Academic writing

The escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question of continuing education beyond high school. Many wonder whether the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt is worth the investment. The risk is especially large for low-income families who have a difficult time making ends meet without the additional burden of college tuition and other fees.


Although pursuing a college degree a lot, there is evidence that the rate of return on investment is high enough to justify it. Though the earning difference between high school and college graduates varies over time, college graduates, on average, earn more than high school graduates.

Book Review "The Fish that Talked"

'Thank you,' said the fish. 'Now it's my turn to help you.'

'I have saved you so you can rebuild the world.' 'And you, Manu, will be its king.'  'Rule wisely!' said Brahma.

 One day, Manu met a tiny fish. The fish was sparkling with a silvery light and talked. The fish involved the help. Manu helped the fish.
 Then the talking fish grew and grew and grew. Manu helped the fish which became bigger.

 

Vocabulary

wade （川などを）歩く、渡る
well 井戸
sink 沈む

Reference

Book Review "Henry and Mudge and the wild wind"

'Mudge is a prisoner in the enemy camp,' Henry's father whispered.
'And it's your job to rescue him.'

Henry and his dog Mugde don't like thunderstorms. If a storm came, Henry whistled a lot and Mudge whined, walked around the kitchen table, sat in the bathroom alone and put his head in the couch. When Henry whistle and Mudge put his head in the couch, Henry's father suggest to play a game. The game is to rescue Mudge from the enemy couch. Henry's father makes Henry assume the light to be the enemy fire and the thunder to be the enemy cannon. Henry is no longer afraid of the thunderstorm. His father reduce his fear.

Vocabulary

fur 毛皮

ripple 波打つ

jumpy びくびくする

whine くんくん鳴く

sniff くんくん嗅ぐ

Reference

Rylant, C. (1993). Henry and Mudge and the wild wind (Simon & Schuster, Inc, Level 2)

Book Review "Sleeping Beauty"

Prince Phillip is on a horse.
He goes in the castle.
Prince Phillip kisses Princess Aurora.
She looks at the Prince.

Princess Aurora looks have a tender heart, because she is kind of animals.
Maleficent tries to kill such tender princess. She is really bad.
Then Prince Phillip who likes Aurora is going to help her.
Phillip kisses Aurora and Aurora opens her eyes.
The kiss help Aurora! What a wonderful kiss!

Vocabulary

spindle 紡錘

Reference

Harlow, E, N. (2012). Sleeping Beauty (Person Education Ltd, Level 1).

book review "Ice Age"

'Go away!' Diego says. 'These animals are my friends.'

The tigers are very angry. They fight Diego and Manny.

'A mammoth, a tiger and a sloth!' Sid says.

'We're funny friends, but we're happy!'

At the start of this story, Diego the tiger, Sid the sloth and Manny the mammoth didn't look like friends. As I thought, Diego was going to deceive Sid and Manny. While they look for the baby's dad, they become friends. I was surprised at that, because I didn't think that a tiger made friends with a mammoth and a sloth. Besides, Diego fought the tigers for his friends. I'm impressed with the words that he says. So that Sid says, they are funny and strange friends, but I think that the friendship is so wonderful. Why could they become friends?

Vocabulary

sloth ナマケモノ

Reference

 Taylor, N.  (2011).  Ice Age (Popcorn ELT Readers, Level 1). London, UK: Scholastic.




Wordcount: 531

Unit 2 Exercises

2.1
1  a broad accent
2  in broad agreement
3  mitigating circumstances
4  mitigating factors
5  auburn hair
6  deliriously happy
7  a broad smile
8  a picturesque location
9  adjourned a meeting
10 a picturesque town
11 adjourned a trial
12 inclement weather

2.2
1 Melissa has quite a broad accent.
2 Inclement weather led to the cancellation of the President's garden party.
3 We were all deliriously happy when we heard we'd won the award.
4 Their new home was in a picturesque location.
5 Because there were circumstances that made theft mitigating, the judge let him off with a warning.
6 I think we should adjourn the meeting now and continue it tomorrow.
7 She had a broad smile on her face when she arrived.
8 She has lovely auburn hair.
9 I think we're generally in broad agreement as to what should be done.

2.3
1 extremely  beautiful/good/difficult/hot/cold
2 make/support/ an effort
3 cancel game/meeting/resevation
4 deliver message/letter/package/mail
5 earn/get/make a living

2.4
extremely hot
It is extremely hot these days.

I am ...

My name is Yuka Yasueda.
I'm from Kumamoto and live here for twenty-two years. I'll get a job in Kumamoto.

I belong to the rowing club, and I manage the club. As a manager, I cook, massage and help the rowers. It's ideal for a rower to ingest 4000 carlories in one day. So I also manage their nutrition.
We practice to obtain the victory in All Japan University Championships.

I love music, especialy K-pop. My most favorite group is BEAST. Their singing voice is so sweet and cool. They are not also idols but artists. Which songs they make even  wonderful.

My hobby is singing. I often go to Karaoke alone, sing for a long time and reduce my stress. It's maybe calling out rather than singing.

I'm 4th grade. It's the last summer vacation now, so I'd like to enjoy this summer. But I'm a risk of not graduating. I have to take a lot of intensive lessons. I want to graduate very much...