What's New at Kyoto NHK ESS?

This is the announcement about the practice on May 11th.
Genre: Discussion
Title: 　My own rule

We talk about our own rules.
For example； When you get up, what do you do at first? 　Who takes bath at first in your family? 　Do you leave the toilet seat up or down? And why?

Discription:
1. Make some groups.
2. Talk about one`s own rules one by one in each group. Please don`t forget explaining the reasons.
3. Choose and announce the most interesting rule in each group. (18:20-18:40)

Megumi Iwai

Dear kyoto ESS members.

This is the announcement about the practice on May 18.

1.Date:5/18(sat)
2.Genre:Game
3.Title:Become a funny illustrator and reporter!
4.Description

We are going to do a game. The game title is "mysterious animal TV".

We'll become an illustrator, draw illustrations of a mysterious funny animal character!Then, we 'll become an reporter, we report the animal which we've draw. The game process is as follows.

1.)Make a group consist of 4-7 members.
2.)one of the members pick a card of "illust theme"."illust theme" card is written the information of mysterious animal. Ex. Building monster
3.)Then all the members draw illustrations of the animal according to the theme by using blank sheet.Enjoy using your imagination!
4.)All the member finish to draw the animal, then turn the sheet back and someone collect the sheet.Then shuffle the sheets and hand out each of the members.
5.)one of the members pick a card of "report theme"."report theme" card is written the information of how to report the mysterious animal. Ex.Suddenly shown up in large quantities!
6.)Then in turn, the group member report the animal according to the "report theme"(alloted time: 40 second per person).Enjoy reporting the animal funnily and amusingly!
7.)Lastly, we vote the best iilustrator and reporter!No.1 illustrator and reporter get 2 point.No.2 illustrator and reporter get 1 point.
8.)Enjoy playing this game as much as time allows. Then time is over, someone who get the most point is the winner!

Imagination and playful mind is important. Have fun!

京都　NHK　ESSの皆様へ

　４月から１ヶ月が過ぎ、新入生・新社会人の方は新しい環境には慣れたでしょうか？

GWが過ぎて、新しい環境にも心も身体も落ち着いて、学業や仕事に対して希望でみなぎっていることだと思います。

学業や仕事だけでなくいかなることでも継続していくことはなかなか難しいことですが、「初心忘れべからず」の精神で頑張っていきましょう！！

さて2013年4月のニュースレターを配信させて頂きます。

【4月６日】
Presenter：　酒井浩一さん
Genre: 　Discussion
Title:　 Interview with historical persons
参加者：27名

【4月13日】
Presenter：　岩井盛一郎
Genre: 　Discussion
Title: 　Love　We discuss about love; ``What is love?　Do you believe love makes us change the world?``

参加者：42名

【4月20日】
Presenter：　高井誠人さん
Genre:　Groupwork
Title: 　Poster message
参加者：　36名

【4月27日】
Presenter：　今田光祐さん
Genre: Quiz
Title : 　Guess who I am
参加者：　35名

　先日、アメリカのケンタッキー州で5歳の男の子が銃を誤射して2歳の妹を死なせるというショッキングな事件がありました。

銃の怖さを知らない小さな子供がおもちゃ感覚でいつても銃を手に取ることができるアメリカ社会の銃問題の根深さについて考えさせられる事件でした。

　オバマ大統領は、昨年12月にコネティカット州ニュータウンの小学校で児童20人を含む26人が死亡した銃乱射事件を受けて銃規制強化を訴えてきました。

しかし、米上院は4月17日、銃購入者の身元調査の強化や殺傷力の高い武器の販売禁止などを柱にする包括的な銃規制法案を否決しました。

　ここで4月18日のJapan　Timesの記事を紹介します。
　WASHINGTON – If there were ever a moment that symbolized the difference between the power of public opinion and the strength of a concerted minority,
it came Wednesday when the U.S. Senate defeated a bipartisan measure to expand background checks on gun purchases.
　By the time the vote took place, the outcome was expected. But the result was stunning nonetheless, as was made clear by the angry reaction of President Barack Obama,
who had invested so much capital on getting gun legislation passed after the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, only to see those efforts crushed on the first real test.
　Obama’s description of the Senate vote — “a pretty shameful day for Washington” — captured the moment and summed up the frustrations
that many ordinary Americans long have expressed about Capitol Hill, which is that the system appears tilted in favor of blocking action on controversial issues
rather than enacting legislation to deal with them.
　第一パラグラフのconcerted とは協定を結ぶと意味でconcerted minorityとはNRA（National Rifle Association)を指すことが推測されます。
NRAは銃規制の反対派の急先鋒として知られており、政府への多額な献金等を通じて政界にも多大な影響を有しています。
彼らの主張の拠り所は、アメリカ合衆国憲法修正条項第2条(the Second Amendment to the Constitution)に定められた「武器を所持して携帯する権利」
(the right of the people to keep and bear arms)は保障されなけばらないということにあります。
　しかし、一方、アメリカ人の91％が全ての銃について購入時に身元調査をすることに賛成している現実もあります。
このような凄惨な事件が多発しかつ国民の大多数が銃規制について賛成しているにもかかわらず銃規制について一歩が踏み出せない
アメリカ社会のジレンマを感じずにはいられません。

U.S. Senate　アメリカ上院
bipartisan measure　2党派合同法案
background checks 　身元調査
stunning 　驚くべき、びっくりさせられる
Capitol Hill　米国国会議事堂
enact legislation　立法化する
京都　NHK　ESS　STAFF　　岩井　盛一郎

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on May 25th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Communication among neighbors

Everyone has neighbors, and where there are neighbors, there can be problems.
Do you have some memories of your neighborhood?
Share your stories in your groups.
I hope you can enjoy it.

Shiho Nakashima

Dear ESS members;

This is the announcement of the practice on June 1st
Gene; Discussion
Title; A turning point

I would like to discuss about 'a turning point' in our life.
Our life is often affected by a small thing, for example by usual talk with friends,
suggestion from parents or teachers, an impressive word you found in a book, etc.

I set several subjects for the discussion as below;

(1) What was the most impressive book, song, or TV program in your life. How did it change your mind?
(2) Who was the most influential person (including historical person) on your life?
(3) What was the most significant event in your life, enabling you to see things in a way you hadn't ?

Hoping everyone enjoy it !

Best wishes,

Munenori Numata