Teenager dyslexic only in English

Independent, The (London), Jan 18, 1996

English can be tougher on the brain than other languages, according to a scientist studying the case of a boy who struggles to read English primary school storybooks while wading through physics textbooks in Japanese.
Advertisement

The boy, 17, named only as AS, is believed to be the first person shown to be dyslexic in one language but not another.

He has English parents but lives in Japan. At the age of six, he went to a Japanese primary school but lagged behind his Japanese counterparts in English. When he was 13, tests confirmed that he was dyslexic.

While he can perceive English sounds accurately he can only read half as well as an average person of his age. Yet he has mastered the two written forms of Japanese - kanji, which consists of symbols which carry meaning but no phonetic value, and kana, whose symbols respond to particular sounds.

Researcher Taeko Wydell, of Brunel University, west London, told New Scientist magazine the case was difficult to reconcile with theories of dyslexia and could have "profound consequences for concepts of reading". New Scientist said: "The problem, she believes, lies in . . . the English language's complex system of mapping sounds to letters, which gives rise to some eccentric spellings."

Copyright 1996 Newspaper Publishing PLC
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Protest the Fingerprinting of Foreign Residents of Japan

Hi,

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition
that I recently signed:

"Abolition of Non Japanese fingerprinting program"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fingerprints-japan?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage
you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of
your time.

Thanks!
---------------------------------------------

Once again, thanks for signing the petition!
Sincerely,
-iPetitions Campaigns Team

p.s. If you would like to start your own free petition, you can do so
here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/start-petition

幼児期の英語学習に関する私の考え

幼児期の英語学習に関する私の考え

ケビンバーンズ



基本的に、もし、子供達が学びたいのであれば、ひとつの外国語を学ぶべきだと思います。
もし、子供達に学ぶ気がないのに、ご両親が学ばせたいとなると、
ご両親や先生達は外国語を学ぶことがいいことだと、子供を納得させる努力をしなくてはなりません。
近いうちに海外へ引っ越す、外国語を話す親戚がいる、将来仕事で英語を必要と
する、もしくは、アジアだけでなく、視野を広げ、世界中に目を向けるため、
というのがシンプルな説明かもしれません。

「英語を勉強するつもりはない」「英語が嫌い」
日本ではこのように、英語に対して冷ややかで、否定的な態度がみられます。
難しい問題です。英語は日本語に浸透してきてはいるものの、
未だに、英語を話せるようになることが想像できないという人もいるのです。

このような否定が全国に広がっていることもあり、英語の必要性を子供に納得させることが難しいのです。
話はそれますが、オランダのように、他の国の言葉に対しても、オープンな国では、簡単なことなのでしょう。

勉強を強要しても、決してうまくいきません。
言葉を学ぶことが、とても大切なことだということを
分かってもらうための、手段を示してあげましょう。、
子供にとっては、ディズニーをテーマにした物を使うのもいいかもしれません。
イングリッシュランド、というテキストはディズニーを使用しています。

何歳から、外国語の勉強を始めたらいいのか。

これは、難しい問題です。子供や、その状況にもよるからです。
ちなみに、ケビンズイングリッシュスクールでは３歳から英語を
楽しく学ぶことができます。

幼児期から英語を勉強する必要はなく、１２歳までにと、提案するところもあります。
勉強を始めた年齢がばらばらの生徒達が、同じレベルで、何も気にせずに学ぶ傾向にあるのです。
私達は、何かを見落としている、と思いませんか。

話し言葉を学ぶ、テストで良い成績をとる、それだけのために言葉を学ぶわけではありません。
言葉を学ぶことによって、私達は、子供達に、全く新しい世界や、考え方の違い、
現実に世界を見ることを、切り開いていくのです。

早ければ早いほど、いいと思います。いつか、子供は自分で決めなくてはいけないでしょう。
親として、教育者として、私達はその事を重要だと考え、その事を子供に納得させなくてはいけません。
もし私達にそれができないのなら、子供にとって、それがどれだけ重要なのか分かるまで、待つべきでしょう。

Nova Declares Bankruptcy, Canadian Embassy Tries to Help those Affected

The Canadian Embassy has opted to send this message to all registrants on the Japan country profile, to ensure that we can reach as many Canadians affected by this situation as possible.

If you know of any Canadians in your area of Japan who are not already registered in ROCA, please be sure to share the following information with them, and also take the opportunity to recommend registration.
*********************************************
As you may have already heard in the news today (October 26), NOVA English school has filed for bankruptcy. In this message, the Embassy endeavours to communicate as much information as possible to assist you in planning your next steps.

The Canadian Embassy is monitoring the situation and remains ready to receive enquiries and provide the best advice we can.

Employees with concerns should consider contacting one of the two regional Nova offices which have been tasked with responding to employee queries, the workers' union representing Nova employees, and their local labour advisory office. Contact details are:
Nova
- West Japan: Osaka Office (06) 7688-0404
- East Japan: Tokyo Office (03) 6688-4441
Nova has advised that it is in the process of putting related information for employees including questions and answers up on its website at www.nova.ne.jp.

General Union - Nova Branch: (06) 6352-9619
http://www.generalunion.org/nova/main.htm

The assistance that the Embassy of Canada is able to provide you is limited to that which is stipulated in the Consular Service Standards page, http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/about/service_standards-en.asp.

The Embassy is neither legal expert nor labour law specialist; we do not possess the expertise to be able to advise you on these topics thus we have been, and continue in, encouraging individuals to seek out subject-expert advice from local providers. The following is a list of contacts for services and official Japanese advisory organisations that may be of assistance. Many are Tokyo-based but they should be able to direct you to resources in your vicinity:

If you did wish to look into the option of hiring a private lawyer, the Embassy can provide a list of lawyers, some with English speaking services.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Consultation Service for Foreigners: 03-5320-7744.
They offer advice in English on a range of issues. Their opening times are: Monday to Friday, 9:30am - 12:00 noon and 1:30pm - 5pm.

For employment and labour-specific advice, the following telephone number is for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Labour Advisory Service Centre for Foreigners: 03-5211-2346. They offer advice in English from 2:00pm to 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

Also, many City Offices across Japan have foreign residents' consultation services. You may wish to check with your local City Office to see what services they have available.

If you have any employment/work visa questions (i.e. sponsored visas, changing employment), the best people to consult would be the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau: http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/iic-01.html

In the event of unemployment, we understand that some foreign employees in Japan may be eligible for unemployment benefits. We understand that it depends on what type of employment insurance the employee holds, as well as how long they have been working, and under what circumstances they ceased their employment. If you should wish to make enquiries as to whether you are eligible for unemployment benefits, you should consult with your local Hello Work Office. The following website advises of some Hello Work Offices that are able to offer foreign language assistance: http://www.tfemploy.go.jp/en/coun/cont_2.html

Financial Issues:

We understand that many of you have major concerns about this. The Embassy is available to assist you to contact your family or friends in Canada and facilitate private funds transfers between you and them should the need arise; however, we cannot provide financial funding for Canadians to remain overseas.

Money transfer methods include wire deposits into a personal Japanese bank account (or a Canadian bank account accessible from Japan e.g. by ATM card), credit card account, or instant transfers via Western Union (www.westernunion.com) - Please note that the Japanese agent of which is Suruga Bank with branches located in the Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Aichi areas. Alternatively, your family member can contact the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa to obtain information on how to transfer funds through the department. http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/sos/emergencies-en.asp

If you are seeking alternative work in order to stay in Japan, you may wish to discuss your situation with your family and friends to ensure you have arrangements in place should the necessity for emergency funds arise. Also, please ensure to contact your nearest Immigration Bureau Office to obtain more information about changing jobs.

If you are planning to go home to Canada anytime between now and the holiday season, we strongly encourage you to start making travel arrangements immediately. Mid-December marks the beginning of the holiday/Christmas high season; consequently, airfares will rise significantly, and ticket availability will become scarce.

Rates quoted to the Embassy as of Friday morning, October 26, 2007 are:

Air Fare by H.I.S. (One-way ticket, in JPY)
. Weekend rates 5,000 yen will be added to rates stated below.
. After Dec 23, these airfares will go by approximately 100,000 yen or more.
. AC= Air Canada; UA= United Airlines

NRT - Toronto
Nov.01 - AC 103,000; UA 64,000 (via Chicago)
Dec.01 - AC 103,000; UA 69,000 (via Chicago)

NRT - Vancouver
Nov. 01 - AC 74,000; UA 64,000 (via Chicago)
Dec. 01 - AC 74,000; UA 69,000 (via Chicago)

****************************************
KIX (Kansai Airport)- Toronto

Nov. 01 AC 118,000; UA 66,000 (via San Fran)
Dec 01 - AC 118,000; UA 66,000 (via San Fran)

KIX - Vancouver
Nov. 01 - AC 88,000; UA 66,000 (via San Fran)
Dec 01 - AC 88,000; UA 66,000 (via San Fran)

We hope that this information will be of use to you.

Consular Section
Embassy of Canada
Tokyo, Japan

英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄か？

英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄か？


英会話スクールに通うのは時間の無駄だと言う話を時々耳にします。
さらに、子供のレッスンはほとんど遊びだという人もいるようです。

Manabu, Hiromi, Masami。
ケビンズイングリッシュスクールで学び、アメリカの大学を卒業した
彼らに会ったことはないでしょう。
もちろん彼らはスクールだけでなく、自分自身で一生懸命勉強していました。
英会話スクールに通うことは、出発点なのです。
自宅でもたくさん勉強をしなくてはならないのです。
多少お説教のように聞こえるかもしれません。
でも、上にあるようなコメントを耳にするとがっかりしてしまいます。

しかし、これは日本中で起きているようです。
日本にもDavid Paul. Lisgo, Happy English Clubがあり、
英語を学ぶ方の手助けとなっています。MasamiやManabuもそうでした。
日本は信じられないくらい急激に変化しており、英会話スクールは
それを促進させている要因のひとつです。決して時間の無駄ではありません。
私達のような小さなスクールも、この国を国際化させるお手伝いを
しているのです。

私達は時々思い出す必要があります。
私達英語の専門職が、英語を学ぶ生徒さんたちの手助けをすることは、
長期目標であり、長期に渡るということを。
水泳を習うこととは違うのです。英会話を学ぶことは、ピアノを習う
ことと似ています。２，３回のレッスンでベートーベンの曲をお母さんの
前で披露することはできないでしょう。でも、泳いでみせることは
できるでしょう。英語を学ぶことは水泳を習うこととは違うと思って
下さい。しかし、残念ながら多くの方がそう信じているのです。

もし一年間だけ英会話スクールで習ったとしても、
私が何を話しているのかを理解できないかもしれません。
もう一度いいますが、これは長期に渡る目標であり、たった
一年間で生徒さんの進歩度をはかるのは難しいことです。
これは、10年間に及ぶプロジェクトなのです。

日本をより国際的にし、他国の文化ををもっと理解できるようなお手伝いを
少しでもする・・のが英会話スクールです。そして私達はゆっくりと
国際語を教えているのです。

何か間違っているでしょうか？
これ以上は思いつきません。

ケビンバーンズ

Land of the Rising Gas

by Kevin Burns

Few people stop to think much about it when they fart. Unless it happens on a crowded elevator,then everyone thinks about it.

You may not have pondered the fact that there are over 400 different kinds of gas in one human fart, and Japanese of course are no exception. Japanese routinely let them rip to the tune of 80 million litres of fart gas every day of the year. I haven`t even included hot air bags like Tokyo Governor Ishihara either! If all the people in the world could be synchronized via the internet to buff on cue, they would emit 4.2 billion litres of butt gas, and that would fill 3.5 Tokyo Domes. Not a pretty picture I know. Just think of the Dome`s maintenance staff!

I have often thought that my friend Doug`s expellations were particularly putrid, but no! According to research, Japanese young women expel especially smelly ones these days due to constipation. Half of the young women of Japan are afflicted. Doctors point to dieting as the culprit in this case. Dieting leads to a loss of muscle tissue in general, and loose stomach muscles in particular, which in turn leads to constipation, and farts that would make even Doug blush!

Help you gasp! I`m dating a Japanese woman, what should I do? Is there anything that can be done, Kev? Unfortunately, I am at a loss and it isn`t only dieting that make some elevators smell like Kawasaki. It is also because the Western diet has found popularity among Japanese palets. Simply put, Japanese are eating more meat.

Indeed, the fast paced lifestyle of Japan leads to increased stress, and worsens one`s intestinal condition. Perhaps because of this busy lifestyle, people don`t have as much time to exercise. Without regular exercise, we aren`t regular, and our bowels don`t move smoothly (extend and shrink well--as one Tokyo doctor, a proctologist I presume, was quoted as saying).

One shocking part of the study revealed that if you try to prevent a fart, it will actually get you in more trouble and could affect your love life! If you refuse to fluff one (as my Uncle Stan used to say), then the gas is absorbed into your blood and travels to your lungs. Then it comes out of your mouth, smelling just as terrible. Let one rip before you exchange lips with your special someone I like to say. It is a shame when couples break up over mouth farts. It wasn`t that garlic your partner ate the night before.

This problem isn`t purely a Japanese one of course, it also takes place in space. After a fatal accident involving Apollo 1, NASA was forced to re-evaluate their safety measures. The accident involved gas and some at NASA suggested that even one fart might have caused the calamity. They started their analysis at that point. Finding that farts contain methane, they proved that farts can burn. Herman, my boy scout buddy regularly proved that on camp outs, but that`s another story.

NASA analysed many farts and found that some do not include methane. It depended on what the farter had eaten. Eating carbohydrates tends to produce a methane based fart, while eating meat or space food that is meat based, produces an expellation that is methane free or low in methane. This tends to cause the fartee (or recipient of the fart) to do a severe space gag, and possibly knock one of the controls out of whack. This of course could lead to a serious accident.

The drawback to all of these findings was, that low carbohydrate space food doesn`t produce the dreaded methane fart, but does produce a fart like Doug`s. In space, no one can hear you fart! But they can sure as hell smell a fart after some gaseous Neil Armstrong has had his ration of low carb space food. It stinks up the whole lunar module man! No wonder few astronauts ever opted for a second mission and everyone wanted to go for a space walk! Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mouri, who served on the Space Shuttle remarked that when someone farts in space it doesn`t dissipate, "...it becum rump of gasu travelling through space shuttle. Sometime it strike fellow astronaut nose. Honto ni kusai!" (It smells just terrible,") he related. "It often happen in shuttle, but feeling is mutual," he finalized.

So there you have it, let`s be careful out there; and as my father saw on a Scottish grave stone:

"Aire we be, let wind blow free."

by Kevin Burns at great personal risk

(Researched by T. Yamaki under much duress. *Ms. Yamaki has shown no side effects, so far, from this research.)

About The Author

Kevin Burns is a writer and entrepreneur living in Japan. When not editing his guide: http://www.travel-central-japan.com He can be found teaching at his English school http://www.eikaiwa1.com or managing the family store: http://www.import-food-japan.com Where he constantly wonders who cut the cheese?

Tokyo Disneyland Theme Parks

by: Chris Chew


A family vacation in a Disney theme park or Disneyland is always a dream holiday for millions of people around the world. The Disney brand is such a resounding success worldwide that it is inconceivable that any child in any developed country do not know what is Disneyland.

If America or Paris is too far away to take your family for a Disney vacation, then you can settle for either of the 2 Disneyland in Asia located in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Disney theme parks, wherever they are located usually have the same theme. For example, in Disney Tokyo will find the following theme parks which can be found on other Disneyland albeit sometimes in different ways the parks are presented.

World Bazaar - Sprawling smack at the entrance of the Tokyo Disneyland is the World Bazaar. This Bazaar is a reminiscent of turn of the century American town with the feeling that you may come face to face with an Apache Red Indian or an outlaw wanted by the local county sheriff.

Here you will find restaurants, shops, restaurants, outlets selling souvenirs and stuff that are appealing to tourists.

Tomorrow land - A space age futuristic theme park. A delightful combination of science and innovative imagination. In Tomorrowland, you can enjoy rides that rockets you to outer space or if you are a science geek, get invited to the "Inventor of the year award ceremony." One of the favorite rides in Tomorrow Land is to help Buzz Light Year pulverize the Evil Emperor Zurg. Whatever that is.

Toon Town - Bring the children to Toon town, they will love you for this. Toon town is where Disney characters work and play. Toon town is designed to cater exclusively for the kids and is bursting with colors with plenty of kiddy rides.

Fantasy land - How can one be in magical Disneyland without entering the world of fairy tales and cartoons? Meet Disney's icons Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and a host of Disney cartoon characters this never never land.

Critter Country - This is the land of the, well, you've guessed it, Critters. The critters are small animals from the Disney movie "Song of the South". Enjoy watching the critters burrowing little homes along the banks of the Rivers of America and on the slopes of Splash Mountain.

Western land - A visit to the Wild Wild West brings you back in time to the earliest settlers of the American West. Perhaps the most important chapter of the American history. Enjoy dinning in restaurants from the wild west era.

Adventure land - This is the where you visit the African, South American and Asian rainforest. You can even take a cruise in a "crocodile infested" river. Tropical jungles in downtown Tokyo? Well, this is what Disney magic is all about isn't it?

About The Author
Chris Chew is an avid traveller. Read his blog and website for exotic travel information. http://asiatravelbest.blogspot.com and http://www.asiatravelbest.com.

A Reason to Travel to Japan

Pictured: Shinjuku, Tokyo courtesy of Fuji Film Staff


by: Ryu Yuki


When you think of Japan, what comes up to your mind? There might be “Sony” and “Toyota” or “Samurai” and “Geisha.” You might consider that the former ones represent the modern Japan and the latter ones represent the past. However, the real Japan is not so simple and contains both aspects together through its historical stream. It is a little bit hard for people to understand that two different characters exist in one country.

There are some clues to the real face of Japan. As you know, Japanese cars are becoming more and more popular in the US. The reasons for this are the typical quality of Japanese products. Practicability and Flavor. The reliability is that people can count on and the quality is that owners can be satisfied with for a long time. How about Japanese food. Sushi is one of favorite healthy food these days. Thirty years ago almost nobody was willing to eat raw fish in the US, however, recently there are so many sushi restaurants around urban cities like Los Angeles. People eat sushi because it is not just a efficient diet menu but also an cultural experience. They recognize color scheme of sushi dishes. Red, green, black, yellow, and white on the plate. It is a kind of artistic presentation with natural ingredients.

Any basic daily activities of people, food and craft, gradually grows to be the level of culture after many years. Japan has been organized as a nation for about 1500 years and developed the living style to the cultural value. Even though Japan obtained a lot of influence from the US after the WWII, her original essence remained and still exist everywhere in the country. TOYOTA and SONY could not happened as world famous companies without the soul and cultural background. When you really want to feel and realize what it is, it’s time for you to get on an airplane to Japan. You will start connecting the depth of the culture and spirit of the mysterious country from the very first day.

For more Japanese information, visit the author's blog site http://www.traveltojapanblog.blogspot.com .

About The Author
Ryu Yuki, a Japanese journalist in Los Angeles, is a creator of a personal blog site, http://www.traveltojapanblog.blogspot.com which contains Japanese issues from a native point of view.