ daily routine to be more conducive to a healthier lifestyle.
   
A. herself
B. her
C. she
D. hers
   
6. Regulations have been enacted to ensure that labels on all medications are easily ______ .
   
A. understand
B. understanding
C. understandable
D. understandably
   
2. Sarah would have to seriously change the lifestyle she leads ______ if she is concerned about her health.
   
A. herself
B. her own
C. she
D. by her
   
7. Because of the recent blizzard, students are ______ confused as to whether class would be postponed or cancelled.
   
A. understand
B. understanding
C. understandable
D. understandably
   
3. He has very high ______ for his new job, although he has only been there for a little over a week.
   
A. expect
B. expecting
C. expectedly
D. expectations
   
8. Due to the typhoon interrupting classes this week, students will be ______ to submit their final essays next week.
   
A. permission
B. permitting
C. permitted
D. permissible
   
4. ______ Anthony, who else in our division is looking for other ways of reducing company costs and improving profits?
   
A. Excepting
B. Exception
C. Except
D. Accept
   
9. Clients wishing to cancel ______ appointment must do so within 48 hours to avoid a penalty fee.
   
A. them
B. themselves
C. their
D. theirs
   
5. Construction of the new shopping mall is expected to last ______ early September due to recent delays.
   
A. further
B. until
C. in
D. at
   
10. I truly appreciate the corporate brochures you sent but could you give me ______ information about your company?
   
A. farther
B. further
C. addition
D. additionally
   
 
Grammar Study: NOUN + PREPOSITION
In English, there are some special situations where certain nouns are followed by different prepositions. Lets look at some examples.
For example:
a demand (for) cause (of)
a reason (for) a difference (between)
an advantage/ disadvantage (of) an attitude (to)
– "there is" an advantage (in)    
a relationship (with) damage (to)
-relationship (between) two people/things invitation (to)
a photograph/picture/map/plan/drawing (of) a solution (to)
an increase/ decrease (in)  

Read each of the following sentences and complete the missing part using one of the nouns above with its appropriate preposition. (Each noun+preposition example above can only be used once)

Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules if you do not understand your mistakes..

1. The fire department has not figured out the ______ ______ the explosion.
2. Why was he so rude? I could not understand his behavior and ______ ______ my coworkers.
3. Have you done the homework assignment yet? I need to know the ______ ______ question 5 on page 49.
4. Kumiko has a very good ______ ______ her family. They get along very well.
5. If you had driven more safely, you would not have caused ______ ______ my car. I know have to take it in for repairs.
6. The ______ ______ prices over the last several years have made it difficult for families to afford basic necessities.
7. Jenny mentioned that her salary remains relatively unchanged since she changed jobs. The ______ ______ her current salary and her previous salary is negligable.
8. Yuko, have you received an ______ ______ the wedding reception? I have not gotten mine yet but will wait by the mailbox everday until it comes.
9. Wow, you look so young! Is this an old ______ ______ you when you were a student in college?
10. Apple has been inundated with orders for the new iPhone 5 since ______ ______ the new phones haven’t subsided.
11. Other than having trains run more often, what are the ______ ______ living in the city rather than the country?
12. What ______ did Sarah give you ______ coming to work late this morning? Did she say she overslept or did she have a better excuse?
13. Google and Apple have developed great applications to help people find the best directions. They both provide detailed ______ ______ any city with clear points of interests.
14. A ______ ________ the value of the dollar with regards to the exchange rate from 80yen/dollar on January 1st to 76yen/dollar on January 31 made my decision to study in Japan more difficult since I would not have enough to pay for tuition.
15. One of the many _______ ________ this software is that it is expensive and difficult to install.
 
Check your answers!
 
 
 
TOEIC対策（読解＆リスニング問題編）Eメールとﾕｰｻﾞﾈｰﾑの入力でテストの結果がメールで受け取れます。
 
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/toeicsentence/Quiz 24/quiz.swf” width=”636″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/TOEIC850/quiz6audio/quiz.swf” width=”636″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
 
 
NEW! – If you found out that your child was being bullied, how would you resolve it?

(Robert U.S. 38y.o. ): In all honestly, I think every child should learn to deal with bullying and teasing by learning to defend themselves. If I were to learn that my own son was being harassed or bullied in school, I would definitely ask him how many other students were instigating the situation and if the situation involved emotional or physical attacks.

If it were the latter, I would then tell him to gather his friends together and fight back. I believe most bullies and their "followers" usually go after people who they perceive are weak. If children confront and stand their ground, it will teach them to be strong and independent. This was the way I was taught growing up and I am a firm believer of this method.
 

【日本語訳】　（ロバート、米国：　３８歳）：正直に言うと、僕は全ての子供がいじめやからかいに対して自分自身を守ることを覚えて対処すべきだと思う。もし自分の息子がいじめにあったり苦しめられていると知ったら、絶対に何人の生徒がこれを引き起こしていて、精神的な攻撃によるものか物理的なものかと聞くと思う。

後者の場合は、友達をみんな集めて立ち向かうように言うだろう。いじめっ子やその「手下」は多くの場合、弱いと思うものを追うものだから。子供がそれに立ち向かって踏みとどまれば、強く、人に頼らないことを学びます。これは僕が育ってきた方法で、この方法を強く信じています。
 
 

(Stephanie Australia 26y.o. ): I am not going to say that Robert’s parenting style is right or wrong as all parents have their own methods in dealing with this. However, I would definitely try a different approach. Maybe I am naive in attempting to resolve this since I have no children of my own, but here is what I would do.

Firstly, I would talk with my child if he/she comes to me and informs me of the bullying. I need to get a firm understanding of what is happening and the reasons it may be occurring. Then, I would try to have a direct meeting with the teacher and the bully’s parents if possible. I feel most parents are concerned about this issue and will usually try to nip this in the bud whether their child is the bully or the receiver of bullying. I am a strong advocate in settling all disputes/problems with dialogue rather than violence or confrontation.

 

【日本語訳】　（ステファニー、オーストラリア：26歳）：全ての親はこのことに関して別の対処法を持っていると思うし、私はロバートの子育てスタイルが正しいか正しくないかは言いませんが、私は確実に違うアプローチを試すと思う。私は自分の子供もいないし、これを解決しようとするなんてナイーブなのかもしれないけど、私ならこうします。

子供が私のところに来ていじめについて言ってきたとしたら、まず初めに話をします。何が起こっているか、そしてそれが起こっている理由についてしっかりとした理解を得る必要があります。そこで、直接先生やいじめっ子の親と会って話すことを試みます。私は大体の親ならこの問題について感心があり、子供がいじめられっ子であろうといじめっ子であろうと、問題がまだ小さい内にそれを解消したいだろうと思います。私は全ての論争や問題を暴力や対決ではなくて対話で解決するべきだと強く思っています。
 
 

(What do you think? : Discuss with your teacher and share your thoughts on how you would deal with bullying should your child experience it. Find out how bullying is either similar/different in Japan and other countries)

 
 
 

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