2013年10月号-　エイゴパス英会話レッスン　月刊ニュースレター

| 月間ニュースレター |
英語ニュース Current Internet NEWS!!　＜新着ネットニュース＞
英語のビデオ Video News (Domestic and World Events／国内＆世界の動画ニュース)
Business English ＜ビジネス英語フレーズ＞
Grammar Study＜今月の文法学習＞
TOEICクイズ TOEIC Study Quiz＜ＴＯＥＩＣテスト＞
Monthly Column – ＜今月のコラム＞
 
   
—You can read the article below and use it in your lessons to discuss with your teacher. — この記事を読んで先生とレッスンで話し合おう！
Japan News

Teen’s death shows police not up to speed on stalking despite new law

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The stabbing to death of 18-year-old high school student and budding actress Saaya Suzuki by a suspected stalker this week took place just days after a tougher anti-stalking law came into effect.
Even though police had received complaints from the victim, they failed to offer her sufficient protection. Interviews with law-enforcement sources and school officials suggest that the police

did not act with sufficient urgency, even though stalking cases can often escalate into serious crimes. Charles Thomas Ikenaga, the 21-year-old man arrested in the case, told investigators he met Suzuki after making contact through Facebook about two years ago, according to the police.The two had been dating until around fall last year. Ikenaga told the police he held a grudge against Suzuki over their breakup. He was apparently pressuring her to come back to him.
Suzuki confided to her homeroom teacher last Friday that Ikenaga had been hanging around her house and that she was "scared." She said he had outside her house that morning as well.
Around June, she had blocked his number on her mobile phone after receiving a message in which he threatened to kill her. He started to be spotted lying in wait for Suzuki near her house from earlier this month.
Suzuki went to the Mitaka Police Station with her parents Tuesday morning and asked the police to issue a warning to the stalker .The police called Ikenaga’s mobile phone, but he did not answer. They left him a message asking him to call the police station.
According to freelance writer Jun Tachibana, 42, an increasing number of girls find dates through the Internet but often only know their boyfriends’ e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. This may have been why the police had no way of tracking down the suspect, Ikenaga.
On Ochanomizu profession is angered by the police action and mentioned, "It is possible that the assailant was provoked by the phone calls from the police. The police’s sense of crisis awareness is so low," she said.
"The general public and high school students do not understand the risk of stalking crimes, which can escalate rapidly. Unless the police put priority on protection and take actions against stalkers, such crimes will be repeated," she said.
 

新しいストーカー規制法にもかかわらず、三鷹女子高生がストーカーにより殺害

東京都三鷹市で、今週ストーカーによって高校生でタレントの鈴木沙彩さん（18）が刺殺された事件は、新しいストーカー規制法が定められて、わずか数日後に起こった。

警察は鈴木さんからストーカーの報告を受けていたにもかかわらず、十分な保護を提供することができていなかったと言う批判的な声が挙っている。法執行と学校関係者のインタビューでは、警察はストーカー行為が深刻な犯罪に発展する可能性を認識していながらも、十分な緊急性を持って行動しなかったと示唆している。

警察によると、池永チャールズトーマス容疑者（21）は鈴木さんと 2年ほど前にFacebookを通じて連絡を取り合い、昨年の秋まで交際していた。犯行に関して、容疑者は交際関係で恨んでいたと供述している。

鈴木さんは、先週の金曜日には担任の先生に容疑者が自宅の前をうろついており、自信の身に危険を感じていると打ち明けていた。その日の朝も同様に、容疑者を家の周りで見掛けたと述べた。

今年の六月頃には、容疑者は鈴木さんを殺すと脅すメッセージを送信しており、彼女から携帯電話上でブロックされていた。容疑者は、今月初旬から鈴木さんの家の近くでうろついている姿が目撃され始めていた。

鈴木さんは、火曜日の朝、両親と一緒に三鷹警察署に行って、ストーカーに警告を発行するよう警察に依頼していた。警察は容疑者の携帯電話に電話を掛けたが、応答がなかった為、留守番電話に警察署に電話をするようメッセージを残した。

あるフリーランスのライターによると、 インターネットを通して交際相手と出会う女性が近年増えており、彼氏の電子メールアドレスと電話番号しか知っていない為、同事件のように警察が加害者を追跡することが困難になっている。

「警察からの電話が今回の犯行を引き起こされている可能性もあり、警察の危機意識が非常に低い」と批判する人もいる。

更に「ストーカー行為が急速にエスカレートする可能性とそのリスクを一般市民や高校生は良く分かっていない為、警察が保護に優先順位を置かない限り、このような犯罪が繰り返されるだろう」と言う意見も挙っている。

 
 
Japan News:

Would You Pay for Half Your Engagement Ring? Some Women Are Chipping in for Their Bling

We might just refer to this as the ultimate form of "going Dutch." According to a recent informal poll on The Knot’s Facebook page, more and more women are giving their men financial help in the proposal area. In other words: ladies are forking over cash to pay for half (or more!) of their own engagement rings. 

After the surprising poll results went live, many women took to the comments section to share their opinions. "We live in a generation where women work and are often breadwinners of the family," one woman (accurately) observed. "So why should the man have to pay for a ring solely?" Another simply stated, "Welcome to the women’s rights movement, ladies, you’re only a few decades late." 

There were those, of course, who are vehemently opposed to the idea. "I think this is a horrible as well as tacky idea. Ladies, that is the number one way to see what kind of man you are working with before you marry him and start a family." Ouch! 

So we have to know what you think! Would you ever go Dutch on your engagement ring?

 
 

婚約指輪を割り勘？　指輪の為にお金を出し合う女性が続々増えている

近年では婚結準備に女性がお金を出し合う傾向が増えている。その中で、ウエディング関連業者である「The Knot’s」のFacebookページに最近、記載された調査によると自分の婚約指輪の為に半分（たまにはそれ以上）お金を出す女性が増えているようだ。

同調査の意外な結果が公開された後、様々な女性から同ページへのコメントの投稿が殺到した。結果に共感する声も挙げられた。「今は、女性も働く時代で場合には一家の稼ぎ手でもあるから、男性が一人で婚約指輪を負担しなければいけないなんて変よ。」また、他の投稿者からは、「男女平等なんて、もう数十年前からのものだから、こんなの当たり前よ。」と言うコメントもあった。

これらのコメントに反するものも投稿されていた。「こんなのひどいアイディアよ。婚約指輪は、結婚して一緒に家族を持とうと考えている相手がどんな男性か見抜く方法よ。婚約指輪も買ってくれないなんて、どんな男よ。」

ぜひ、あなたの意見を教えてください。女性として婚約指輪を自分で払いますか？

 
 
 
   
  New! Learning through News Videos
 
 

 
 
Business English Expression and Phrases　＜ビジネス英会話フレーズ＞
-Learn expressions such as idioms and slang that is unique to culture, age, and business!
新しい英語表現：　文化・時代・ビジネスで使う特有なイディオム表現や俗語を覚えよう！
Useful Expressions used in — Preparation for video conference–
Can everyone hear me?
  Ex: Can everyone hear me? I’m afraid we don’t have a microphone.
Is this clear enough?
  Ex: Is this clear enough for everyone to see? Let me see if I can make it bigger.
Testing, Testing.
  Ex: Testing, testing. One, two, three, four…
Could I ask you to talk a little louder?
  Ex: Could I ask you to talk a little louder so everyone can hear?
Someone will bring you a microphone.
  Ex: If you have a question, raise your voice and someone will bring you a microphone.
The sound system doesn’t seem to be working very well.
  Ex: The sound system doesn’t seem to be working very well today.
   
Useful Expressions used in — Starting a meeting —
It’s 3:00, so let’s get started.
  Ex: It’s 3:00m so let’s get started. The others will have to catch up later
Those who aren’t here will just have to suffer.
  Ex: I said that we’re going to lock the doors at 3:00, so let’s do it. Those who aren’t here will just have to suffer.
I think we need to get started.
  Ex: Not everyone is here yet, but I think we need to get started.
We’d better wait until everyone arrives.
  Ex: It’s 3:00, but I think we’d better wait until everyone arrives. I don’t want to repeat myself.
Let’s wait for a few more minutes.
  Ex: Let’s wait for a few more minutes and see if everyone arrives
Why don’t we get started?
  Ex: It’s not 3:00 yet, but everyone is here, so why don’t we get started?
 
上記の会話の日本語訳はこちらをクリック’（印刷可）: JAPANESE VERSION
 

 
–This section will cover a broad range of different grammar rules and explanations to help you understand sentence structure and improve awareness of English grammar.
このコーナーでは文法の規則や英文の構成についてわかりやすく学べます。
Common mistakes in English!
Read some of the sentences below and write whether "to+verb" or "verb+ing" or "verb" only is needed using the word in parenthesis.
1. You can’t help ________ him since he is such a nice guy. (like)
2. We decided ________ at home tonight due to the rain. (stay)
3. We expect ________ from Ann soon. (hear)
4. Do you fancy ________ out for dinner tonight. (go)
5. I am so exhausted! I really do not feel like ________ tonight. (cook)
6. When you finish ________, give me a call so we can go out. (study)
7. Do you enjoy ________ basketball live or on tv? (watch)
8. I am not satisfied with your answer. I want ________ your manager. (see)
9. She called her office ________ to be sick so she could take a day off. (pretend)
10. She is such an obnoxious individual! Imagine ________ married to her! (be)
11. Would you mind ________ the bread? (pass)
12. I really don’t ________ Tanaka san will arrive late. (think)
13. It was well past midnight but I managed ________ a taxi home. (catch)
14. That is it! I have just decided ________ smoking. (quit)
15. Thanks but no thanks. I’ve given up ________ so a cup of tea is fine. (drink)
 
Check back next month to see how you did! Answers and Explanations to each of the above mistakes will be posted!
Check Answers!
 
 
TOEIC対策（読解＆リスニング問題編）Eメールとﾕｰｻﾞﾈｰﾑの入力でテストの結果がメールで受け取れます。
 
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[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”static” fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://www.members.eigopass.com/flashquiz/TOEIC850/quiz13audio/quiz.swf” width=”636″ height=”480″ targetclass=”flashmovie”] [/kml_flashembed]
 
 
NEW! – Is Customer Service the same as Hospitality?

Alan (32y.o. Japanese American):

Although some intricacies of the word would be lost in translation, I think that the closest word to “Omotenashi” in English would be “hospitality” or “service.” Overall, I do believe that the quality of service that you receive in Japan from its restaurants to shops is substantially higher than what you would in other parts of the world. Their service is immaculate with their keen eyes on detail and occasional cordial vows, but at times they seem too rehearsed and robotic. Their TOTO Washlet toilet seats are a good representation of its “Omotenashi” with heated seats, deodorizer and motion-detecting flushing capabilities — providing the ultimate hospitality in the restroom that can be considered too close for comfort to some foreigners.
Even with its near flawless customer service, I sometimes find it frustrating to get the simplest service that isn’t in their training manual. I believe that customer service is ultimately about listening to and making the customer satisfied as long as it’s within a reasonable degree. In the case of Southwest Airlines, which is well-known for its excellence in customer service, there are no guidelines on how their staff should provide service to its travellers. Each staff is given the discretion to evaluate the situation and handle it in a way that puts the customers’ interests first. I think that the rigid approach to customer service in Japan is sometimes its downfall in realizing and acting on what the customer really wants.
 

Alex (39y.o. Canadian):

A great example of Japan’s willingness to accommodate foreigners was during one of my first trips to Starbucks in Japan. Many other coffee shops I had visited in Tokyo only offer an awful-tasting oily milk substitute for coffee without exception, even if they actually have real milk in their fridge. I hoped that Starbucks would serve me a little bit of real milk for my coffee.  It seems to be a common misconception here in Japan that people from North America all like black coffee.  It’s actually quite the opposite.

I was greeted by a smiling, pleasant-looking girl and proceeded to order a tall, medium-roast coffee with a breakfast sandwich. I tried to politely ask (in my very broken Japanese) if I could possibly have some real milk in my coffee.  She began to point to somewhere behind me and started to try to explain (in very difficult, yet polite Japanese) that I could pour it myself, when she was interrupted by another girl behind her. The second girl looked at me with a kind of rescuing smile and made a gesture with her fingers indicating an amount of milk and asked me “kore gurai? (about this much?)”  I was so relieved and gladly said yes while thanking her. She then topped-up my coffee with the desired amount of milk and I grabbed a seat to relax.

While sipping my coffee I wondered, could I have followed the first girl’s instructions and found the milk at another counter somewhere in the shop and poured it by myself?  Of course I could have, but the other girl’s willingness to just make me feel totally taken care of without having to worry about anything was what made it an exceptional experience for me.

On my way out I carried my tray of waste over to the garbage counter and tried to read which garbage goes in which container.  It was a little confusing because we don’t separate and burn our garbage in North America as we recycle it instead.  Can we burn plastic?  Yes, but should we? While I was trying to decide what is considered actually “burnable” or not, the same nice girl that had poured milk in my coffee had come out from behind the counter and insisted that she take my tray and dispose of my trash by herself.  I was so impressed by her efforts to anticipate my needs and exceed my expectations in order to make me feel comfortable, that even after a year this experience has continued to stick with me like it was just yesterday.

 
 

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