Welcome to the second installment of Intermediate English Communication. Yet again the purpose of this course is for students to improve their English skills while discussing topics from contemporary Japan and abroad. Students should expect to participate throughout the course, both orally and in written form. More specifically, students will (a) think creatively and analytically about cultural issues, (b) deepen their knowledge and understanding of other cultures (primarily the potpourri of American culture), and (c) promote communication fluency by interacting with classmates in group discussions.

Note that I've included several major news websites in the reference sidebar to the left. You are highly encouraged to browse and enjoy reading the news!

 Our Various Units in Class 

 Sessions 1 & 2 (October 4, 11) — the Summer Vacation Unit: Three months?!?

Good morning, and welcome back! I hope you had an enjoyable summer vacation (did you?) and that you're ready to be back at school, slaving away and learning lots (or at some).

One question that educators and parents ask (perhaps often) is why summer vacation is so incredibly long. In Japan, of course, summer vacation runs for a scant few weeks, but in the US many schools still have a 12-week summer vacation. Let's read some about this vexing question of the long US summer break.

Here is an article about the supposed origins of the long summer break in American education. Of more importance, however, is the video at the bottom of the page.

For your reading pleasure, here is a long article from Time in which I think you'll find a rather persuasive argument about the extraordinarily long summer vacation that students in the US enjoy.

 Sessions 3 & 4 (October 18, 25) — the Halloween Unit: Back to the world of Washington Irving

Let's begin with a bit of background about that wonderful end-of-October event we joyfully dub Halloween. You realized that it is quickly approaching, didn't you? If not, mark your calendar, find your makeup kit, and prepare to enjoy ...

I think I'd like a bit of summarizing this morning, so let's have about a quarter of our members work on this history of Halloween. The second half will be split up this synopsis of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. From all groups, in a few minutes I would like a presentation of your respective part.

 the Language(s) Unit: Could Be, Should Be

As you have cleverly surmised, in this three-week period we will be talking about language and some issues involving it (or them).

 Session #5 (November 1) —To Be (Standard) or Not To Be (Standard)

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?} I speak here, of course, of the issue of (a) what standard language is, and (b) what should be made of it.

OK, I won't be doing a presentation this morning, but I will be passing along some material dealing with that rarest of animals, the one we like to call "standard _____" (fill in the blank with the name of any language). Let's begin with a webpage from the good folks at PBS about standard American English.

So, as the British might say, "What are we on about here?" In this clip, we find an educator working to change some language habits regarded as problematic.

 Session #5 (November 8) —Protection, To Thine Own Self ...

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?} I speak here, of course, of the issue of (a) what standard language is, and (b) what should be made of it.

A case in point is in the far, far North in Canada. This is, of course, the home of the Inuit people, whose language now has official backing from the government in Ottawa. As an added bonus, let's take a look at a page written in a most interesting script ...

We find another example of endangered languages doing well in the UK, which is home to a number of languages that are (or were) on the brink of collapsing. Here is another story about a minor language in the UK - Welsh.

Lest you haven't had enough, here is yet another piece on protecting language. This comes courtesy of the Khaleej Times in the UAE and concerns the need to protect the Arabic language.

 Session #7 (November 15) —CPR in Language

{Quick Quiz: CPR? What?} We'll begin with an example from my home state of Montana, but this particular tale could be repeated many times with only the venue changed.

OK, a quick question: Cajun? What is that? Think for a moment about the last time you had pizza ... did you perhaps have a bit of Tabasco on it? Where is Tabasco from? Details about that particular area and its special language will be found right here. I might just have to add a bit of xydeco, too!

 the Food Unit: A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread, and ... ?

As you have cleverly surmised, in this three-week period we will be talking about language and some issues involving it (or them).

 Session #8 (November 22) —S...l...o...w... F...o...o...d...

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?} Today we'll be on one of mankind's favorite topics, which is naturally food. Glorious food. As you'll know from today's presentation, Slow Food is much more than those two simple words. Indeed, it is an entire movement, the webpage of which is located here..

Of course, life is better with a bit of intellectual stimulation, so let's take a look at another TED Talk. This one is courtesy of Josh Viertel at TEDxManhattan. As you'll notice, he posed a question to a certain gentleman you may have seen a time or two.

 Session #9 (December 6 —We Are The World (i.e., Food Aid)

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?} I speak here, of course, of the ongoing challenge of feeding all seven billion of us - quite a task. In the clip to the right, you'll hear Bill Pritchard speak about the reality of food aid and how it is not at all a simple problem with a correspondingly simple solution.

You would do well to be familiar with some of the major organizations that work to address this problem. Even a cursory search will turn up quite a few, many of which have a religious afiliation of some nature. Among them you will find such groups as

When I was in college some hundred years ago, it became something of a common occurrence to hold a charity event (often a concert) and request that audience members provide a donation of food. Although it antedated you by a few years, you likely are familiar with "We Are The World" from 1985.

You might also devote a bit of time to what is known as donor fatigue, which occurs when donors (or potential donors are repeatedly inundated by requests for donations.

 Session #10 (December 13 —To Be Announced

As you know, ...

OK, enough tormenting you. Please complete this year-end worksheet, which I'll post later today. Inasmuch as this will replace our final class, I expect you to devote at least 90 minutes to it, and you may, of course, spend more time on it if you'd like.

 the Life Unit: What? I have a life?

To begin this fine new year, we'll finish up our food unit from last year. Excited, aren't you? Thus, with no further ado, let's hear about Grandma's Cooking: Tasty Local Food.

As you have (yet again) cleverly surmised, in this three-week period we will be talking about lifestyle issues.

 Session #11 (December 20) —Ms. Smith-Jones (i.e., family names)

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?}

Some years ago I had a good friend named Alice Smith, who at one point decided to marry Mr. Evans. After doing so, she used the name Alice Smith-Evans. While not all women do that, in the US it is quite permissible.

 Session #12 (January 10) —To Juku or Not To Juku ...

{Quick Quiz: What is this title from?j}

Sure, you knew that was (sort of) from Shakespeare, right? Not important, however, because I'd like you to focus on that fine tradition of cram schools here in Japan. Yes, some of you likely attended one or several, and many young people do.

 the Art(s) Unit: Robert Langdon Lives!

As you have cleverly surmised, in this three-week period we will be talking about art (in its broadest meaning of any symbolic human creation) and some issues involving it. What? You hadn't surmised that? Well, the link there is symbols ...

 January 12 —Ye Olde Canon (not Cannon!)

{Quick Quiz: What is this title based on?} I hope you've pondered this for a moment and perhaps also checked the meaning of canon. Having done so, you'll have found something about a body of work considered important by erudite folks.

In English, this body of work generally includes pieces by Shakespeare, Hemingway, Joyce, and countless others. Several questions should be asked, I think ... Why does a particular work belong in the so-called canon? Are there particular trends that appear in canonical works? Are such trends apparent in all languages and cultures? Moreover, is it important to be well-versed in the canon of a language, or should we devote more time to, for example, computer skills or other modern pursuits?

 January 19 —Government Support (Pay Yer Taxes!)

Some years ago, when I was a university student, my father gave me a magazine article that I remember well yet have been unable to find ever since. The article was by James Michener, a famous writer, who declared that he was very proud to pay taxes. Having grown up during some rather turbulent times in the US in which we learned to be very skeptical of the government, I was struck by the brazen nature of that statement: how could anyone be proud to pay taxes? Weren't taxes simply a responsibility to be avoided because of the wastefulness of government and the abhorent ways in which taxes were used? (Think missiles and other weapons.)

The answer, I found, was much more nuanced and even profound. While governments and politicians do manage to waste and misspend a great deal of money, they also spend a considerable sum on art, music, dance, and similar things. If I had kept those taxes, would I have supported art, music, and more to that extent? At all? I doubt it, and I suspect most people would not have done so.

One of ...

 January 26 —Down the Rabbit Hole

{Quick Quiz: C'mon, admit it. You enjoy me asking this, right? } Finally, we arrive at the rabbit hole, which is, of course, a reference to the works of Lewis Carroll. More specifically, you'll recall that Alice encountered a certain nicely-dressed rabbit in possession of a large watch. She chose to follow said rabbit down a rabbit hole, and the rest is history.

The gist of this little vignette is that we will now plunge into somewhat murky waters, much as Alice did when she followed that white rabbit. To wit, we have the collective wisdom and creativity of the ages as expressed in various artwork, and we all can enjoy it (within certain limits). However, whose is all this wonderful artwork?

 February 2 —TBA

Writing

Note, good people, that this issue has resulted in some serious academic research. One such article is by Calandriollo and Buehler Abstract
Several nations implemented n—each year we wait costs hundreds of American lives and millions of dollars.
(mouseover to read the abstract) ...