Final Presentation

1: Comments 

1; Saya Goto

     She talked about “Body Art.” There are three kinds of body arts mainly, pierce, tattoo and sprit tan. She doesn’t understand why we should not wear earrings while doing part time jobs. She always wear no color pierce. Not only pierce, but also tattoo has bad image. Long time ago, people have to make tattoo as proof of guilt. That’s why they are not good images in society. She thinks, Japan has good chance to change towards body art because 2020 Olympics is coming. Many people around the world who have tattoos, pierced ears and body. These are 1 kind of fashion. She hope Japanese attitude for body art will be improved.

     I have no pierce hole because my father and mother didn’t and don’t allow me to pierce my ears. They think it is frivolous thing. I don’t think so, it is just for fashion. My father doesn’t like to dye my hair. These things are tools to express myself. I want to change social attitudes for body art too.

2; Mana Hanatani 

     She talked about her respect person. She admires her parents. She had not known the importance of father and mother roles  until she has started living by herself. She has to cook, laundry, clean rooms... everything is her task. In her parents house, she doesn’t nothing. In her high school, she has a friend who she really respects. Her friend is smart. There is saying by Edison “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” It is suitable for her friend, she thinks. She want to change herself by thinking a lot of things and making her have to do something.

     I also respect my parents. They do anything for me in spite of having their things have to do. I realized the importance and toughness until I started living in dormitory in high school. Now, when I go back home, I do some chores. I don’t like parents but I want to be like them.

3; Reina Maeda 

     She talked about fashion and make-up. Nowadays we have a lot of apps about fashion on our cellphones, instagram, zozotown and so on. She thinks clothes give taste to express ourselves, cover weak points. In addition, make up give us confidence. In our society, LGBT is getting controversial issues. She thinks they enjoy themselves by putting on clothes and wearing makeup what they want. For example, Ryucheal and Kemio is pioneers to express myself. This is the meaning of clothes and makeup. Fashion and makeup has power to be who we want to be.

     I love to think about fashion and makeup. I saw expert saying less and less young people wear individual clothes. Clothes are tools to express themselves, on TV. I think so too. Fashion can change me and gives me confidence. Not only young men but also elderly people should put on clothes what they likes. 

4; Kakeru Sakai 

     He talked about High Tech Toys. In this presentation, toys means tools. There are many high technology toys in our daily life such as smartphones, laptops and videos games. They have bothered of merits and demerits. You can connect friends anywhere and anytime. However, physical and mental problems exist at the same time. He has solutions; be sure to connect real world, atake care of body and mental, and go out and then move our body. 

     I was really surprised he spent 3 to 5 hours to play game in a day. He must have eye damage and mental problems so I want him to play game less time. However, I am also absorbed in net surfing. I can’t stop easily once I start. I should rethink about using smart phone. 

5; Taisei Yamagishi 

     His topic of his presentation is “Can war make peace?”  Why break out the war? There arereasons. First, human need food and resource to survive. Second, disapproval with government such as demo, terrorism and coup’ detat. Third, conflicts between tribes and regions.  Finally, conflits with hegemonism state. Sum up, wars are broken out by to live and desire. His answer is No. War is going to end someday but many innocent people will be killed. That is the woeful point. He wants no war will happen in the future.

     I am against for war. I saw young young children who has no food to eat and place to sleep in the class. I couldn’t believe my eyes because I am studying in the peaceful place but at the same time many people is managing to live. It is too sad. War has no meaning. We should accept thoughts and proposals each other and be clam. 

2: My Presentation 

     I chose the topic of French culture. Now, I am study french in the University as second foreign language. French grammars are similar to English but verb form will change depends on subjects. Pronunciation are same even if spelling are different. It is difficult for me to learn but it is fun. I have a French friend whose her Japanese skill is super good. I met her in 2 years in high school. She came to Kumano to study Japanese for 10 months. She was not my class mate, she was in next to my classroom. Her classmates couldn’t understand the difference between French and Japanese. They were getting avoiding her and I saw her reading a book in the corner of classroom. I couldn’t believe that. She must have worries because she came to Japan alone moreover she couldn’t understand Japan well. I was really shocked so I visited her every day. She told me her experience like her home stay in Mexico, German language and her vacances in France. I’ll show 2 french cultures. First, many French people cannot sing national song. In Japan “Kimigayo” is taught as music classroom, but in France, it isn’t taught. Kimigayo has beautiful meaning. In one theory, it stands for love from women to men. In contrast, French national song has “blood” and “kill” It stands for the respect for soilder who tried to get victory. It is said Kimigayo is the most beautiful national song in the world. Second, meals. In Japan, in the breakfast, many people have miso soup, rice and gilled fish in the morning. On the other hand, in France, they only have cafe au lait and coffees. In lunch time, French people take 2 hours to complete their lunch. Even in cafeteria, course meals are served. At dinner time, French people have a dinner after 8 p.m. and finished 10 p.m. Japanese people don’t take time to eat so I was amazed at how long French people take time on eating. I am happy to know about French culture. She is going to back in Kumamoto in August so I am really looking forward to seeing her again.

Unit 14: career or choice

1: Issue 

     The issue that we discussed was career or life. The presentation must be followed by one of three;my strengths and weaknesses,my goals for the future,and an experience that I have learned.

2: Comments 

1;Rie Amaki 

     She talked about her experience that she have learned. She went to Montana,America in this March to study for 1 month. It was her first time to stay other’s house for one month. she was really worried about but,she seemed to enjoy there. It was difficult for her to make conversation with host family in English. She is from nonverbal communication culture while host family is verbal communication culture. Her vague expression cause misunderstanding between her and them. She learned how it is important to tell her thoughts clearly. Her host family embraced her thinking’s. She thought she needed to have clear thinking’s.

     Now,we are in Japan,Japanese people don’t want to express their thoughts. Neither do I. However,by telling my thinkings in this class,I became not to hesitate to say in the public gradually. It is difficult for us to have or expresse our thoughts,but we surly can do it. Let’s make a lot of efforts in this class!

2;Hikari Nishimura 

     She also talked about her experience that she have learned from. She is working at coffee shop. She has chanes to promote her salary. She had two chances but she failed to do them. She was really nervous and couldn’t make good services which customers make enjoy. Her store manager gave some advices. To have flexible thinking,to think about “Time “that someone has,which means observe special time and to express her thanks by acting. After those,the way of her thinking is getting changed gradually. She will make use of these her experiences.

     It is difficult for me to give customers good and polite services. She always try to make herself improved. Her store manager gave her effective advice. How amazing manager he? She? is!! I hope you can pass promotion test and become good saller. I want to have a cup of coffee she makes one day.

3;Kenya Shimpuku 

     He talked about his goals for the future. He wants to be professior or scholar in the future. Why he wants to be them is one events when he was young,he was told “You are so talkative. You are like girl.”by his father and sister. He didn’t like to be said so. He could not understand feminine or manine. That’s why he wants to study abou gender. Japanese sexual education is worse than other developed countries. In Finland,the education is necessary to study. He wants to be key person to promote japanese sexual education.

     I don’t like Japanese culture. Woman have to be womanly. Man have to be manly. As society going,we have to change the way of thinking. We have to be the way we want. It is no accounting for the taste. He is unique and has worthy of being them. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

4;Mana Hanatani 

     She talked about her strengths and weaknesses. Since she was young,she have been interested in many things. When he was 2 years in elementary school,she has been swimming school for 1 year. 4 years in elementary school,she began to play tennis. In that time,thanks to her mother’s advices,she could continue for 9 years. Now she has new things that she has interest. It is Korean. She has just started learning,but she is making efforts right now. At last she gave us tips to be stronger. To achieve small goals that make our big dream come true,to tell your goals to other,not to cling to results and to think about the merits.

     It is difficult for us to continue something. She said she has interests easily and get bored easily. Most of people like that. Although she said so,she had played tennis for 9 years! That is amazing thing! She gave us tips. The most impressive one is tell goals for others. I think it is true. I want to tell and express my thoughts for my friends and family.

3: My presentation 

     I talked about my strengths and weaknesses. I think everyone has strengths and weaknesses. My strengths are 4. First,I don’t given up easily. Onece I decided to do,I try to complete it. Second,do my best everything. One of my mottos is “Always put one hundred and ten percent into everything “I’m lazy girl but I do want to get lazy about what I want to do. Third,strong sense of responsibility. When I was higher school student,I had stayed in dormitory. In third years,I was appointed vice dormitory leader. Thank to my strong sense of responsibility,I could get precious experiences. Last one is having a lot of guts. I don’t like to lose. When I’m frustrated something,I always frustrations into motivation. I think this is my biggest strengths. Next my weaknesses. First,complain. I don’t give up easily but I often complain. My mother says “Compliments and dissatisfactions make you ugly.”I want to stop complaining,so I asked my members in this group to give advices,I hope they give me good ideas. Second is getting tired. As I mentioned before,I do my best everything but I can’t control my energy well. I tend to get tired in the middle of doing something. Last one is extreme emotional ups and downs. When I am happy,I feel very well. On the others hand,when I am sad,I can’t help crying. However,while I am crying,sometimes I can’t stop laughing. I don’t know why I am in the situation like that. It is really weird. I want to make difference ups and downs smaller. I learned from last presentation,successful people know how their emotions affect their lifes. To improve myself,I want to control. I searched how to make differences them smaller. There are 3 tips. By using the power of aroma. Scent can change our emotions. Especially bergamot is effective. Second,cut down on suger. We may think surger make you relaxed but if you take too much,it causes absent minded,not to continue concentration and to get angry easily. Last one is to face the problem you haven’t solved. It is hard and difficult for us to face. However it is the shortcut to be stable mind. It is important to fade away source of making you sad. I want to attack my problems that I pretended not to see.

Unit5: Success

1: Issues 

     We discussed plagiarism on this unit. I had already known plagiarism because when I just entered this university,many professors told us not to do so. However,Peter should teach Kan about it if Kan really don’t know. If Kan does it many times,Peter should do his work.

2: Comments 

1;Saki Yonemoto 

     She thinks effort is important key to be success,but the most important thing is continuation. She showed us the graphic which one person walks on the trainload and also took the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare”for example. When she was junior high school student,she went to cram school but she didn’t want to do. She got judgement “E”on test. Depressed the result,she tried to study harder every day. Finally,she got A and was able to pass the entrance exam which she wanted to go.

     I agree with her thoughts which is making efforts plus continuation are her image of success. Continuation is the most important thing but it is the most difficult thing too. However,she did it so,I really admire her. I didn’t know there is a story about “Usagi to Kame”all over the world. This is easy to understand the importance of efforts.

2;Mio Kanaida 

     She told us the definition of success which is being famous and get reputations. However,successes she thinks are different from it. They are to achieve her dreams;living where she loves,living with her loving people and living with smile. She thinks living with smile is the most difficult because there are many difficulties and sad things in our life. To achieve,she study hard right now. Successful people work and hard.

     Her dreams are wonderful. I also want to live with slime. I know to come true this dream,I have to study harder. After listening to her presentation,I realized what is success in life. Not money,not fame,it is living with smile.

3;Mako Ishibashi 

     She thinks the success is to accomplish the goals you set. It is difficult to explain her definition so she gave us example. For instance,she have big dream to trip where she wants to go. To come true this dream she has to save money by earning every month. It might be small things but,it accumulates,it will be big things. She thinks this is success. In her favorite movie,“If you want it,just keep doing it.”a scientist says. 

     The example she showed us was interesting. We have big dream and we are just in the middle of making efforts right now. However it may be hard,all we have to is doing our best. We may think what we do is waste but it will be connected to something in the future. 

4;Kenya Shimpuku 

     He doesn’t know whether he is success or not because he is processing his journey,life. When we die,if we could say,“I was satisfied with my life. I was really happy.”It means you were successful. He has dream to travel all overseas the world. If he cannot come true his dream,there is no reason to be born in this world. He also introduced the words of Pelé,“Success is no accident. it is hard work,perseveration,learning,studying,sacrifice and most of all,love of what you are doing or learning todo.”

     I could felt his passion for traveling all over the world. He has bid dream,that’s why he always study hard every day. To be success,the person who make us come true our dreams is only ourselves. We have to put effort to make them. At the end of his presentation,he said,“Enjoy your life.”I want to enjoy my life as he said.

3: My presentation 

     I talked about my experience at fist. I am really bat at math,science and Japanese. One subject I can get good grade is only English. When I was 2nd grade in junior high school,I realized English is my subject. Then I tried to take un test “英検”pre-second. My vocabulary was too bad to pass so,I decided to study for it. I was really busy because I had to go club activity,cram school and calligraphy school. There is no time to study! However,I found time I could study. It was before going to school. I usually got up 6 o’clock so I tried to get up 1 hour earlier. I could study for 1 hour for 3 months. It was really hard for me but I didn’t give up! Finally,I was able to pass. Through this experience,I learned efforts make good achievements. As I grew older,this lesson is not true. Even I made efforts,did my best,sometimes I can’t catch good grade or prize. However,I think making efforts is the best way to be successful. I might not get result,the attitude try to do something hard is success and important. Second,I found interesting article on the internet about what great people do. They write dairy,meditation,control our feelings,cherish time for oneself and patience. These 5 elements are effective to be successful. I was most interested in was meditation. A certain research shows meditation has a lot of advantages for mental and health. Meditation improves capacity to memorize and make more easy to sympathize. I had  meditated when I was junior high school students before going home. I could feel clam and reflect what I did. That was good moments. I want to do them from now. By doing so,I hope my  possibilities to be success will be improved.

Unit 4: Rules

1, Issues
     The isuue that we discussed was Rules. The presentation was based on our childhood.

2: Comments
1; Taise Yamagishi
     He told us when he met games for the first time. I know he is good at playing video games. His grand parents are kind to him while his parents are strict. When he was 4 or 5 years, he got first game software. However, he kept his grade good. Because he did his homework before playing games. That’s why he could. His motto is “ Do something what you want to do, but do something what you have to do.

     I was surprised he kept his good grade even after getting game. When I got my cellphone, my grade went down and was scolded by my parents. I’m proud him. His motto is good not only for him but also for me. I have learned it by my heart.

2; Taku Shimoakasho
     He showed us what he did, liked, and dislked when he was child. He was serious boy. He falled into the pond because he found a cup in it. He was scolded so much by his parents. When he asked what he wants to eat, he always answered “Soba” He had ate too much, now he preferes udon to soba.

     He talked about him while showing graphics. They were easy to imagine what he did. The stories were really interesting. I could imagine his childhood. Now he is serious boy but didn’t change. He didn’t like injections so he was childish and I thought he is cute....

3; Maria Shigaki
     When she was young, she was really shy. She could say nothing in front of people. However, in her home. He became selfish girl. When she got angry, she was crying at the corner of the room. She has started learning English when she was 2 years old. In addition, she had played the piano more than 19 years. Her future dream is changing as her gets older. Now she wants to work at multinational company by using her English skills.

     I was surprised that she was shy girl. Because she is always talking with someone and talk to someone without hesitation now. She totally chenged. She has a lot of hobbies such as dance, piano and photography. These hobbies made her active girl I think.

4; Yuko Hirakawa
     She talk about herself compared to now. When he was young, she ates whole green pepper. While now, she tend to eat what she likes. She had to go home by 6 p.m. when she was little. One day she didn’t go home by 7 p.m. a Her parents called police. After that, she keeps promises.

     It is interesting to compare to now in many aspects. Food is easy to change. I loved cucumbers but now I don’t. Green pepper, moreover whole eating. What a healthy girl he was! By comparing myself, we can rethink about ourselves and found things we have to change the behaviors. Her presentation was good opportunity to revise myself.

5; Hikari Nishimura
     She was shy when she was little. After entering the nursery school, it changed her better. She tried volleyball, swimming, and calligraphy. By doing them, she was getting understand people around her. The biggest thing which her change cheerful girl is her part time job. She has to talk with her cos  customers to recommend new beverages. It is hard for her but worthy. Her future dream is working at airport. She hasn’t decided exactly, but he will keep up her best.

     She talked about her with calm voice. Maybe thanks to her experiences at her workplace.  She told us her workplace, I could understand how they have power for her. She is serious girl so I want to go
there and see her working with her cutie simle. She has clearly reasons why she wants to be. I haven’t decided what I want to do in my future so I admire her.

3: My presentation
       I thought about how I changed since childhood. I was really serious girl. I could pretended to see what other people do wrong things. If I was given commands to do them, I followed as I told. I was too sincere to work with my friends, which means I lacked a cooperative sprint. Maybe some of my friends disgusted what I sais and acted. I wanted to do everything completely and correctly. The stress even I didn’t notice was getting increased. As a result, I lost my eyebrows when I was 10 years old. At that time, my classroom teacher told me, not to be perfect. People who can embrace their mistakes is the perfect human. Since I’ve heard of this phrase, I have been feeling good towards everything. I totally changed after this event. I wanted to mention abou rules based on the text book. I think we should set our rules appropriately for our age. I don’t have many rules now compared to when I was young. If I have to show, I always close the toilet lid because my happiness will get away from me. I haven’t gotten fortunate by doing this, but I keep this custom.

Unit2: Friends or Lovers?

1, Issues
     The issue that we discussed is definition of friends and lovers.

2, Comments
1; Miho Yamamoto
     She thinks best friend is tepee person who can talk everything such as her secrets, jokes and having chat. In addition, Best friends who scold her when she have bad things. She has boyfriend who had went the same elementary school, junior high school and high school. She think they cannot be couple because he is like her family member. Just in case her, so it depends on each person’s situation.

     I have the same idea that best boyfriend cannot be lover. I was touched by your story which you showed us. I want to thanks for everything to my best friends. I hope you and your friends keep good relationships forever.

2; Mako Ishibashi
     She talked the story when she met best girlfriend and boyfriend.  The situation were different between them but she has good relationships. Next, she showed me the graphic which indicate the definition do friends in America and in Japan. There are 4 expression of friends in US, while in Japan, there are only 2. Finally, she compared girl friends and boy friends. After that she picked up different things and common things between girlfriends and boyfriends.

     I was really interested in the graphics which Mako showed us. There are 5 expression of friends in US, but in Japan is only 2. I felt the difference of culture. I have never thought of them, so I was captured. She compared friends in graphic so we can understand easily. That was nice point.

3; Rie Amaki
     She disagree with boyfriend can be lover. She thinks friends make her calm down when she meets them.  The friend’s existence help her. she has a best friend who has been in good relationships. Her friend is in Yamanashi while her is in Kumamoto. However they are connected with strong strings so they can be best friends now.

     I have the seam feeling. I have some best friends who works in Tokyo. I always keep in touch with them and tell them how my life is going. We can meet once or twice a year but we are best friends.

4; Kenya ShiMpuku
     He thinks best friends are like member of family. He trusts and respects them as well. However, the most important thing to be best friends is to understand situation each other. He has best friend who they met in Tokumoshima, Kagoshima 15 years ago. Even now, they are good friend. He thinks old friends cannot be lovers. We had better keep staying as friend. This is best solution for this issue.

      He showed us song which is Japanese popular woman singer sings. He translated into English. I have never thought about the lyrics well, but the words in this songs are really nice. Men friendship in much stronger than I thought.

3, My presentation 
     I disagree the friendship between boys and girls. Because we are human beings. I think it is natural for us to have feeling for him or her who have better relationships than other our friends do. First, I defined friendship and lover. I think the big difference between them is weather kiss him or her or do not do. Moreover, friendship between boy and girl may not hold their hand with each other. Second, I showed them interesting articles which I found on the Internet. According to the website, the difference is to change your attitude or behavior in front of friends and lovers. With your lover, you may want to be looked pretty or elegantly. While, in front of your boyfriend, you will not care so much. You will stay just the way you are as if you were the same-sex friends. Finally, I have best boyfriend. He cannot be my lover because he is like my family members. He is nice for friend but not  for lover. I think it is important to maintain the boundary between friends and lovers. There are why I disagree friendships between boys and girls.

Unit1: Self Improvement

1, Issue 
     The issue that we discussed was "Self improvement"

2, Comments
1: Kenya Shinpuku
     There are two kinds of cosmetic surgery, operative treatment by knives and no knife but injection. Between Korea and Japan has different thoughts towards beauty. In Korea beauty is important because of oriented society. Self improvement is to have confidence. We have to try to find our advantages.

     It was interesting there were differences about beauty. Almost Japanese people find disadvantages, not advantages. This shows that we have no confidence. What can we do for being confidence men or women. 

2: Kenta Taniguchi
     He thinks cosmetic surgery can change only appearance, not change inner. It doesn't mean improve. To improve ourselves, we have to have good education, culture by studying or reading many books, enjoy our hobbies, blush up ourselves and have no negative thinking.

     "Cosmetic surgery can only change appearance." I think so too. The idea that good education makes us improve was nice. The wide knowledge and various art gives us confidence. I don't like to read a book so much, but I have to do to be woman with confidence.

3: Saya Goto
      Cosmetic surgery takes many times to be completed and pain. But after "downtime" we can get our ideal face and body. Some of people she knows who costed as much money as we can build house. Not only cosmetic surgery make-up can change our looks. There are many ways to change our appearance.

     I was surprised to hear about the woman I mentioned above costed massive money. She showed her picture, she looked happy with her new face. I think the ways to be beautiful or pretty are different depends on people, so we don't have to comment or criticize "the way."

4: Mana Hanatani
      "Don't have negative idea" is the most impressive word in her presentation. Think everything positive even some unexpected things happen. Pinch is chance.

      When somethings bad happens to me, I always think only about them and be at a loss. That is not good thing. I have to change bad things or pinches into chance. I want to suggest myself "I can do anything!" from now.

3, My Presentation 
     I think cosmetic surgery gives us confidence. My parents gave me this body and face but now it's my own so there are no reasons to be against. However, we have a lot of ways for self-improvement. I suggested 3 tips. 1st; take time for a vibe booster. It means do what you like and can enjoy. 2nd; pump us the positive vibes. For example, write down some of own goals and stick them on the mirror. You can start a day with a smile. 3rd; log out to chill out. In other words, we have to refrain from using SNS. It is convenient to communicate with friends or family but, can be filtered. We might compare myself. That make jealousy and reason of losing confidence. By Logging out, we may be able to enjoy time.