- Discussion Week 39 -

- Friday the 5th of February

 - Russia - 

I think we've had a good run so far talking about specific countries, so this week we'll talk about Russia, it's a big country, it has a lot of power, and it does many things that many other countries don't really like.

What do you think about Russia? Are they a threat to the rest of the world?

Should we be worried about Russia and it's capabilities?

How about the islands to the north of Japan, who do they belong to, and why?

Do you think Russia would attack if the rest of the world did something that Russia doesn't agree with? 

Let's talk about that.

- Sunday the 7th of February

 - Tourists and Refugees in Japan - 

So it seems that Japanese people are happy to accept tourists in Japan, teach them about Japan, and hopefully bring some money into Japan.

Does the number of tourists coming to Japan need to increase?

Also, even though Japan seems to like tourists, why is the English education in Japan not sufficient enough to allow Japanese people to engage with tourists?

Also last year, Japan only accepted 27 Refugees. Is it a bad idea to bring many refugees into a country? (not only Japan, but any country)

Why do you think Japan doesn't accept many refugees?

Should Japan bring in more refugees?

Let's talk about that.

〜　Mark's English Storytelling　〜

#3

Hello everyone!

I am going to write English stories for you once per week with some interesting Vocabulary and Grammar, it's like a small lesson that you can try at home!

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I hope you enjoy this week's story! Please leave a comment if you have questions about any vocabulary or grammar!!

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- Too tired.

When I finally got home from the restaurant, I wanted to sleep, I was so tired. So, I got into my bed, and pulled my duvet up to my neck. I fell asleep almost immediately. I started dreaming about all kinds of things that had happened recently. I dreamt about the awesome car I saw two days ago. I can remember thinking 'I think that car is fast', when I first saw it.

I slept all night long and had many great dreams, but all of a sudden I heard a loud noise!

'= -^-BEEP-^- = -^-BEEP-^- ='.

It was my alarm clock, it was already 6:30am! I thought I had to get out of bed and get ready for work soon, but then I realised it was Sunday, I have the day off on Sunday. So I relaxed in my bed for a little longer.

While I was relaxing in bed, I turned on the TV, and started watching a Japanese TV show, and I started to think about the people in the TV show, and I thought the TV show's host was crazy. He was telling jokes and saying many funny things. I think I will watch that tv show again tomorrow.

I looked at my clock and noticed it was 7:30am, so I decided to get out of my bed and turn off the TV, I thought I should have breakfast and after that I would take a shower and get dressed. I think I fried bacon and eggs, and ate them on toast. I think bacon and eggs on toast is delicious. I finished eating my breakfast and decided it was time to get dressed so I could go shopping later.

 - Discussion Week 37 -

- Friday the 29nd of January

 - Suicide? No way! - 

It seems that Japan is getting better and better in terms of suicide rates decreasing, I also read that the rate has dropped below 25,000 suicides for the first time in 18 years last year.

Also, even though the highest amount of suicides last year was in Tokyo, the highest ratio of suicides compared to population in a specific prefecture was in the Akita prefecture, while the lowest ratio was in Osaka.

Why do you think the lowest ratio was in Osaka? Why was the highest ratio in Akita?

Even though the population of Tokyo obviously means the amount would be higher there, but why do you think it was still so high there?

Let's talk about that.

- Sunday the 31th of January

 - The end of the world - 

Many different belief systems, and well, perhaps even some slightly crazy people have ideas about when the end of the world will come, and, even that it will come sooner rather than later.

Do you think the world will end soon? What do you think will cause it, a natural cause? Or will it happen because of something we humans will do?

If we could detect that a natural disaster were going to happen in the near future (giant meteor, world flood etc.) do you think we would be able to use technology to prevent the end of the world as we know it?

Let's talk about that.