What's New at Kyoto NHK ESS?

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the announcement of the practice on Nov. 14.

☆Genre: Talk

☆Title: Happiness is…

☆Descriptions:
1. Make 5～6 groups.

2. First every member tries to answer "happiness check" and share your result with your group members.

Then we’ll have a talk about your ideas "what happiness means to you?"

Examples of questions
(1) What's your happiest event lately?
(2) What's your most surprising (or upsetting) experience recently?
(3) Do you have any disgusting happenings these days?
(4) According to the survey World Happiness Report 2015, which country is the happiest for you to live in?
(5) Let us know what happiness means to you.
(6) You can discuss any topics on happiness.
I hope you will enjoy it!

Best regards,
Motoko Tabata

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on Nov.21

☆Genre: Talk

☆Title: Okayu(Rice porridge)

☆Description:
I guess that everybody has tasted "Okayu" many times in your past life.
　　 Since "Okayu" has good digestion and it's able to make the body warm, we often eat it at the time when we suffered from diseases like a cold. And a lot of people eat "Okayu" as breakfast in the morning and also it is sometimes served for breakfast at hotel restaurants.
　　 "Okayu" is said to be often eaten in China, Korea, Vietnam, each Southeastern Asian country including Singapore as well as Japan. In this practice, I would like to talk about "Okayu" with the members.

Discussion
(1)The words "3分粥"、"5分粥"、"7分粥" "全粥" are well known. Please discuss the source and the content of those words.
(2)It is said that there is difference in the cooking style between "Okayu" of Kanto and "Okayu" of Kansai in Japan. Please discuss its difference.
(3)There are many kinds of "Okayu" in the world like "Cha-gayu" and "Imo-gayu". The name of the "Okayu" derives from a kind of ingredient to put. Please tell us the name of "Okayu" in the world that you know, and introduce the content in detail.
(4)What is your most impressive "Okayu" you have eaten in the past (tasty one or tasteless one). Please introduce it to us. And when and where did you eat it?
(5)It is said that recently we can easily buy canned and other forms of instant "Okayu". How often and why do you eat "Okayu” for health?

Please enjoy the practice.

Masahiko Oka

Dear ESS members

Hello! It’s my honor to plan the Practice on Nov. 28th.
I’m supposed to share my experience in Canada, aren’t I?
Actually, studying in Canada as a high school student was absolutely great experience for me.
Wish I could tell you everything what I learned, found, felt, and tried in Canada!!!
Unfortunately, however, it may take me more than 2 weeks to tell you all.
So, I’d like to focus on my experience of Canadian high school English class.
The grade12 English class, like analyzing Shakespeare was totally difficult for me to join.
(You are not going to do Shakespeare, simply because I can't!!!!)
I’ve picked up a class from Dec. 7th 2014.
It was a quite interesting class for me.
Hopefully it’s gonna be an interesting practice for you as well!

Date: Nov. 28th
Genre: Reading and discussion (or Canadian high school class!)
Title: ELA30a (English Language Arts 30a) class experience
1. Make several groups as usual and I’ll give you an article.
2. In the article, “The 99 reasons why it’s better to be Canadian", you will find 99 reasons why it’s better to be Canadian than to be American. You'll have about 10-15 minutes to read through it, choose 25 favorite quotes and write reasons for 5 of them.
3. Share your opinions. Which one was your favorites and why? What did you think about the article? Do you think Canadian is better than Americans? Any opinions are welcomed!
4. Maybe there will be not much time left, but I’ll talk a little bit about my experience in Canada. Ask me whatever!! I’ll be more than happy to share my experience.

I’m really excited! Thank you so much　:)

Sincerely,
Minamo

Hi, there!

This is the announcement of the practice on Dec 5th.

Genre: Game
Title: Daily phrases game
Description:
1. Make three groups.
2. Form three lines.
3. I call a daily phrase in Japanese,
4. You, three persons in the front, are asked to write it on the white board in English.
(Time limit: From 30 seconds to 1 minute)

5. The judge (I will choose someone) checks the answers.
6. The winner will get a prize!! !
I hope you will enjoy this practice.

Takako Suzuki