Updated: ESL Reading: Calendar of Assignments for Nov. 5 – Nov. 12, 2007

Monday, Nov. 5. Unit 6: “Casual dress in the workplace,” pp. 44-45. Preparation: Do Before you read and then scan the text to check your predictions. Then read the text carefully and do ex. A in complete sentences, underlining the vocabulary word in each sentence. Do also ex. B.

In class: We’ll discuss your answers and do C together.

Outside of class: Work with your partner on Lab Assignment #8: Fashion Show.

Wednesday, Nov. 7. “T-shirts out; uniforms in,” pp. 46-47. Preparation: Do Before you read. Then skim the text and check the statements the writer of the article agrees with and compare his/her opinions with yours. (See definition of skimming in the reading tip at the bottom of p. 46). Then do A, p. 47. Update: Work with your partner to plan your outfits for the Fashion Show. Use the worksheet I sent on email to write names of clothing items and adjectives for each. Bring this to class so I can help you with the description.

In class: We'll work on your descriptions for the Fashion Show for part of the class. We’ll discuss your answers to p. 47 and do B and C together if time permits.

Optional: Email me your descriptions for the Fashion Show if you have questions on how to write good sentences. I’ll return them with comments. Remember to describe the outfit logically – maybe starting with the main items, then adding accessories like hats, belts, shoes or boots, etc.

Friday, Nov. 9: Wrap-up, p. 48. Preparation: Do A and B. For B, just write the number and the answer. You don’t have to copy the question unless you want to.

In class: We’ll have the Fashion Show! Wear your outfits and bring your descriptions on cards. Be sure to practice ahead of time with your partner – both modeling and reading the descriptions.

Monday, Nov. 12. Review and quiz on Unit 6, Clothes. Bring your vocabulary notebook up to date and bring it to class.

ESL Reading: Lab Assignment #8: Fashion Show. Due Friday, Nov. 9.

1. With your partner browse through fashion magazines or catalogs with clothing for various occasions. Find at least two outfits that you like and list the vocabulary used to describe them. Try to find at least 6 new vocabulary words and write a sentence (not a definition) with each one to show the meaning.

2. With your partner, decide on an outfit to wear for the Fashion Show. Wear it to class on Friday, Nov. 9. Before that time, meet with your partner outside of class and write descriptions of your two outfits. Try to use some new vocabulary from the magazines and from Unit 6 in the textbook. You will be the fashion narrator describing your partner’s outfit and telling where he/she wears it (for what occasion). Add comments to attract the audience’s attention, for example, “(Name) will wear this fashionable but conservative suit for an interview with the First National Bank.” Or “At the next Finlandia dance (Name) will be a hit wearing this …” Use as many adjectives and colors as you can to describe at least 5 items your partner is wearing or carrying, including accessories.

3. The audience will comment on your presentation and vote for the best narration and the best model (for prizes!). Practice modeling your outfit and reading your presentation of your partner’s. Write the description on an index card. Read it as if you were on television! (We’ll try to take video clips of this.)

Baton twirlers meet challenge for Japanese festival

By Kumiko Takahashi

Do you know what Baton Twirling is? Baton twirling is a performance in which a baton twirler turns a metal stick, which has a rubber weight attached to each end, and throws it into the air. In addition, it’s a kind of sport. Recently it became popular in many countries, including Canada, the United States, Brazil, England, etc.

Is it popular in Japan too? It isn’t popular in Japan yet. But I learned it for two years. When I saw the performance for the first time, I was surprised and impressed. After that I started being interested in baton twirling. Fortunately, there was a baton twirling club in my hometown; and there were very good teachers, so I could start learning it.

My teammates and I choreographed our performances together. Our club participated in some contests and took part in parades and festivals in our city.

One day, we participated in the sports festival of my town, and I’d like to tell you about this.

This festival opened at my alma mater, and there were many people participating in the festival. We usually play baton twirling in a gym, but this festival was in a sandy playground. At lunch time break, it was our turn. First we wore a marching band costume and played percussion. It was difficult to play instruments as we walked. After that we changed our costume and performed baton twirling. There were no marks to show us where to stand, and we were not allowed to drop the baton on the ground. We felt a lot of pressure.

During the performance, we threw a baton into the air and turned it with a hand and a finger. The most difficult part was one big technique with another teammate. We lined up and threw a baton to each other and caught another person’s baton. It was very difficult, but we practiced hard.

Finally, we did it! And the performance at that festival finished successfully.

I like both playing and watching baton twirling very much. I would like to play and learn it again. And I wish that baton twirling would become more popular in the world, especially in Japan.

Wearing two uniforms at the same time

Volleyball is a popular sport at Finlandia University. Here Finlandia's women's team plays against a visiting team in the Paavo Nurmi gym. (Photo © 2007 Niikura [Nick] Takaaki)

By Kazuki Nishiyama

They wear a uniform on the court, and put on a suit for their daily job.

The ''Ketchuppers'' that entered the Premier League for volley ball, though they are working at a school in a small town, closed a curtain on this league.

All players are ''Teachers'' who work at a school in Japan. When it is time for the league, other teams have a good environment for concentrating on volleyball. However, the Ketchuppers play volleyball only on weekends; and their works starts at 7 a.m. on Monday if there are games over the weekend.

Kazuya Kuroyanagi, who got the receiving prize in the last season, takes charge of the class of volleyball as ''Gym teacher'' in his school.

''Because it is physical work, my body is exhausted,” he said. “I thought I needed a rest occasionally; however, someone always replaces us at the school while we are playing volleyball. Because I understand that fully, there is no time to complain.''

Work is work. Volleyball is volleyball.

However, it didn't go well in the Premier League, which is a top league. The Ketchuppers sank to the lowest rank by a series of 12 defeats after the league had begun. We should look forward to watching this remarkable team in their next league.

Finlandia Women's Basketball Club aims for victory

By Kana Ito

Now that it is October we are into basketball season at last. And FUWBBC [Finlandia University Women’s Basket Ball Club] started to practice in earnest. This year, four freshmen joined in, so we now have 12 members.

Last season, we could not win. So this season, our goal is to win. Just like that.

There was a girl called Cathy on this team. She was the captain and a good player.

One day an unfortunate thing happened. She suddenly left FUWBBC. The members were sad and felt down.

But our coach said to us, "Don’t lose our goal! You have to think about what you should do!!"

Now, we have only 11 members in FUWBBC. But the women got over the sad event, and FUWBBC’s teamwork is getting better and better.

Aim for victory!!

I want to see this team win. I’m looking forward to FUWBBC’s reaching their goal.

Soccer team sets goals for improvement

By Toshiyuki Mita

My high school soccer ended at the moment the referee blew the whistle at the end of a game two years ago. In that game the opposing team was a very strong team from a Korean high school in Aichi Japan. It was the first qualifying round of the prefecture tournament. The result was a complete defeat of 0-2. It was very mortifying.

Toshiyuki Mita (far left, front row), the author of this article, is pictured here with his high school soccer team. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Toshiyuki Mita)

But our team accepted the challenge. Although our team had been very weak for the previous six months, we participated in the prefectural tournament.

We held many meetings. At the meetings, we chose to take soccer more seriously. Our goals were to enter the prefectural tournament and to make the second round.

We ran 10 kilometers every day. So it was a hell of a practice. What feeling did we have from soccer practice? We had only the memory of running in our head.

We had confirmed our goals before practice every day. And we wrote the goals on paper many times.

We are very satisfied though we were able to accomplish only one of two goals -- making it to the first round.

Japanese pitchers score in Major League Baseball

By Takaaki Niikura (Nick)

The Red Sox beat the Indians in the American League Championship and got the ticket to the 2007 World Series. At the pitching mound there are two Japanese pitchers. The Red Sox’s starting pitcher in the championship game was Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is Japanese. (He was bought by The Red Sox for 100 million dollars.) 　　　Matsuzaka allowed just two points in five innings and was the winning pitcher.

After 　Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima also went to the mound. He is also Japanese, and he joined the Red Sox this year. After doing a great job of pitching in the regular season, he was chosen for the All Star games. Okajima shut out two innings perfectly, so he also contributed to the Red Sox's American League pennant win.

They played in the 2007 World Series and they won!

The two men are very important players. At one time the Japanese baseball league bought many American baseball players, but now American baseball teams want Japanese players even if it takes so much money. We are proud of them. Now that the Japanese players show an ability for playing baseball equal to that of American players, someday a Japanese league will be strong.

Note: For a photo of Matsuzaka and Okajima, visit this Web site:

http://mlb.yahoo.co.jp/photo/?f=3813