Traffic lights

Today’s topic is traffic lights!

These are Japanese common traffic lights.

Basically, left one is for cars or motor bikes, and right one is for walkers or bicycles.

British traffic lights are almost same.

But they are laid in vertical row. Top is red, middle is yellow and last one is blue.

In the traffic lights for walker case, push-button systems are common. The most surprisingly thing for me is that traffic lights for walkers change quite quickly! I was in trouble when I crossed streets. In England, many people cross streets without pushing button of traffic lights. It means ignoring a traffic light. This is little different  from Japan.

 I think traffic difference from other contries is so big and important. If you go abroad, you should know such differeces. That's all♪

The City of Bath＊

Today, I'll talk introduce Bath City!!!
Bath city is a city we stayed for two weeks.

I really like there and even I want to live there in the future.

Bath city is a city in the ceremonial county of Somerset in the south west of England.

I think Bath city is safe and livable!

There are many shops such as H&M, top shop, Cath Kidston and Marks and Spencer.

We can go shopping easily. Down town of Bath city was kept clean. So I really recommend you to go shopping there.

And there are many natures.

Especially, I liked big and beautiful park! On holidays, a lot of families play in the park. This scene always made me happy.

The City of Bath was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Bath city is famous for Roman Bath and old buildings.

This is Roman Bath. It has great history and relate with Roman.

This is the Royal Crescent! Don’t you think it is marvelous? The Royal Crescent is a residential road of 30 houses. It built between 1767 and 1774; it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom.

Do you understand the good points of the city of Bath? There are also good collages so why don’t you think about studying? That’s all. Thank you for reading♪

Ｂｕｓ

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!