Hi everyone, 
​
We have finished our last group of debates, and all the requirements for our course. The last thing you have to do is hand in your vocabulary books next week. 

Debate Feedback:
Most of you did a great job with your debates. You've used a lot of the discussion and conversation skills we've learned during the entire course in your debates. 

The most important thing to remember when you communicate in English is to have confidence in your opinion. You don't need to use perfect grammar. How you communicate your message is more important (e.g. speaking clearly and loudly, making eye contact, using gestures, etc.). When you do this, others will pay attention to what you are saying and will want to communicate with you.

Homework:

1. Presentation Vocabulary: write down example sentences from today's debates.
2. My Vocabulary: write down 5 new words that you learn this week (e.g. in other classes, from watching TV/movies, etc.)
3. Opinion: In the homework section of your notebook, write your opinion on one of the topics from today's debates. You have to agree or disagree. These were the topics: (1) GM foods; (2) internet regulation; (3) death penalty; (4) same-sex marriage; and (5) grade skipping

I will collected your vocabulary books in next week's class for the last checking. Please remember to bring them. 

Hi everyone, 
​
​We had our first group of debates today! 

Vocabulary Notebooks:
At the beginning of our lesson, I returned your vocabulary notebooks. I checked your vocabulary sections and the opinion homework. The next time I collect your notebooks will be before the Christmas holidays. 

Debate Procedure:
Before our debates, we went through the steps for your debate. They include:

1. Introduce your topic
2. Teach your vocabulary
3. Debate with your partner
4. Lead your discussion
5. Answer questions from the audience

Debate Feedback:
Overall, everyone did a good god with your debates. You prepared well, and knew your topic. However, remember these points for your next debate:

1. You must have eye contact with your debate partner for the entire debate, and you also have to make eye contact with your audience. 
2. Speak in a loud enough voice to show that you are confident about your position. Also, use intonation to stress disagreement. 
3. Make sure you practice your debate with your partner before the lesson so that you can move from each part smoothly. Learn how to pronounce your vocabulary and say statistics (e.g. numbers). 

Homework:

1. Complete debate #1 worksheet (group 2)
2. Presentation Vocabulary: write down example sentences from today's debates.
3. My Vocabulary: write down 5 new words that you learn this week (e.g. in other classes, from watching TV/movies, etc.)
4. Opinion: In the homework section of your notebook, write your opinion on one of the topics from today's debates. You have to agree or disagree. These were the topics: (1) euthanasia; (2) smoking bans; (3) death penalty; (4) nuclear power; and (5) grade skipping.  

Blog Question #8:

What did you think about our first debates? 

* Write 12-15 sentences.
* Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly.
* Submit by Wednesday, November 18 by 6:00pm. 

Hi everyone, 
​
​We've finished our opinion presentations, and now we'll be doing debates for the last part of our course. 

Debate Topics:
After speed discussion, you chose your second debate topic with your partner. For both debate topics, you can find information about the "for" and "against" positions in the Discussion Skills --> debate topics section. 

If you need more information to complete your worksheet, you can do your own research. This is a useful website with additional information for your debates: http://www.procon.org

Debate Structure:
We then learned how to organise your debate. Each debater will give two reasons for his/her position. However, each debater will have to attack the reason (=disagree) of his/her partner. 

Remember to use opinion and disagreeing expressions, which we have learned in class since the beginning of our course. 

Homework:

1. Complete debate #1 worksheet
2. Practice your debate

No blog comment this week!

Happy Halloween!

​In today's lesson, we had a Halloween-themed lesson in which learned a variety of different vocabulary and traditions connected to the holiday. 

We also went through the structure for a debate and you chose your debate presentation dates. For the next two weeks, you need to start preparing your debate worksheets with your partners. 

In next week's lesson, we will learn how to present your debates. 

Homework:

1. Start preparing debate worksheet with your partner

Blog Question #7:

1. What is your position on your topic (e.g. FOR or AGAINST)?
2. What are your two reasons for your position? Remember to give examples.

* Write 12-15 sentences.
* Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly.
* Submit by Wednesday, November 4 by 6:00pm. 

Hi everyone,

We finished up our last round of discussions. We'll be starting pair debates from next week!

How to Disagree (Refuting Opinions:
At the beginning of today's lesson, we reviewed expressions to refute opinions. Please makes sure to review these because you will need them for your pair debates in November. 

When it is not true, you choose one of these three ways to show disagreement:
a. This is not true because...
b. This is not always true because...
c. This is not necessarily true because...

When the opinion is not important, you can choose one of these three ways to express your disagreement:
a.  This is not relvant because...
b.  This is not significant because...
c.  This is easy to solve because...

Partners and Topics for Debate:
​At the end of our lesson, you chose your partner for your pair debate presentation. After, you also chose your first topic. In next week's class, you'll choose your second topic. 

Homework:

1. Blog Posting #6
2. Presentation Vocabulary: write down example sentences from today's opinion presentation vocabulary
3. My Vocabulary: write down 5 new words that you learn this week (e.g. in other classes, from watching TV/movies, etc.)
4. Opinion: In the homework section of your notebook, write your opinion on one of the topics from today's opinion presentations. These were the topic: (1) android phone hacking; (2) China walkway accident; (3) low levels of Vitamin D; (4) processed foods; and (5) dangers of sports days.
5. Download the article about your topic in the Discussion Skills-->Debate Topics section. Read the information. Bring the article to class next week. 

• In next week's lesson, I am going to collect your vocabulary books. If you can't come to class, please give your book to a classmate to give to me. 

Blog Question #5:

1. Read the information about your debate topic. 
2. Choose a position (for or against) and write your opinion.

Example: 
In my opinion, I am AGAINST the use of nuclear energy in Japan. This is because nuclear power isn't safe. For example, Japan has many earthquakes, so it's impossible to make nuclear reactors strong enough to withstand an earthquake. Therefore, there is a greater chance of nuclear accidents. 

* Write 12-15 sentences.
* Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly.
* Submit by Wednesday, October 28 by 6:00pm. ​

Hi everyone,

Can you believe we're one-third the way finished with our course? Time sure does fly!

How to Disagree (Refuting Opinions)
At the beginning of today's lesson, we learned different ways to disagree with opinions.

When you hear an opinion, and you want to diagree, there are two ways you can diagree.  You can say the opinion is not true or it is not important.

When it is not true, you choose one of these three ways to show disagreement:
a. This is not true because...
b. This is not always true because...
c. This is not necessarily true because...

When the opinion is not important, you can choose one of these three ways to express your disagreement:
a.  This is not relvant because...
b.  This is not significant because...
c.  This is easy to solve because...

In next week's lesson, we'll review these expressions. You'll be using these a lot when we start our debates in November/December. 

Homework:

1. Blog Posting #5
2. Opinion Presentation Preparation
3. Presentation Vocabulary: write down example sentences from today's opinion presentation vocabulary
4. My Vocabulary: write down 5 new words that you learn this week (e.g. in other classes, from watching TV/movies, etc.)
5. Opinion: In the homework section of your notebook, write your opinion on one of the topics from today's opinion presentations. These were the topic: (1) coffee and caffeine; (2) African airplane accidents; (3) Tokyo's global standing; (4) Shinkansen fares to Hokkaido; and (5) technology and romance.

Blog Question #5:

In a few more weeks, it'll be Halloween, so we'll have some Halloween questions.

​Tell me about one of your scariest experiences. 

* Write 12-15 sentences.
* Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly.
* Submit by Wednesday, October 21 by 6:00pm. ​

Hi everyone, 

Wow! Can you believe this is our fourth lesson already! One month has already passed! I hope everyone is enjoying the semester. 

Speed Discussion:
At the beginning of our lesson, we had our speed discussion activity. Today's new vocabulary included:
a. capital punishment / death penalty (n)
b. hanging (n) / hang (v)
c. victim (n)
d. bi-racial (adj)
e. sports day (n)
f. phubbing (n) / phubb (v)

Vocabulary Teaching:
We had a short activity to review how to teach vocabulary. When you don't know a word, you can ask these two questions:
1. What does this mean in English / Japanese?
2. How do you say ... in English / Japanese?

When you teach vocabulary, remember to teach your group both the Japanese and English meanings. 

Opinion Presentations:
Although three presenters didn't come to class, I was really impressed how today's presenters gave their presentations and led their discussions with five members in their groups. Everyone prepared, and knew their topic well and didn't need their worksheets. 

During your discussions, many of you nod your head up and down to show interest. This is normal in Japanese conversational style. In Anglo-Saxon conversation style, you need to verbalise (=say something) to show interest. You can use these expressions:
a. I see / Uh-huh / Mmm-mm
b. Really? / Are you serious? / No way!

Homework:

1. Blog Posting #4
2. Opinion Presentation Preparation
3. Presentation Vocabulary: write down example sentences from today's opinion presentation vocabulary
4. My Vocabulary: write down 5 new words that you learn this week (e.g. in other classes, from watching TV/movies, etc.)
5. Opinion: In the homework section of your notebook, write your opinion on one of the topics from today's opinion presentations. These were the topic: (1) dreams; (2) home-sharing; (3) tourist boom; and (4) 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Blog Question #4:

When you were a child, what was your dream? Has your dream changed? (If yes, what is your dream now?) 

* Write 12-15 sentences.
* Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly.
* Submit by Wed., Oct. 14 by 6:00pm. ​