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Have you ever seen this bus?

It is famous for British bus. I have seen it on TV or movies!!

Today, I’d like to talk about differences of bus system.

< British >

Most buses have only one door, and passengers get on and off them from front doors.

When we get on a bus, first of all, we have to pay fares for drivers directly. And then, we receive tickets from them. I think this system takes time. In England, maybe you should buy return ticket because it would be cheaper than one-way.

In my case, I bought card that we can use buses in bath city for one week. It was 16 pounds, about 2200 yen. I used buses everyday, so it was economical!

< Japan >

Most buses have two doors, front and middle like this.

We get on them from middle doors and take numbered tickets. When we get off, we have to put coins and pay fares perfectly. This system doesn’t take so time, but we have some troubles because we have to change money.

Japanese bus has systems of bus cards or commuter passes. I think they are useful!

In England, I saw many kinds of buses, such as double-decker buses without roofs and buses that were able to cross the river. They were very interesting and surprising!!!

In other countries, we can find very interesting things about buses. Why don’t you find when you go abroad?

Integreted Skills

Topic : Japanese elementary and junior high school students should go to school on Saturday.
Emi : She is 33 years old and has a son. She and her husband are full-time workers, so they can’t take care about their children. She agreed the idea because of a decline in the scholastic ability of students.

Mayu : She is an elementary school student. She like her school and wants to go school on Saturday, because she can’t study at her home. She is poor, so she doesn’t go crime school. That is why she agreed with the idea.

Miyabi : She is 40 years old and a housewife. She has two children. She was a teacher, but now she is busy to look after her mother. She thinks it is good for children to reduce usual classes and then move them on Saturday because they can concentrate on studying more. She agreed with the topic.

Shinnichi : He is 14 years old and a junior high school student. He disagreed. He goes to a crime school now, so he wants rests. And one of the reasons he disagrees is that he want to spend holiday with his family.

Keiko : She is 30 years old and has a husband who is teacher and two children. Her son goes a crime school to be a doctor and at the same time belongs to soccer team. He can’t spend on their time and they don’t have time with family.

These days, education that aims at development of individual talent rather than learning by rote is big problem. So I agree with the idea that Japanese elementary and junior high school students should go to school on Saturday twice a month and in the morning. If the system were introduced, Children could study more and as Miyabi said, they could concentrate on studying. It cost less than crime school and there are not big problems because it takes in the morning. I think their consensus is good.

〈Comment about discussion〉

I felt this group succeeded in their discussion. Everyone talked their opinion and moderator got their ideas well. And then they made suggestion and acted toward the goal of discussion; consensus!

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.