Tag - english

 
 

ENGLISH

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 1, 2015
To know bamboo is to know Asia — and a whole lot of Japanese
This fast-growing plant has found its way into much of the language of Japan, revealing a great deal about the history and culture of East Asia.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jun 1, 2015
Zuibun is more useful than you could have possibly imagined
Today we will introduce some uses of the adverb 'zuibun,' which is used when the speaker wants to say that the degree of something is higher than they were expecting.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jun 1, 2015
New York comes out tops in youth survey
New York has been ranked as the most popular city for young people aged 15 to 29 years old, according to a survey.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 28, 2015
American student representing Japan makes it to U.S. Spelling Bee's third round
A 13-year-old American boy representing Japan was disqualified during preliminaries at an annual U.S. spelling competition Wednesday. He said he is keen to do better next year.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
May 27, 2015
In international education in Japan, there's diversity between as well as within schools
Profiles of four schools demonstrate the wide range of philosophies and curriculums that families can choose from.
JAPAN
May 25, 2015
Advanced Eiken levels elude almost half of high school English teachers
Only a little more than half of English teachers at public high schools are certified with advanced levels of English proficiency tests, and the rate is less than 30 percent for those at junior high schools.
EDITORIALS
May 23, 2015
Rakuten forges ahead in English
E-commerce giant Rakuten has managed to do what the educational system apparently can't — get Japanese people to speak English competently.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 18, 2015
When it comes to you and your group, keep your verbs humble
Introducing another kind of keigo, known as 'humble expression.'
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
May 18, 2015
Maglev train sets world speed record
A magnetically levitated train run by Central Japan Railway Co. set a world speed record of 603 kph on April 21 during a manned test run.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 11, 2015
In Japanese, mastery of the space-time continuum is just a few words away
Words in Japanese that describe timing and conditions make it easy for speakers to be incredibly precise using very few words.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 11, 2015
Polish up your honorific verbs and show some respect
Today, we will introduce the proper uses of honorific expression, one of the forms of keigo.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
May 11, 2015
France bans super-skinny models
France will ban excessively thin fashion models and expose modeling agents and the fashion houses that hire them to possible fines and even jail, under a new law passed on April 3.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 11, 2015
Tokyo ramps up 'English village' plan as 2020 approaches
As Tokyo gears up to host the 2020 Olympic Games, demands for action are growing to overcome Japan's notorious English-speaking phobia.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 4, 2015
Dating in Japan never used to be this difficult — or creepy
It's spring and love should be in the air. But it's a bad, bad time to be out there in the dating scene.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 4, 2015
Introducing goto, the go-to suffix for each and every time
Today we will introduce the proper use of the suffix u3054u3068, meaning 'every' or 'each.'
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
May 4, 2015
Tour guide exam to be more relevant
The Japan Tourism Agency will revamp an exam for tour guides serving foreigners, following criticism that the test contains questions that are too difficult or simply irrelevant to the job.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Apr 27, 2015
USJ to open new theme park in Okinawa
The CEO of the operator of Universal Studios Japan says the firm plans to open a new theme park in Okinawa.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 27, 2015
So many "you" and "I" words, but best used sparingly
Today we will introduce the proper use of 'you' and 'I' in Japanese.
LIFE / Language
Apr 20, 2015
'Vague' Japanese language can be maddeningly specific
For a supposedly vague language, Japanese can be incredibly specific when it comes to personal pronouns, the law and the family, for example.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2015
New Yamanashi liberal arts college seeks to put students in 'zone' of critical thinking
Michael Lacktorin, founding dean of a unique new college at Yamanashi Gakuin University in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, says his most important role as an educator is to help students discover where their passion lies, and to find out what they really want to do with their lives.

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'