Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on June 11.
1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Japan’s weak points
3. Description
Japan has some weak points. What do you think Japan’s weak points are? There are a lot of different opinions.
Let’s talk and discuss about that.
[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group.
If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.
[Step. 1]
I will give you a topic to be related to Japan’s weak points. Please ask a question about the topic each other for about
8 minutes. I’m a timekeeper. About 8 minutes later, I will request to change your partner and give you another topics again.
Please start conversation again and repeat like this style for about 30 minutes. Please obey the following rules.
1. At first, one person asks one question.
2. The other person answer and explain his/her answer and ask one question.
3. You must not dominate conversation by your only talking.
Step.1 is a warming –up. Therefor you don’t need to stick Japan’s weak points in your conversation. You can freely talk about topics.
I’ll choose topics below
Food or Food self-sufficiency (Japan’s is about 40%)
Energy or Natural energy or Fossil fuel or Nuclear power or Energy self-sufficiency (Japan’s is about 4%)
Natural disaster or Earthquake or Tsunami or Typhoon or Volcanic eruption
Declining birthrate or Aging society or Depopulation in local area or Overpopulation in urban area
Language barrier or Unique language(Japanese) or Japan surrounded by sea
Example. Topic : Food
A “Do you know that Japanese food is intangible cultural heritage?”
B “Yes. I think Japanese food is healthy. Nutrient balance is very good. I like it very
much. How about you?”
A “I also like it especially Sushi by using fresh fish. But my foreign friends cannot eat
raw fish. Can you eat raw fish?”
B “I can. But, I like spicy food. Have you ever eaten original Indian curry?”
A “I have eaten it while staying in Malaysia. So hot! I got drenched with sweat.
I recommend Japanese curry, which is tasty. Have you eaten it?”
B “Yes, I have. But it’s not spicy. Japanese curry is for children. ････
[Step. 2]
Please gather in each group.
[Step. 2-A]
All member give a speech about Japan’s weak points for about 1 minutes. Please choose one of them and tell the reason of choice.
And tell a method of strengthening it in your opinion. That is not discussion, it’s a kind of short speech. If it’s difficult for you
to choose and talk about Japan’s weak points, you can choose your family’s weak point or your weak point.
Example. I choose language barrier.
Japan is surrounded by sea and ancient Japan was isolated. Japanese language developed in isolation. That is why it’s difficult for many foreign people to learn Japanese.
Some good engineers and students want to learn Japanese high technology, but they cannot help giving up their intention due to the language barrier. Therefore excellent persons pass over Japan for other countries, usually US or European countries.
We should not require foreign people to speak Japanese even in Japan. I want to welcome foreign people, especially engineers, scientists and scholars. They bring knowledge, creativity and stimulation that cause the growth of Japan.
I think that many Japanese should be able to speak English in order to welcome foreign people. Lectures in some universities should be held in English.･･････
[Step. 2-B]
After giving a speech one by one, let’s start a discussion on the basis of each member’s speech.
Sakai Hirokazu