Monday, October 9, 2017

Environment & Climate Change

Hi GA students,
Here are some useful links to help you with your research relating to the environment and climate change.

All students should follow these rules:

1. The slideshow should be less than 10 pages.
2. Do not write all the words on the slide, use in the memo.
3. Need visual
4. Try to give a presentation as if you are an elementary teacher that means
   simple, plain words, pictures, keywords, compactly, briefly!
5. There should be a science component.

Contents; プレゼンの内容
Each topic needs to have;
1. Introduction- What is the problem? イントロ(的をしぼった世界的問題)
2. Body - 2 or 3 main topics you want to say 説明(2つか3つ)
3. Conclusion- positive vision or solution (action plan) 解決に向けての前向きなビジョン
4. references - 出典


Useful Links



http://www.eschooltoday.com/climate-change/Introduction-to-climate-change-for-children.html

http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/12/09/249728994/what-happened-on-easter-island-a-new-even-scarier-scenario

https://climatekids.nasa.gov/10-things-energy/

Topics for Group Presentations


1.    Natural resources  -Energy
Limit of the energy and natural energy (environmentally friendly energy)
What problems do we have now, and what kind of energies or science might help to save the earth?
https://www.c2es.org/science-impacts/basics/kids
https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=kids.kids_index

2.    Natural resources  -Land (use)
Deforestation is devastating the world's forests, so what can you do about it?

3.    Natural resources  -Food and animals
About the world population (explosion), and then how much we can make food?
How much we waste food and how many people cannot eat? 
https://www.uncclearn.org/sites/default/files/inventory/unicef203.pdf

4.    Natural resources- water, ocean
http://www.eschooltoday.com/global-water-scarcity/global-water-shortage-for-kids.html

How does and will global warming affect us, our lives and our survival as a species? First off, all human needs fresh water to survive...
The most significant effect of global warming has been seen in the Earth’s coldest places, like the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, and parts of Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia.
 
5.    World 

Which nations are most responsible for climate change? What kind of world will the future be like?
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change-2/

6.    New project – Living on a different planet
Technology and science 
https://www.space.com/28355-living-on-other-planets.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/games/quizzes/planets-personality/
http://www.mars-one.com/faq/mission-to-mars/why-mars-and-not-another-planet







Thursday, June 29, 2017

数字で見る!英語語彙能力


今回は英単語にまつわる数字のおはなし。
英字新聞を読むのに必要な単語数はおよそ8000語で約94%理解できる(だいたい内容を間違えずに把握できる)とされています。

過去10年間の大学入試センター試験の英単語数を調べると3740語知っていればほぼ100%の単語を知った状態で試験が受けられ、実際は2400単語知っていれば約94%知っているのと同じになるそうです。その内中学3年間で教科書から学ぶ単語は約1000語。残り高校で覚えるべき語数は1500語程度になります。センター試験のハードルがかなり低いことが分かります。
にもかかわらずセンター試験英語で9割取るのにいったい高校生はどのくらい必死に勉強しているのでしょうか。そしてそれは何故なのでしょうか。

さて、今度は他の国と比較してみましょう。
日本の学生が小学校から高校までの間に授業を通して覚える単語数は約3100語だそうです。お隣、韓国では約4600語、中国では約5100語。。。ネイティブの小学生は約4000語を学習します。


不名誉なのは学習する単語量だけではありません。TOEFLスピーキングセクションは世界最下位。英語能力指数(EF EPI)ーリーディングとリスニングが含まれるがスピーキングはない-は世界72か国中35位でアジアではシンガポール、マレーシア、フィリピン、インド、韓国、香港、ベトナム、インドネシア、台湾に負けています。


そこで周知のとおり、日本でも小学校に英語教育が入ることになったわけですが、教科書作りから小中高のカリキュラムまで、真面目に取り組まなければ、解決にはなりません。品詞分解やうんちくばかりで圧倒的に読む英語量が少ない日本の中学、高校の英語教育が変わらなければ、単語量が少ない上に、頻出度も少なくなりスパイラル方式でボキャブラリーを定着させていくことは不可能です。言葉は何度も繰り返し聞いて使って初めて理解できるのだということを、思い出さねばなりません。学ぶ方の意識が賢く変わっていかなければ、いつまでたっても どうどう巡りです。そうです。私たち自身で意識改革をしてゆくのです。
ーShizuka Miller

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Photo of a standard G.A lesson

Students enjoying a modern lesson


The Perfect Presentation

It is not easy to give a good presentation. Here are a few tips and some advice on what I have experienced during my many years teaching Japanese students on preparing and delivering presentations.

Useful language for presentations

Introducing the topic


  • I'm going to talk about...
  • I'd like to talk about...
  • I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about...
  • The main focus of this presentation is...

Structuring the presentation

  • My talk is divided into X parts.
  • I'll start with/ Firstly I will talk about.../ First of all...
  • Then I will look at...
  • Next...
  • and finally.../ In conclusion...
  • I will be glad to answer any questions that you may have at the end.

Walt Disney presentation by Miyu, Yuri and Misaki

Beginning the presentation

  • I'll start with some general information on...
  • Before I start, does anyone know...?
  • As you all know...

Changing the topic/ speaker

  • Okay, let's move on to...
  • I'd now like to look at/ consider...
  • Now, I will pass you over to/ hand over to JOHN SMITH.

Conclusion


  • To sum up...
  • I'd like to conclude by...
  • That brings me to the end of my presentation, thank you for listening/ for your attention.
  • Thank you all for listening, it was a pleasure being here today.












Monday, May 29, 2017

Useful Links About Bill Gates

Hi G.A students,
Here are some useful links to learn more about Bill Gates.
Remember to think critically and always try to connect it to your question and the rest of the world.

Useful Links:

  1. http://www.ducksters.com/biography/entrepreneurs/bill_gates.php
  2. http://mrnussbaum.com/bill-gates/ 
  3. http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-bill-gates/ 
  4. http://mocomi.com/bill-gates-biography/ 
  5. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/bill-gates-children-no-mobile-phone-aged-14-microsoft-limit-technology-use-parenting-a7694526.html  
  6. https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/bill-gates-says-this-is-the-safest-age-to-give-a-child-a-smartphone.html 
  7. http://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2014/06/09/the-common-core-how-bill-gates-changed-america/ 
  8. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/US-Program/K-12-Education 
  9. https://www.biography.com/people/bill-gates-9307520 
  10. http://abcnews.go.com/US/bill-gates-education-microsoft-founder-schools-teaching-teachers/story?id=13051251  
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/14/bill-gates-philanthropy-warren-buffett-vaccines-infant-mortality 
  12. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do 
  13. https://healthrosetta.org/education/bill-gates-healthcare-waste-a-bandit-stealing-from-our-future/