January 2025

 

Happy New Year to everyone out there!  We hope you have had a relaxing winter vacation. We're back into action starting Jan. 6th, so be sure to check your calendar.

    Did you know that traditionally Japan celebrated the same New Year as the Chinese and Koreans?  Before the Meiji era, Japan used the lunisolar Chinese calendar to celebrate the New Year.  This tradition ended in 1873 when the Meiji government switched to the Gregorian (modern day) calendar as part of it's effort to modernize Japanese society.

    Last year we talked about New Year resolutions (goals that you set to achieve within the new year).  This month's idiom is related to the topic of new year resolutions.

Idiom of the Month: "Out with the old, in with the new" -  This idiom is used in conversations when talking about all the changes you plan to make in the new year.  "Out with the old," refers to ending bad habits like playing too many video games, eating too many sweets or not exercising enough.  "In with the new," refers to the goals you have set for yourself like, learning 5 new English words a week, stop eating junk food, exercising 4 times a week, etc.

Riddle of the Month: "I light up the sky with colours so bright, seen on the new year's first night.  What am I, a dazzling show, exploding above, from high to low.

Answer to last month's riddle: Because of all the wrapping!

Coming Soon - Q&A Corner

    We would like to hear from YOU!  Any questions you might have about what we're doing in our lessons or questions about English language learning in general.  We will post questions you have (anonymously) and we will answer them to the best of our ability.  So, if you are seeking any advice for yourself or someone you know who is studying English, please don't hesitate to ask!

You can send your questions:

To: abcenglishacademyplus@gmail.com

Subject: Q&A Corner

This month we're looking at Everybody Up1 - Unit #7.  In this unit we practice talking about parts of the body.  Unlike in Japanese, some body parts are talked about in pairs in English, so knowing when to use the singular or plural form can be a little challenging for many students.

For singular body parts we ask the question:  "What's this?"  

Answer:  "This is my ________."

For plural we ask: "What are these?"

Answer: "These are my _________s." (with the exception for "foot;" which the plural is "feet").

Challenge: Can you name all the body parts on this picture in English?

    Was Santa good to you this year?  What did he bring for you? A new watch?  A new Smartphone or Tablet?  What happens if it breaks down.  This month we will examine why companies don't want customers to fix their own devices.  A very interesting but expected result of corporate capitalism.  Click the link to watch: Right to Repair

Key Words / Phrases:

Interchangeable Parts - also known as "components" are parts that are made identical  (exactly the same) for practical purposes - to be used as a replacement for broken or lost parts on the original item.

Repair - fixing a broken item

Consumers - the customer who buys goods

Manufacturers - the company that makes / produces goods for consumers to buy

Comprehension Questions:

1. How much e-waste was discarded in 2022?

2. How do companies make it more difficult to repair devices?

3. Why do manufacturers do this?

4. What is a repair cafe?

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever repaired anything?

2. If so, how did / do you feel when successful?

3. What do you think about manufacturers limiting consumers' right to repair  their own devices?

4. Does this practice happen with Japanese companies?

      

  

To all of our aspiring athletes, this month we will practice some jump rope for part of our session,
so please bring a jump rope with you on Saturdays.

Just a reminder that we will be in Oizumi for the last two Saturdays of January and the first two Saturdays of February.  We hope to see you there!