gunmajet.net

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┃Contents┃
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■Warm-up Exercise: クイズで楽しく英語の勉強
■Message From the Governor:
■Topic:
■La lettre de l'Hexagone: フランスからの手紙
■Exploring Gunma：県内イベント情報
　　　　　　
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■Note From the Editor
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Hello everyone, welcome to Edition 148 of GUNMA-in-the-box.

Just under two weeks ago, we held the orientation for the new Japan
Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program participants here at the Prefectural
Office. At that time members of the International Affairs Division,
the Prefectural Board of Education, and various volunteers helped the
newcomers be more comfortable in their new workplaces and communities.
During the orientation, we had many two-way discussions and one
person asked a question that sparked my note for this edition.

He asked "where are all the trash bins?" and it made me remember when
I first came to Japan. I also noticed the same thing shortly after
arriving in Japan back in 2005. It really surprised me that there are
so few trash bins, yet Japan's cities are so clean. This is definitly
one of those cultural differences that people don't recognize right
away, and I'm sure it bewilders many foreigners. In Japan, there is
always the notion to clean up after yourself and take your trash with
you but to a Canadian such as myself, carrying trash home to put in
my own trash bin is unheard of. Larger Canadian cities like Calgary,
Toronto, and Vancouver have small trash bins everywhere so people can
throw their trash away and keep it off the streets. However, in Japan
they are really only outside convenience stores or inside train
stations. Naturally it makes people wonder how Japan can keep its
cities so clean without using city trash bins, but the answer is in
Japan's custom of cleaning up after one's self. You can also see this
evident in places like movie theatres and on charter buses where
people are expected to take out any trash that they brought in.

Personally, I found the lack of trash bins a bit inconvenient at the
beginning, but now that I'm used to it, I think it's a great way to
keep the streets clean. That being said, on trains, and in the park
I often see discarded PET bottles left on seats and benches. It's
important for everyone young and old to respect their environment
and others by cleaning up after themselves. So we should all do our
part, don't you think?

【Vocabulary】<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

participant(s): 参加者
two-way: 双方
trash bin(s): ゴミ箱
to recognize: 気づく
to bewilder: 当惑させる
charter bus(es): 高速バス
inconvenient: 不便
that being said: ～とは言っても

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Benjamin Brant is a Prefectural Advisor and Coordinator for
International Relations here at the International Affairs Division.
He is responsible for checking and editing GUNMA-in-the-box.
We would like to send GUNMA-in-the-box to as many readers as possible
so please tell all your friends and colleagues and ask them to sign-up
on Gunma Prefecture Homepage. http://www.pref.gunma.jp/a/07/inthebox/
■監修：群馬県生活文化部国際課■
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■Warm-up Exercise
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ここでは、英単語の語源を紹介します。語源を意識することで、単語のイメー
ジがより定着するため覚えやすくなります。また、見たことのない単語でも
推測できるかもしれません。

「not」は「記すこと」を意味します。
「notable」は「not：記すこと」「able：ができる」に分けられます。
「記すことができる＝注目すべき、著名人」です。

それでは、問題です。辞書を使わずに単語をイメージしてみてください。

notify（ヒント　note:記すこと　fy：～にする）

The answer is at the bottom of the page↓↓↓

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■Message From the Governor
Translated by Chiemi Nakazato
(International Affairs Division)
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□■ Supplementary Budget-making Has Begun □■

We started compiling a supplementary budget on June 18th. Soaring crude
oil and food prices are gradually starting to affect the economy. The
gasoline prices have also gone up and I am surprised whenever I go to
the gas station. The rising prices of raw materials slow down the local
economy and press on business management. Moreover there is concern about
the damage to the prefectural tax revenue. So we’ve changed the budget-
making process to work extra hard from this time.

Only some larger issues that have remained after examination by the
Director of the Finance and Budget Division and the Director General of
the Department of General Affairs have become the subjects of the
examination by the Governor. During the Governor’s examination, I
conducted a hearing for the Director Generals involved in each field and
decided the budget. That is to say it was the final step in the process,
but I was not satisfied with this way and had questions. For example, did
I recognize the real problems? Would the works be effective? Are there
any other ideas I may have missed?

Of course we do have a time limit and we face severe fiscal conditions.
That’s why we need to not only examine, but discuss seriously, put our
heads together, and find the best way.

Therefore I began the hearings at the same time the budget making started
to have enough time to share the problems and discuss them properly. It
is physically and mentally tough to lock myself in the budget-making room
and have a hearing from each section everyday from sunrise. But I’m
thinking hard through listening to the demands from each Director General
and having positive discussions everyday.

【Vocabulary】<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

supplementary budget：補正予算
soar：高騰する
crude oil：原油
fiscal：財政の

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■Topics
by Shinji Shimoyama
(Forest Preservation Division)
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◇◇ Does Early Introduction of English Make a Difference? ◇◇

Do you think early introduction of English makes a difference? It’s
probably fair to say that many Japanese are not good at English despite
years of schooling. Out of regret or not, English programs in
elementary schools will start from next year. It is said that the aim
of the new program is more to make students feel positive about
communicating with foreigners using English, than spreading literacy
among younger children. On the other hand, you can find many articles
or advertisements saying early introduction is essential, especially
in verbal communication.

When I went to Oizumi Town, the master of a coffeehouse, a Japanese-
Brazilian said “I communicate with my daughter in Portuguese until
she becomes 3-years-old to improve her pronunciation.” I then started
worrying about my son who is just a toddler, and sent for some
brochures about English programs. In the end however, I became
dreadfully bored with persistent sales-talking.

Recent study says that language ability improves even in old age and
for learning a foreign language, establishment of mother language
ability and of course, motivation for learning is essential. Last
holiday, my relatives got together and my 8-year-old niece played
piano in front of us. My wife said to her, “I want my son to take
piano lessons. Can you teach him?” She replied, “It’s not too
late for him to become interested in it.”

【Vocabulary】<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

elementary school: 小学校
literacy: 読み書き
toddler:（よちよち歩きの）幼児
brochure: 資料
language ability: 言語能力
Mother language: 母国語
niece: 姪

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■La lettre de l'Hexagone
　 by Toru Dobashi
(Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Paris)

Hexagone : フランス語で六角形（大文字で始まるとフランス本土のことです）
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◇◇ When Nature Calls ◇◇

In Paris, it’s terribly hard to find a restroom in public places. For
instance, you will never find one in a park. Some Metro stations do
have one, but they are closed very often for unknown reasons.

If nature calls in Paris – especially if it’s urgent – I recommend
that you go to a café. You order a cup of espresso at the counter,
drink it while standing and pay only 1.10 euros or so. And then,
congratulations! Now you can ask a server where the restroom is, answer
the call of nature and breathe a sigh of relief. Even if you don’t
like espresso, rest assured that you can use their restroom by paying
about 0.50 euro.

Chances are that you can pretend to be one of the customers and rush
into the small room for free if the café is crowded and the servers are
busy waiting on tables. But 0.50 euro is not a lot of money as a sign
of gratitude, isn’t it?

【Vocabulary】<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

restroom: トイレ
for unknown reasons: 理由はわからないけれども
breathe a sigh of relief: ホッとしてため息をつく
rest assured that: ～なので安心してください
Chances are that: おそらく～だろう
pretend to: ～であるふりをする
rush into: 駆け込む
wait on table: 給仕をする
gratitude: 感謝の気持ち

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■Exploring Gunma
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◇◇ Festivals and Firework Displays ◇◇

◆Isesaki Fireworks Display
This firework display involves the launch of 30,000 rockets over a
period of 90 minutes. In this time, pyrotechnists from India, China,
Korea and Japan will come and compete in the display. Don’t miss it!
Date: Saturday, August 30th.
Location: Seibu Koen, Sports Hiroba, and Isesaki Motorcycle Racecourse
For more information, please contact the Isesaki Bunka Kano-ka at
0270-24-5111.

◆2008 Oizumi Carnival
～ 100th anniversary of Japanese immigrants in Brazil.
This festival will include a performance from a professional Samba
team and other amazing performances from both within and outside of
Japan. Please join in the Samba spirit and enjoy the flavor of Japanese
and Brazilian culture.
Date: Saturday, August 30th to Sunday, August 31st.
Location: the Oizumi Gym and Izumi Park.
For more information, please contact the Oizumi Tourism Association at
0276-61-2038.

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■Gunma Prefecture homepage addresses:
http://www.pref.gunma.jp (Japanese)
http://www.pref.gunma.jp/english (English)
http://www.pref.gunma.jp/portug (Portuguese)
http://www.pref.gunma.jp/spain (Spanish)
■We hope you have enjoyed reading this edition of GUNMA-in-the-box.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please send them to
kokusaika@pref.gunma.jp
■GUNMA-in-the-box is written by a group of Prefectural employees and
sent to you by the International Affairs Division, Gunma Prefectural　Government.
■Copyright 2002-2008 International Affairs Division, Gunma.
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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　■監修：群馬県生活文化部国際課■
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Answer:　notify　知らせる　etc
　　　　（例文）Please notify me if there is a delay.
遅れる場合は、連絡してください。