What's New at Kyoto NHK ESS?

Dear ESS members,

I sincerely apologize for my belated announcement of the contents and the relevant procedures for the practice on August 31st.

【Genre: Dialogue (What is 〇〇 for you?) 「あなたにとっての〇〇は何？」)】
1. Make some groups.
2. Several questions will be distributed on sheet.
3. Pick up one by one and all group members are requested to answer the question.
4. .One member will summarize the dialogue.

【Here are just a few examples of the questions.】
Who is a Showa Star for you?　あなたにとっての昭和のスターとは？
What makes life worth living?　あなたの生きがいとは？
What irritates you?　あなたにとってイライラするものとは？
What kind of food enhances the rice?　あなたにとってのご飯のお供とは？
The apple of you eye.　あなたにとって目の中に入れても痛くないものとは？
Who is a Hollywood star for you?　あなたにとってハリウッドスターとは？
What is petit luxury for you?　あなたにとってのプチ贅沢とは？

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Kado

Hi all

I am thrilled to offer you the next weekend’s practice. I would like you to read a couple of articles: one is “social media and fake news,” and the other “fun of fear.” And then talk about those as a group as usual. I hope many people come and you have a fun time.

Regards

Okata Shoyo

Hi, everyone!

Here is my announcement of the second half of practice for September 21.

Title: "How language shapes the way we think."
Genre: Discussion

I will show you a video presentation of Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky first. According to her, there are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? She shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000."

Then, I would like you to share your opinion on the following items.

1. What did you think of her presentation?
2. When you compare Japanese speakers to English speakers, have you ever felt that the difference in thinking and behavior might be caused by the language?
3. Could you provide some examples of characteristic ways of thinking and behavior that Kansai dialect seems to influence?

Hope you'll enjoy the practice!

Makoto NISHIMURA

Hi everyone.

Here are the details for the practice session scheduled for 9/28.

・Genre : Riddles and Group Discussion
・Title 　: Part1: Warming up test 10min
Part2: Riddles 20-min
Part3: Group Discussion 30min
Topic : Can you survive a Mega-Quake ??
Procedure
1. Form groups.
2. Part1 will be conducted as a whole group.
3. Part2 and Part3 will be completed within each group.

At the end of Part 3 , each group presents one of your helpful survival plans for a Mega-Quake.

Hope you have fun !! !!

I.Mashima

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is the announcement of the latter practice planned on October 5th.
Genre: Talking
Topic: Presidential election in U.S.A

Procedures:
1.A professor from Smith college in Massachusetts speaks about the system of Presidential election in U.S.A.
2. Q & A time
The audience can ask questions.
He answers as much as he knows.
1. and 2. are done repeatedly at good stopping points.

The speaker would like you to consider this,
'What do you think are the most important issues for Americans in the presidential election? What are the most important issues for Japanese people in our next election?

I attached two materials.
These materials are going to be used in the talk, if you read in beforehand, it will be easy to understand.
I recommend you to prepare questions about the system of Presidential election in U.S.A. in advance.

I hope you can enjoy free talking.
Thank you.
By Megumi Iwai