Learning Languages
Eli
Ben: It helps in that I have insight to how somebody learning a foreign language needs things explained because I've learned 4 myself. However in some ways it doesn't help because the Japanese learner, the Japanese sort of mind, and how they learn languages is so very different from anywhere in Europe or South America so activities that would work really well with a European western, South American audience, or South American class, don't seem to work at all due to some of the differences in Japanese and Western culture.
Eli: Do you think the whole sort of Japanese schooling system is very different?
Ben: It's extremely different.
Eli: How is that?
Ben: I haven't got a great insight into it but I think the kids have to work a lot harder here. All, I teach a lot of high school children and they're often coming to my lesson, in between their breaks between cram school, on a national holiday, in the summer holiday. When I was a kid I'd be playing in the park and beating up girls up the street with a wooden stick or something.
Eli: And do you reckon that is kind of passed on with the ****** of work society here, like sort of similar sort working, or?
Ben: Yeah, I suppose so. I think a lot is expected of them all throughout there lives. Two of my neighbors are both salarymen, and they often are arriving at home very very late, and a lot more is expected of the Japanese staff at the school than is of the western staff. They'll often ask them to do jobs that take twice as long as what they ask us. I don't know whether that is because they expect the Japanese staff can do more, or they just think we're stupid, which some of us are!
insight
It helps in that I have insight to how somebody learning a
foreign language needs things explained.
When you get an 'insight' into something it means that you
get a look into and an understanding of how it works.
Notice the following:
- If I do a week of work experience, I think it will
give me a good insight into the industry.
- Autobiographies give you a good insight into how a
famous person lives.
work well
Activities that would work really well with a European
western, South American audience.
When something 'works well' it means that it is a success
or functions well.
Notice the following:
- I think that the blue works well with the red sofa.
- They work really well together.
cram school
They're often coming to my lesson, in between their breaks
between cram school.
'Cram school' is an institution common in Asia that helps
students prepare for university exams in an accelerated way.
Notice the following:
- I think that the cram school really helped me to pass my
exam.
- Do you think cram schools are a good idea?
reckon
And do you reckon that is kind of passed on?
When you ask 'do you reckon' it means the same as 'do you
think'. You use it to ask someone's opinion about something
when there is no exact answer, it is an idea about the
future.
Notice the following:
- Do you reckon this dress will look nice on her?
- I reckon I will pass, I have worked very hard this year.
salary-man
Two of my neighbors are both salary-men, and they often are
arriving at home very very late.
When you are a 'salary-man' it means that you get paid a
decided amount of money every month instead of getting paid
by the hour.
Notice the following:
- I would hate to be a salary-man, I much prefer to get
paid by the hour.
- Is your dad a salary-man?
Vocabulary Quiz
reckon • salary-man
