国際教養AO入試 TOEFL Reading reference, TPP and RCEP

TPP vs RCEP? Trade deals explained
By Emiko Jozuka, CNN　　Updated 1733 GMT (0133 HKT) January 26, 2017
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9094139637570091888#allposts

Pre-TOEFL writing, Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

☆Let’s Think

The key words and phrases of this topic are “Some young children”, “a great amount of their time”, and “practicing sports”. Such children may play sports more than four days a week.

This topic requires you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of children playing sports. It does not ask you whether you think it is good for children to spend much time on sports, but of course you may as well state your opinion on it.

☆Hints for Points

Advantages  (Ideas taken from a site https://www.families.com/blog/10-benefits-of-playing-sports)

1.    Playing sports is fun. It gives your child something to do and a group to belong to. They have a group of friends that has the same goals and interests.

2.    Physical activities are a good way to relieve stress and reduce depression.

3.    Sports help kids develop discipline. They learn to set goals and then work to achieve those goals. They learn that by working hard they can accomplish the things that they want to in their lives.

4.    Kids who play sports quickly learn that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. They learn to be a good sport in both situations. It also helps them learn to deal with disappointment and go on.

5.    Sports help develop teamwork and leadership skills. Kids quickly learn that they have to work together as a team to win the game.

6.    Regular exercise increases quality of life. Children who exercise are more likely to continue the practice into adulthood.

Disadvantages

1.    Injuries: Children who play sports are more likely to have severe physical injuries in games or as a result of over use of a certain part of their body.

2.    Stress: Young children may suffer from the trauma after negative events related to sports such as bullying from older children or undue parental expectations.

3.    Time-commitment: Some sports teams require teammates to spend too much time on exercise and they lose time to do other activities like reading books or playing in nature freely.

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】There are advantages and disadvantages for children spending a large amount of their time playing sports. I think it is good for them in general.

【Advantages】Sports help develop children’s mind and body and help their socialization.

【Disadvantages】Children can suffer from injuries or exhaustion. They might also be bullied.

【Your Opinion】There are more good points than bad points, and bad points can be taken care of. As long as children enjoy playing sports, I think it is good for them.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Parents can use sports as part of education of their children.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Advantages】

【Disadvantages】

【Your Opinion (optional)】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, Should start school or kindergarten when they are still very young and should learn early in life to work hard at their studies? - rewrite -

Writing Topic

There are people who think that children should start school or kindergarten when they are still very young and should learn early in life to work hard at their studies. Others feel that young children should be more free and should spend a lot of time playing and enjoying themselves. Discuss these opinions. Which idea do you share?

☆Let’s Think

In Japan, children start kindergarten at the age of 5 and school at the age of 7. Do they need to start study earlier? Although there are individual differences in related factors such as innate ability and the environment like the family and community, how one spends the first few years of one’s life will significantly affect one’s life.

Studies show that most human-brain neurons are formed by the time we turn 6 years old. In addition to the genetic factor, the environment you are in during these early years will decide what brain you will have, in other words, what kind of person you will be.

The topic requires you to discuss two totally opposite opinions about early childhood education. Will there be any difference and if so what kind of difference will there be between people who received early academic training and those who did not?

What should children acquire during these years? What is the purpose of early childhood education? What does it teach children? What is given as education might be only a small part of what a child should learn, while it could be an essential initiation or kick start for an individual to do well in today’s society. What about the child’s feelings and human rights?

☆Let’s answer these questions to prepare for the discussion.

1.    What should people experience and learn when they are children?

2.    What is the purpose of early childhood education?

3.    What does it teach children?

4.    What is given as education might be only a small part of what a child should learn, while it could be an essential initiation or kick start for an individual to do well in today’s society. Which view would rather agree?

5.    What about the child’s feelings and human rights?

☆Hints for Points

♦Hints for points for agreement

1.    Early childhood education can allow children to make a head start in studies. Learning will be easy and fun for them at elementary school while many of other children who did not receive early childhood education have difficulty in learning to lead and hate sitting in class. The earlier the start, the better they learn.

2.    Except for geniuses, who will teach themselves sooner or later, human beings are animals of habit. If they are not disciplined to work hard, they will be lazy all through their lives.

3.    In modern society, where traditional communities are gone, children need school as substitute for community. At school, they can interact with adults and other children and learn things that children in the past learned from people in their community such as folk songs, old jokes, games, and other things, which will be their lifelong asset.

♦Hints for points for disagreement

1.    Some children who received early childhood education and now go to a prestigious high school say that they have not really appreciated it. They have always had a feeling of loss. They miss their lost childhood. They say they wanted to play more. They were always envious of other children playing in the park when they had to go to a cram school. They always feel as if they lack something important as a human being because of this lack of experience of ordinary childhood. (This idea is based on a response of a former student of mine.)

2.    I doubt whether the best environment in which a young child to prepare for the years to come is school or kindergarten because they are artificial. The world, nature and society, is complex and dynamic. Children should be exposed to them so that they can learn them directly. They should touch the earth, catch insects, or interact with many kinds of people before they start studies.

3.    Children should play as much as possible because play is their work. Playing helps acquire things of fundamental importance in life such as attentiveness to others and self-confidence. It also teaches children manners and social skills. Playing in nature will give children primordial fulfilling feelings that make them affirm life. The free time one had in childhood will give one power to work hard in later years.

☆Sample Essay Structures

Sample Essay Structure 1

【Main Idea = Outline】 I share the first/second idea that … because …

【What young children should learn】

【About the first and second ideas】

【My idea】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

Sample Essay Structure 2

【Main Idea = Outline】 I agree/disagree with the first/second opinion that … because …

【Reason to agree /disagree 1】

【Reason to agree/disagree 2】

【Why my choice outweighs the other choice】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

Your Essay Structure

【Main Idea = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

国際教養AO入試 TOEFL Reading reference, environment , climate-consensus, scientists taking a stand

March against madness - denial has pushed scientists out into the streets
The Guardian April 25, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/apr/25/march-against-madness-denial-has-pushed-scientists-out-to-the-streets

Pre-TOEFL Reading, Summary (L. 8)

The Influence of China and France on Vietnam

Vietnam was part of the Chinese E                 e for about 1,000 years, which left i       ce on the language, r        n, arts, politics, and many a     ts of people’s life of the country. Then it was o          ied by France in 1893. Conflicts between French m           ries, who told c            ts to a            n their p       vious religious customs, and local people was the trigger. The French d                ly changed the Vietnamese way of life. Those who col      ted and agreed to abandon B              m and to accept Catholic religion and other French c          ms were given p              ges and became a new elite class and helped the French c           l of the country. However, some of the students of Hanoi University started to question the r        t of the French rule. Ho Chi Minh was one of such students.

TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing,One should never judge a person by external appearances. - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. One should never judge a person by external appearances.

☆Let’s think

What does “external appearances” mean? One’s external appearance means mainly body and clothing. Features of a body are hair color, skin color, stature, body shape, face features, posture, expression, and so on. Clothing can be divided into two categories: clothing that indicates social status like uniforms or very expensive attire and clothing that indicates personality, tastes, cultural background and other characteristics of the person who is wearing it.

We always look at the appearances of people trying to know who they are. However, our judgement can be wrong. Objectively, perceptions are deceiving. Also, impressions vary depending on the person. Combined with the habit of deducing by stereotypes, uneducated judgement can bring about problems.

The statement has the word “never”. Most things have exceptions, while there are things that we should never do.

☆Hints for points

Agree

1.    You cannot judge a book by its cover. Opinions about others based on their looks can be wrong.

2.    People who judge others by their looks can become racists.

Disagree

3.    You can trust your first impression and it benefits you.

4.    It is natural to try to tell what others are based on their looks because it is instinctive.

☆Making the framework of the full essay

Sample framework notes 1

【Introduction = Outline】Forming an opinion about someone by the appearances should be avoided under any circumstance because it is potentially dangerous.

【Point 1】We think we can tell the book by its cover and we are often right.

【Point 2】However, visual perception can be wrong.

【Point 3】Assumption based only on appearances is a prejudice, and prejudice is potentially harmful.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Not to try to stop categorizing others by their looks is ignorant and immature.

Sample framework notes 2

【Introduction = Outline】I cannot agree with the opinion that one should never judge a person by external appearances because the idea does not suit the reality.

【Point 1】It is true that judgement made through observations of appearances are sometimes wrong.

【Point 2】However, most of the time, a person’s looks reflects who the person is

【Point 3】Life depends on its senses for survival and judging through the sense of sight is essential to us, so always abiding by the idea of the statement is impossible.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Judging others only by their looks may lead to a mistake and it must be done carefully, but the behavior itself is as natural as breathing for all creatures with eyes.

Your framework notes

【Main Idea = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

                 

【Point 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

Appearance is a major concern of most of us. It is often said that you are judged at first glance and we know we are doing it to others all the time. However, I think it should be avoided under any circumstances because it is potentially dangerous.

We think we can tell the book by its cover and we are often right. People who are dressed nicely usually have common sense. A certain type of fashion or make-up indicates the person’s temper. A person with a pleasant expression and a good posture is healthy and has good habits. Those with nasty looks on their faces are very likely to bother you. It is better to stay away from them rather than try to find out their real personalities. We depend on our visual perceptions for safety.

However, visual perception can be wrong. In everyday life, we often experience that someone turns out to be totally different from the impression we had. We know that a neat businessman in a well-tailored suit can commit a white-collar crime, and many of us have found that a gloomy person is actually kind and gentle.

Assumption without concern about exceptions is a prejudice, and prejudice is potentially harmful. Prejudice ignores personalities and denies dignities. It does not give others a chance to prove themselves. This often leads to discrimination. More blacks are mistaken for criminals than whites. Some people are afraid of women wearing a head scarf because of the bad image attached to the religion of Islam, whose teaching is actually very peaceful. Voluptuous women are often supposed to be easy to approach and are harassed or even killed just by rejecting a courtship. Misjudgment made based on looks can cause tragedies.

Visual judgment is closely related to prejudice and discrimination. It is difficult to stop categorizing others by their looks, but to not try to doubt what meets the eye is ignorant and immature. Therefore, I totally agree with the opinion that one should never judge a person by external appearances. If you do not want to be judged by how you look, you should not do it to others.

☆Reference  To meet the minimum 300 words requirement

Sometimes you realize that you have not written more than 300 words, the minimum requirement for TOEFL iBT independent writing, after discussing everything you had come up with. In such a situation, adding another point/reason seems to be the easiest way to write more, but it is actually difficult to think of an extra point/reason after you have brainstormed once. Therefore, I recommend concentrating on the logic and details. The details are as follows.

To increase the volume of your essay, find the shortest paragraph, which might want some more sentences or words, and …

1) describe/develop the main idea well: If a paragraph has only one or two sentences, chances are that you have not described/developed well enough. Make sure that each paragraph has its main idea, supporting details (examples), conclusion, and additional supporting details like counter-argument treatment if necessary.

2) describe/develop each sentence well: A statement usually has some exception or needs some condition or concession. Look for a sentence that you can add a reason, condition, concession, or any other additional information, and add “except …”, “as long as …”, “although …”, as well as “because …”

3) describe words well: Which of the following sentences gives a clear picture of someone’s pet?    A) I have a pet.   B) I have a cute cat.   C) I have a little fluffy kitten. With two adjectives and a specific noun, Sentence C) depicts an adorable pet well and it happens to be the longest of the three. Also, use transitions such as First, Also, Moreover, Therefore when necessary.

4) discuss other choices: Even if the Writing Topic does not say, “Discuss the two views” or “Compare and contrast the choices,” you can write about other choices. Doing so will make your essay more convincing and longer. Make sure that you do not digress.

5) take up counter-arguments if necessary: While you are writing, sometimes a counter-argument, “Well, but what about this case?” comes up to your mind. Then it is better not to ignore it but take it up and give a counter-counter-argument or two. By doing so, you can confirm your argument. If you can do it well, you will get a high score.

The key to remember is to try to put what you want to say into words as accurately as you can. Then you cannot help adding some more words and sentences, and some more... In the end, your essay will have many words. 

国際教養AO入試 TOEFL Reading reference, ancient Rome and the oppressed

JESUS WAS A REBEL AND A BANDIT. WHAT MADE HIM ALSO THE CHRISTIAN SON OF GOD?

Reza Aslan’s powerful new ‘Zealot’ paints a vivid, accessible portrait of Jesus as a Jewish nationalist

By Adam Kirsch  Tablet Book Reviews

July 24, 2013 • 12:00 AM

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/138735/reza-aslan-jesus-zealot

Questions

1.    What is the difference between zealots and Zealots?

2.    Was Jesus a Jew or Roman?

3.    According to Aslan’s book, what kind of character did Jesus have?

According to Aslan, how has Jesus got today’s sheepish character