Names lecture UPDATE! (Homework for May 6 class)

I found away to upload audio files to this blog, so if you need the audio file for the homework for May 6,
you can get it as a quicktime file here.

Give it a try and let me know if it works for you!

Contemporary Topics Unit 1 - Names

Homework for May 6 class


Since I cannot post audio on this blog, I will email you the audio recording for your listening homework on pp. 6-7 of Contemporary Topics. There are two exercises:  Listen for Main Ideas and Listen for Details. If you do not get the email from me on Friday, April 29, please email me to ask for it.
   In addition to this, remember to read the article on names and do the homework for your discussion with your partner next class.
   And, in between, Happy Golden Week!

Being Caribou - Canadian film

In this feature-length documentary, husband and wife team Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist) and Leanne Allison (environmentalist) follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra. In following the herd's migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along the way they brave Arctic weather, icy rivers, hordes of mosquitoes and a very hungry grizzly bear. An amazing expedition worth watching. See it on the website of the National Film Board of Canada's site. Watch it during Golden Week!

The Japan Times: VIEWS FROM THE STREET

Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant

Hiroshima: Should Japan abandon the use of nuclear energy?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Four people in Hiroshima were asked the above question. Read their responses:

Chiyo Sadatomo, 40s, Housewife
Abandoning nuclear energy is out of the question right now. We get something like 25% of our power from nuclear energy. We should scale down and find alternatives like wind or wave energy. We need also need to invest in better safeguards and maintenance of our current power plants.
Derrick Tran, 33 (Australian), Life Coach
What's the alternative? Scaling down is feasible only with viable alternatives. Whatever happens it will be a difficult choice to make.
Eiko Ito, 50s, Shop owner
I think we don't know enough about the cons of nuclear power plants. For example, the cleanup from the current crisis will take too long and cost too many lives and resources. But Japan does not have any energy sources like coal or oil. So even though nuclear power has lots of minuses we have no choice until we can find better energy sources.
Peter Goldsbury, 66 (English), Retired professor
Japan has no natural resources to mention if you exclude hydro-electric sources. I have not seen much in the way of wind and solar production like in Europe. Given the lack of resources, Japan needs a more vigorous investment in safeguards — as well as a more transparent and accountable management and response infrastructure.


What is your opinion on this issue? Discuss your answer in a group and write a comment for homework (by April 28) below. If you don't have a gmail account, use this login:
     email: gakuenglish@gmail.com
     password: gakushuin 2011
Make sure to write at least your first name at the bottom of your comment.

Dress for success

Complete the sentences below using these words. 

Nouns: style, suit, uniform
Verbs: avoid, judge, prevent, sew, wrap
Adjectives: concerned, tight

1. I can't wear these shoes. They're too                          .

2. The school principal is                            about the boy's poor work.

3. At his other job, he wore jeans. For this one, he wears a                                        and tie.

4. Every policeman wore a blue                                   .

5. We will try to                                              making the same mistake twice.

6. You must pay extra if you want someone to                       the gift.

7. He learned to                           in the army, so he can mend his clothes by himself.

8. That magazine says that long hair is not in                              this season.

9. Can you                          which story is better?

10. Did his low grades in math and science                        him from getting into that university?