Shop

As stated the last time, British shops are different from Japanese. I’ll talk about it again!

<Super markets>

British super markets such as TESCO or Sainsbury’s are bigger than almost all of Japanese. Shoppers push shopping trolley with large quantities of food.

In Japan, we can’t see so many such shoppers who have many things. Japanese people usually go supermarkets several times a week, because as stated before, Japanese ones open every day and until late, I think. But on the other hands, British people buy everything for example that they need in a week at once.

By the way, British shops have unique way to sell. In the UK, we can see signs of “3 for 2” or “￡1 for 3”. They mean “if we buy 2, we can get one more” and “if we buy 3, they will be cheaper”. So people buy all at once.

I liked big super markets in the UK; it was very interesting and wonderful time! We can learn foreign countries’ customs there, so I recommend you to go supermarkets if you go abroad♪

That' all :-9

World heritages in the UK

Today, I'd like to introduce places that I went to in the UK for a change!

Do you know Blenheim palace?

It is one of the world heritages. It has a very beautiful building, huge garden, amazing bridge and big pound. I really like this palace.

I was moved by pictures of buildings inside. Beautiful pictures were written on the walls even ceiling. I’ll never forget this impression.

I also walked around huge garden. I really recommend people, especially couples to visit there. Walking through grasses like carpet, rose garden, path along the pound, fountain and wonderful bridge was splendid!!!!!! 

Why don’t you go there with your partner? It must be a great time! 

Next, I’ll introduce Jurassic Coast that is also one of the world heritages.

These pictures are Jurassic Coast. Don’t you think it is amazing?

There is a gate of rock. When I saw it, I was really moved by it.

It was a cold day in spite of summer. We wore coats, but British people were swimming! Can you believe it? It was interesting experience. I recommend you to go there!

That’s all♪

Integreted skills

This time topic: Do you need priority seats on buses and trains in Kumamoto?

＊Mitsuko: She is 85 years old. She agreed with priority seats. She is weak at the knees, so when she gets on buses or trains, she can’t stand. That is why she thinks priority seats are need.

＊Kayo: She is a student of university in Kumamoto, and 20 years old. She agreed with the idea because people who need to sit, such as seniors, handicapped people, or pregnant women have to ask other people to give them seats, if they couldn’t sit down.

＊Kana: She is a student in Kumamoto, and 20 years old. She disagreed with the idea because it is common for her to give her seat to people who need sitting.

＊Masao: He is an office worker and 45 years old. He always goes to his company by bus and train. He is tired every day, so he wants to sit on the bus and train. He thinks that everyone has the right to sit, and this is why he disagreed with the idea.

In my opinion, there are some people who can’t give their seats. Priority seat is good idea. But if there is no one who need priority seat, these seats would be waste, I think. Therefore their consensus that Kumamoto introduces the badge system, and then establishes the standard, and finally advertises and campaigns to have common senses is nice idea.

〈Comment about discussion〉

I felt this group succeed in their discussion. Each member talked their opinion toward the other member, and sometimes made suggestion and acted toward the goal of discussion; consensus!

Shop

Today’s topic is shop!

When I went to the UK, I was so surprised because there are few convenient stores and shops close early.



In Japan, there are many convenience stores, such as seven eleven, Lawson and family mart.






Convenient stores sell much kind of goods, so if you have to buy something, you can buy there to a point. I think they are very useful.

But in the UK, if you want to buy something in the night, there are no shops that open then.

In town that I stay for two weeks, almost all of shops, such as H&M, Top shop or even department stores, close at about 6 pm. Moreover, on the holidays, they close at about 4:30.

Don’t you think it is surprising for Japanese? Japanese shops usually open until at 7~8 pm.

I have heard that Japanese have been known as the hardest-working people in the world. I understood this meaning at that time.

I have some finds between Japanese and British shops, so I’d like to talk about shops again. Thank you for reading♪

Good-bye!:o

Integreted Skills

The topic was Children shouldn't have their cell phones until they graduate from junior high school.

〈 Yuri 〉She is 11 years old and a junior high school student. She agreed with the topic, because cell phone is easy to contact with family or friends. She wants to have it, but her parents don't allow to have it.

〈 Kenta 〉He is a policeman and 32 years old. He doesn't have children. But he agreed with the topic, because he thinks that cell phones prevent children from crimes. His opinion was that it need for safety.

〈 Michael 〉He is 30 years old and lives in Japan now. He has a child who is 9 years old. But he rarely meets his child because he is a translator and goes many countries. So he wants his child to have cell phone. He thinks that cell phone is useful to touch with his child.

〈 Kimiko 〉She is a housewife and has two children, one is 14 years old and the other is 12 years old. Her children have their cell phones, but she regrets it. They don't communicate with her face to face, so she disagreed with the topic.

〈 Shiori 〉She is a teacher of junior high school. She suffer from students bringing cell phone. They use them during classes and interrupt their studies. So she disagreed with the topic and thinks that they don't need for students.

In my opinion, children can have their cell phones for safety or to touch with their family or friends, but only the case that their parents and teachers can control thier children. Now there are block of internet not to make crimes. And also, if parents worry about costs, they can set limits. I also agree with Kimiko's idea, but there are cases that they can say everything to their parents by using cell phones. So I agree with the consensus that they can have cell phones if parents and teachers can control their children.

That's all.

Weather

Hello!

Also today, I’m going to talk about weather.

Have you ever heard that British people don’t put up umbrellas?

Part of it is true, I think.

England has a lot of passing shower through a year.

When I stayed there, we got caught in a shower almost every day.

I was so surprised when I went to Landon.

On that day, it was very nice weather!

But while I was cruising the Thames, it began to rain.

This picture was taken at that time.

I was disappointed, however after 30 minutes, it became fine!!!

(After 30 minutes)

British weather change fabulously.

So British people usually wear clothes with hoods and use them during the rain.

This is why British people are said not to put up their umbrellas.

That’s all! :-D

Season

Hello!xxx
Today, I'll talk about weather!


Do you know about British weather?

I was so surprised at it. Because British summer is too cool!!

Look at this graph.

I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find English graph.

This graph shows that Japanese and British average yearly temperature.

When I arrived the UK on August, it was summer but I wore a long-sleeved clothe.

Around the same time, it was so hot in Japan: about 30 degree.

The most surprising thing is that British people was swimming in sea in spite of cold when I went to the Jurassic Coast. On that day, we wore even coat! But they wore swim wears!! Don’t you think it is interesting and wonder thing?

Next time, I'll talk about weather again!
Good-bye♪

integreted Skills 4: School uniforms

This time topic is school uniform! In Japan, almost all of schools have their uniforms. I interested when Isao said that schools have school uniforms not to have rank, to make them feel togetherness, to build up their identities or to have common consciousness. I agree with Isao's idea. Uniform have some good points. First of all, it's easy for family budgets. it costs more much money to buy plain clothes than to buy their uniforms. Next, students don't need to choose plain clothes, so they don't take time in the morning. At last, if they wore their uniform, people could find that they are minors. Uniforms need to protect from them from danger. As stated above, I think uniform is good, but I also think that Japanese schools should respect students' personalities. So I have a idea that schools have various uniforms and students can choose uniform they like. What do you think? This is my opinion. That's all, thank you♪

Integreted Skils;Should English be introduce in Japan as the official language?

This time topic was official language. I disagree with this topic. Now in Japan we use japanese on a daily basis. But some companies introduced English as the official language. English is needed and important all over the world, so they introduced it. Anna who is a president of Japanese motor company said that we need to introduce it to diversify overseas and to take off business. I think it is a good way for companies, but people who don't work such companies don't need it. I was interested when Paul said that Japanese English is strange and if English were introduced as the official language, we could practice proper English. I think introduction of English as the official language is too hard for Japanese people, so government should focus on education in elementary, junior or high school. This is why I disagree with it.

Collage

This time topic is campus life!

I talked with British students at university of Bath in my trip and visited their campus. In England, there are few private Universities. On the other hands, in Japan, there are many private Universities. University of Bath is a national collage. At first, I was surprised at scale of it. The campus was huge and there is much kind of facilities such as dormitories, restaurants and sports facilities. This picture is their campus.

The most surprising thing is bar. They have bars and it is common to drink in their campus. This is in contrast to Japanese students. This picture is my campus!

 My collage is small; there are only about 2000 students! Of course, we don’t have bars, only café. We can’t drink in our campus. So I envy British students. I think Universities in Japan are little formal and boring compared to British! What do you think about this?

Next topic is　→　Share house!

School*3

In Japan, when classes finish students usually stand up and say “thank you”. It is Japanese unique style! Do you know it? I don’t know why we have to stand up. But I think it is polite way. And we have cleaning time after lunch. When I talked about it to British students, they were really surprised! We have to clean up our classroom by ourselves; on the other hand, they have cleaner so they don’t need clean up their classroom. I envy them. Which do you think is better? That’s all★

integreted skills: 2

This time topic is nursing parents. I think day-care service is good way. If we had enough time and money, we would not have problems. But these days, mental stress is big problem. I sometimes hear the news of suicide and double suicide because of nursing stress. So people who takes care their parents need helps. Now, Japan is an aging society. That is why government should put a great deal of effort. There are some old people who don’t want to live in nursing home. Using day-care service solve such problems. Day-care service has many merit, for example, old people can stay home and live with their families. So I agree with the idea that people use day-care service. This is my opinion!

school ★ 2

When I visited Dowdale School, I talked about rules and uniforms with students. I enjoyed talking with them and found so many differences between Japanese and British schools. First of all, I was surprised at their piercings. In Japan, we are usually banned piercings by our schools. But in England, maybe also some other countries, piercings are OK! I saw even a baby with piercings in the UK. I don’t know why Japanese students must not pierce. I was a cultural shock when I met British students, but it was a very interesting thing.

Next, Japanese students usually have uniforms. Some British students also have them, but there are little differences. Most students I saw in the UK wore pants. They have the right to choose style of uniforms. In most of Japanese school, girls wear skirts and boys wear pants. I think Japanese schools should introduce system such the UK.

There were many things I didn’t know until I went to the UK. How about you? Did you know? I want to know about other countries more.

Thank you for your reading! xxx

school

Hello♪ Today's topic is school! In my trip, I went to Junior high school to teach Japanese culture, education system and language. This experience was soooooo precious for me. And I found many interesting differences.

I was surprised that each teachers have thier own classroom. British students have to move classroom in every class, on the other hand, Japanese students usually stay thier classroom. In England, teachers decorate their classroom and make them charming. I think this idea is good!
And in the classroom, tables didn't line up because group works are common. In Japan, students use small table and just write note. I think japanese schools should introduce group works more.
In the class, most students raised thier hands and told thier opinion. I was very surprised!!! In Japan we can't see such a situation.
I found many other things! So I'll talk about school again!
That's all:-)

Integreted skills: report

Topic was taking nap, siesta.

There were four people who had different opinions.

*Olivia is Spanish. Spain has already introduced siesta, so she agree with the idea that Japan introduce siesta. She said that Spain is too hot, so coldish evening is better for Spanish to work.

*Ayano is 16 years old and play volley ball. She agrees with the idea too, because she thinks that students can concentrate everything thanks to taking nap. She is busy to practice volley ball. She always gets up at 6AM and goes to bed at midnight.

*Kumiko is a woman who brings up two children without husband and run café. She works hard because she has to raise her children. If Japan introduce siesta, her café might be hard to run, so she disagreed with the idea.

*Rie is an office worker of FUJIFIRM. She works from early morning till night. She thinks that job gets better after taking a nap.

In the end, all of them agree with the idea that short time nap, about 15 minutes, should be introduced. I think it is good idea for people, too. Students can’t concentrate on studying when they are sleepy. Siesta would make them more motivated. This is why I agree with siesta.

House

Today, I'll talk about Japanese and British houses. Traditional houses in Japan are made from woods, and usually one-storied houses. This is it.

However British houses are made from stone. Brick houses were so cute! And as you know, in japan we take off our shoes. So we have the halls. I have known this difference, so I wasn't surprised. But in apartment case, I found surpriseing diference. Japanese apartments usually have stairs outside. On the other hand, British apartmants usually have stairs inside because they don't have the halls.
As stated above, there are many differences. Some Bitish people don't know about japanese houses. I want them to know more♪　That's all! Good-bye:D

Bathroom

Hello, I'll talk about bathroom. When I started homestay, I was surprised at differences of bath. In Japan, bath and toilet are separate, and we usually soak in the bath. And we also usually have another rooms to change clothes next to the bathroom. This is in contrast to British bathroom.

In English, when they go to toilet, they sometimes say "go to the bathroom". This shows difference between Japanese and British bath. I want them to experience Japanese bath! That's all:-) Thank you!

Ｆｏｏｄ

When I stayed England, I was troubled with food. The staple food is rice in Japan. However, in England, the staple food is potato. I like potatos. So it was not so trouble for me. But there were little rice. I really missed rice. I have to eat French fries, mashed potatos or bread instead of rice. There were Japanese restaurants but they were expensive comparatively and little different from original food. I ate Pasty, fish and chips, sandwiches.

This picture is fish and chips!
They were so good and I like them. Before I went to England, I didn't know British food. So I was interested in them.

Thank you!

Hello, I'm risa!xxx
Last mounth, I visited England to study English and travel around the UK. I saw and experienced many precious things. Then I found  many surprising differences between Japan and England, so I chose this theme of blog.
Today I'll talk about greeding. In England, I saw that most people said "thank you" even when they got on and dropped of the bus. In Japan, I rarely see this custom. I really like friendly "Thank you" by British people. It made me happy. Japanese people say "thank you" when classes finish, received gifts.
"Thank you" of two countries are used in different situations. This was interesting find for me! That's all♪ Thank you!