Week13

Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Teacher outfoxes board, exposes bid to fleece JETs”
Comments: Because there were many strange words, it was very difficult sentence for me.
Time spent doing activity: 1h40m


Key words learned:
1.embroil 
【v】to involve someone or something in a difficult situation
=involve

2.rudimentary   
【adj】a rudimentary knowledge or understanding of a subject is very simple and basic
 =basic, undeveloped

3.demeanor
【n】the way someone behaves, dresses, speaks etc that shows what their character is like
=behavior

4.adamant  
【adj】determined not to change your opinion or a decision that you have made
=inflexible

5.mumble  
【v】to say something too quietly or not clearly enough, so that other people cannot understand you
=murmur

Week12

Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Life up in the treetops”
Comments: I bacame to be able to read more smoothly than I had done.
Time spent doing activity: 1h40m

Key words learned:
1.enthuse
【v1】to talk about something in a very interested or excited way  about/over
【v2】to make someone interested in something or excited by it by/with something
=excite, talk

2.scout
【v】to look for something in a particular area
=observe

3.adjacent
【adj】a room, building, piece of land etc that is adjacent to something is next to it
=close

4.advertise  
【v1】to tell the public about a product or service in order to persuade them to buy it
【v2】to make an announcement, for example in a newspaper or on a poster, that a job is available, an event is going to happen etc
=promote, announce

5.akin
【adj】very similar to something
=similar

Week11

Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Being in the doghouse is not always a bad thing”
Comments: I was surprised that "skirt" have verb.
Time spent doing activity: 40m
 
Key words learned:
1.poignant
【v】making you feel sad or full of pity
=painful

2.somber
【adj1】sad and serious
【adj2】dark and without any bright colours
=colorless, uncheerful

3.discourse
【v】to make a long formal speech about something, or to discuss something seriously
=discuss

  4.ventilate
【v1】to let fresh air into a room, building etc
【v2】to express your opinions or feelings about something
=refresh, express

5.skirt
【v】to avoid talking about an important subject, especially because it is difficult or embarrassing
=avoid, elude, fudge

Week10

I. Activity one
Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Lower House passes bill to double sales tax”
Comments: I think political or economical vocabulary was difficult to memory.
Time spent doing activity: 1h20m

Key words learned:
1.bolt
【v】to suddenly run somewhere very quickly, especially in order to escape or because you are frightened
＝leave

2.elaborate
【v】to give more details or new information about something
★elaborate on
＝clarify

3.rebel
【v】to oppose or fight against someone in authority or against an idea or situation which you do not agree withrebel against
★rebel against
＝protest,resist,dissent

4.punitive
【adj1】intended to punish someone(action/measures)
【adj2】increases etctaxes etc that are so high that it is difficult for people to pay them(taxes/price)
＝correctional,penal

5.plenary
【adj1】involving all the members of a committee, organization etc
【adj2】plenary powers are complete powers with no limit
＝comprehensive

Week9

I. Activity one
Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Book is behind bullying of mixed-race children”
Comments: I had a very good time that was to my advantage.
Time spent doing activity: 1h20m

Key words learned:
1.bully
【v1】to threaten to hurt someone or frighten them, especially someone smaller or weaker
【v2】to put pressure on someone in order to make them do what you want
★bully somebody into (doing) something
＝intimidate

2.culprit
【n】the person who is guilty of a crime or doing something wrong
＝criminal

3.unfold
【v1】if a story unfolds, or if someone unfolds it, it is told
【v2】if a series of events unfold, they happen
＝develop, open

4.taunt
【v】to try to make someone angry or upset by saying unkind things to them
＝mock, bait

5.revise
【v1】to change something because of new information or ideas
【v2】to change a piece of writing by adding new information, making improvements, or correcting mistakes
＝rewrite, amend

Week8

I. Activity one
Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic:“Yes, I can use chopsticks: the everyday 'microaggressions' that grind us down”
Comments: I became to be conscious of my poor vocablary.
Time spent doing activity: 1h20m

Key words learned:
1.dominant
【adj1】 more powerful, important, or noticeable than other people or things
【adj2】controlling or trying to control other people or things - used to show disapproval
⇔ subordinate
＝ascendant, preponderant

2.overt
【adj】overt actions are done publicly, without trying to hide anything
⇔covert
＝open, visible

3.futile
【adj】actions that are futile are useless because they have no chance of being successful
⇔useful
＝useless, uneffectual

4.perpetual
【adj1】 continuing all the time without changing or stopping
【adj2】 repeated many times in a way that annoys you
＝permanent, continuous

5.quantify
【v】to calculate the value of something and express it as a number or an amount
＝measure

Week7

I. Activity one
Site: The Japan Times ONLINE:(http://www.japantimes.co.jp/)
Topic: “Chinese consumers get 'Cool Japan' exposure”, “Yes, I can use chopsticks: the everyday 'microaggressions' that grind us down”
Comments: I could'nt read smoothly because of a lot of strange word.
Time spent doing activity: 45m 

Key words learned:
1.exemplify
【v1】to be a very typical example of something
【v2】to give an example of something
=illustrate, embody, instantiate

2.surge
【v1】to suddenly move very quickly in a particular
【v2】to suddenly increase
★surge forward/through
  =inflate, rise

3.odd
【adj】different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way that you disapprove of or cannot understand
  =unusual, strange

4.denigrate
【v】to say things to make someone or something seem less important or good
  =minimize

5.cues
【v】 to give someone a sign that it is the right moment for them to speak or do something, especially during a performance
=prompt, remind