internal conflict: do it or don't ?

We live in this world by making choices. What to wear, eat , drink. Where to live,go. etc.......
And sometimes we get conflict inside us. Should I do it or don't? or which act should I take?
From brain science perspective, brain is calculating which one is more efficient, and sometimes it takes so much time!! More or less, both ways should be almost equal. This is why we get conflict.
Well, I think the best way we can do is to do it rather than not to do it. There are 2 reasons.
First, time is limited. Second, benefit you might get when you do it is something we can't let alone.Challenging is also good experience.
This is my new principle. I will live with keeping this in my mind and if I get conflict, I apply this principle to this. Step by step, I am gonna be stronger.

Language and gender,dialect,prejudice

This week's assignment of English class is to review all article I've read so far, and apply the idea and implication to my final research. My research is going to be TOEIC. Why Toeic became so popular in Japan? and how universities and companies and society as a whole prompt people to take Toeic test. And what will it affect. Data might be from web site from 2~3 universities.

This is review from already read articles.
English imperialism exists among Japan. English as a linguafranca.
Media has strong power to give one-sided stance to reservers(reader , watcher here students)
Speaking differently from common language could make prejudice. ( Putonghua, gay, dialect, gender)

I think I can apply these ideas to my research.

I noticed recently that after reading article, my job is to apply the main idea to my own experience. I found smart people do this a lot!! I recently read book titled "the way of insightful thinking" by Takehiko Kariya. I really got insight into how to think well. And this book said this kind of thinking, apply to something like association game. Respond to one question with fact, then make one more question, and answer to this with fact, continues. By breaking up first big question, and find answer to small questions, and apply it to first one.
This is GOOOOOD!!

Responsibility,stance,role of TOEIC in Japan

In this world, with English as lingua franca. Learning English is something desperate in Japan. So, showing one's ability of English became so important. Toeic score is one of famous test to assess one's ability. There are popular Eiken(英検）, TOEFL also. Toeic is now so popular. Why not Eiken or TOEFL?? while TOEIC does not have speaking and writing section in test. Is it enough to believe it is showing genuine English ability?? ( Eiken and TOEFL has)
There are advantage and disadvantage of course. First, advantages.
cost is relatively cheap, easy to conduct test because every question are supposed to be answered from 4 multiple choices so this format allows a large number of people take test simultaneously.
This is element other than TOEIC test itself(=Practicality) Next, Reliablity. Basic idea is that if there are two people who has exactly same ability of English should get exactly same score even if each take it in different venue. So, place and audio etc.... should be equal. And this kind of things in TOEIC are quite good.
Next, about disadvantages. It is about validity. validity here means how much TOEIC maximize testee's genuine ability. In terms of this, TOEIC has very big problem. TOEIC has only listening and reading part. No speaking and writing part. Especially, lack of assessment of speaking skill is problem. TOEIC's assumption is, productive skills can be assessed by assessing passive skills. Is this assumption correct??? I don't think so. Being able to listen and read is directly related to speaking ability. This can be explained from brain science perspective. passive and productive ability of brains is completely different.
Now, I've got a question. Why TOEIC became such popular while very big disadvantage is clearly visible. I am gonna do a research later.

World Cup tornament 2010!! in South Africa!!

Now,World cup tournament has begun in South Africa!!

What a wonderful part time job!!

In Japan, there are several magazines that works as billboard of job offer mainly part time job. And these magazines are set in each station and they are free to take. And I found 1 job that is fascinating to me. That job looks for a team leader of Summer Camp for elementary students. The leader of 8~10 children. Summer Camp include a variety of courses. river, ninja game, insects collection,,,etc. And what the leader need to do is just keep children safe and play with children!! And I get money!! After I found this job, I immediately registered and I went to job interview yesterday night at Kitaurawa. There are about 40 people, rivals, and we heard instructions and about its aim and activity of summer camp. It was convincing. It points out the problem of Japanese education,and suggests some resolution. This cram school is increasingly becoming popular, after it got TV attention. The interview was not like interview, not face to face, but 40 people just listen to talk, and played memorizing name game. While all was being done, some people in the right side and left side and back side and forth side watched us. They were evaluating us. I really like to take care of child and also I my self like outdoor activity. I really want to get this part time job!!

Shadowing

Have you ever heard English learning method ' Shadowing' ?? This is training that only interpreter did, and this became popular among normal English learner. How to do this is, you listen to the audio and speak the same as you listen and follow the audio. This method is very tough, but really effective for English learner who has certain ability. First, this will improve your pronounciation. Because you are supposed to imitate the native speaker so the sound will seep into your memory. So, the audio have to be beautiful and clear English. Second, this will improve your listening skill. Because at least you can say exactly the same, this means you can listen. Finally, this will improve your grammar and vocabulary skills, because in the process of being able to follow the audio, repeated practice, you can memorize words and grammar things.

I am doing this method using CNN. That really improved my English ability I think.

How to discuss??

I am reading article about how different the way British and Japanese media reports about whaling. Japan is pro-whaling country, contrary Britain is anti-whaling country. And newspaper of each country tend to be each country's stance. This is interesting that readers will be influenced by controlled information. Newspaper is for business, so it have to be fun or interesting to read, and this leads to the article to be one-sided. Also the space is limited, so information is limited. Given limited information, receiver will be influenced and become one-sided and have prejudice without testing the media, without doubt. Especially Japanese people tend to believe the media without doubt. For example , resign of former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama is due to this. This stance is no good. No good for brain.

Yes, fallen love.

I have one beautiful girl in my mind. I fell in love with her last week, I first talked to her. Charming, nice smile , polite, red cheek.
But, I am so shy that I have never asked girl out. I have been pretending to be not interested in girls, I don't know why..... But every time I see couple in city, I am so puzzling. Why am I .... like this...... Loving someone is normal thing, why am I so passive to love affair??

Now, I have to change something. This is what my unconscious want me to do. I have to follow.
Well, anyway, I have nothing to lose. right?? Why not ask her out. Don't hesitate. At least, no one take disadvantage. Think you are asked to go out, you won't feel bad. Go for it!!

First, use contrast effect. I look dangerous man, but if I talk to her with nice smile, that gap will be my favor. Don't forget to smile!! And also , making appropriate eye contact is needed.

The problem of Japanese English Education

Japanese people get compulsory English education when they are junior high school student. I myself did that. And I feel that I get certain ability of English. But , now, I am University student, full of knowledge around me , a lot of intelligent and creative people around me, see and hear　a lot of creative people. Creative people are good at speaking out one's ideas. Japanese English education is not good considering this point. Reading and listening is everything. These are of course very important ability, but these are input things, this is not enough in this completely internationalized complicated society. Japanese people are often recognized as poor at English. Bad in terms of output skill, good at input skill. But English ability is judged by communication skills. This is why Japanese are poor at English.
Also, Japanese are basically passive at communication in nature. Me too....
I wanna change this character, but recently , this bad point became better. Making mistake does not hurt me recently. And also, I started to realize the joy of speaking out my ideas and discussion with others. everybody has each idea. Sometimes, I can change my principles in good way. At that time, my brain is like broken.