ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 東大 70年ぶりに新学部
4月22日(火)
It looks like there is some news coming from the University of Tokyo this time.
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO TO LAUNCH NEW FACULTY IN 2027
The University of Tokyo will launch its first new faculty in 70 years in the autumn of 2027. It aims to attract top students from Japan and abroad to enhance its international competitiveness.
The new program will offer an integrated bachelor's and master's five-year program taught entirely in English. The program seeks to cultivate leaders who'll contribute to solving social challenges facing the world.
The university's first foreign national dean will head the faculty, and international students are expected to account for about half of those enrolled in the program. Students will be required to engage in off-campus activities for up to a year, in programs including company internships and study abroad.
(Fujii Teruo / President, University of Tokyo)
“We would like to respond to the needs for higher education and human resources, as well as new calls for learning.”
（2025年4月6日のニュース）
- first … in X yearsは「Ｘ年間で初の～、Ｘ年ぶりの～」
- aim to …は「～することを目指す」
- enhanceは「高める、強化する」
- bachelorは「学士（大学の学部を卒業した人）」
- masterは「修士」です。
- integratedは「統合された」
- seek to …は「～しようと努める、～しようと試みる」
- ここでのcultivateは「（訓練で才能を）伸ばす、育成する」<- cultivateのもともとの意味である「（土地を）耕す、（植物を）栽培する」から転じて
- deanは「学部長」-> 「学長」presidentなど
- headは「率いる、トップを務める」
- 動詞enrollは、ここでは「入学させる」
- engage in …は「～に携わる」
- off-campusは「学外（で）の、学外で」<> on-campus「学内（で）の、学内で」
- callは名詞で「要請、要望」-> call for …は「～を求める要望」
- request for …「～を求めるリクエスト」/ demand for …「～を求める要求」
- 新しい学部は、「ＵＴｏｋｙｏ Ｃｏｌｌｅｇｅ ｏｆ Ｄｅｓｉｇｎ」（ユートーキョー・カレッジ・オブ・デザイン）という名称で、東京・文京区のキャンパスに設置される計画です。
It's an exciting step by the University of Tokyo to become more global. I think a fully English program with real world experience could really help students become future leaders.
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★contribute toの後にはなぜing形が続くの？
The program seeks to cultivate leaders who'll contribute to solving social challenges facing the world.
社会的課題の解決に貢献する」contribute to solving social challenges
Yesh, other examples of "to being" followed by "an ing form" includes,
look forward to …ing「～を楽しみにする」
object to …ing「～に反対する」
be committed to …ing「真剣に取り組んでいる」
devote oneself to …ing「～に専念する」
I want to do it.のように原形を続けるtoと一体何が違うのでしょうか？
What's the differnce between the "to" in look forward to and the "to" that comes before a verb in something like I want to do it?
-Well, in want to do, to goes with verb and in look forward to, to is like a link to a thing or action. So it's followed by a word with ing.
「不定詞」（to＋動詞の原形）と「前置詞」の違いです。
contribute toやlook forward toのto->不定詞を作るtoではなく、前置詞のto
「toの後にitを続けてみて、意味が通れば前置詞のto」と判断
I look forward to it.は「私はそれを楽しみにする」
I want to it.では意味を成しません
What would you think if someone said, I look forward to hear from you. ?
That sounds unnatural and it's not correct English, but I can still understand the meaning.
I look forward to hearing from you.
--
How does your first lessons of the new school year go?
-Yeah, it wend really well. I had a great time and I hope our listeners enjoyed it.
-Yeah, I think it was a great lesson
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 韓国ユン大統領 失職
4月21日(月)
Can you introduce yourself?
I'm looking forward to working with you. -Me too.
S. KOREA COURT UPHOLDS PRESIDENT YOON'S IMPEACHMENT
South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, formally removing him from office. The decision comes about four months after he briefly declared martial law.
The court handed down its unanimous ruling Friday morning. Yoon had already been suspended from presidential duties after the National Assembly voted last year to impeach him.
Yoon has released a statement to his supporters, saying, “I am so sorry and regretful that I could not live up to your expectations.”
Opposition supporters held a rally near the court. They burst out in joy when the ruling came out. Yoon's supporters at a rally in front of the presidential office were disappointed and shocked, some even cried.
Yoon's removal follows the impeachment and ouster of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. South Korea will hold an election for a new president within 60 days. Local news outlets say June 3 is a strong candidate for the voting date.
（2025年4月4日のニュース）
- upholdはすでに行われた決定などを「（妥当と判断して）支持する」
supportよりもフォーマルな表現で、up＋holdから「下から上に向かってぐっと支える」というイメージ - come + タイミングを表す表現 : the decision「その決定」がcomes about four months after「４か月後に下された」というタイミング
- martial lawは「戒厳令」で、特定の国や地域の行政権などを軍の管理下に置く措置
- unanimous /juːˈnænɪməs/「（決定などが）満場一致の、全会一致の、全員一致の」
- suspendは「一時的に停止する」
- live up to …は「（期待などに）応える」
- opposition supporterは「野党支持者」
- rallyは、特に屋外で開かれる「（大規模な）集会」
- burst outは「突然（どっと）何かをする」、
- in joyは「喜びの感情をもって、うれしくなって」
- burst out in joyは「喜びを爆発させる」
Christy, can you briefly explain the meaning of the phrase, burst in joy?
-Well, when I hear burst out in joy, it means to suddely show happiness in an excited way like cheering, clapping and shouting. Imagine you are so full of joy that it bursts out like a popping ballon.
- ouster /ˈaʊstər/ 大統領職からの「罷免」ousterには「追放、追い出し」
- news outletは「報道機関」
- a strong candidate( for) 有力な候補
Today's Takeaways
- 「停止する」suspend
Yoon had already been suspended from presidential duties after the National Assembly voted last year to impeach him.
She was suspended from school.
My social media account has been suspended for violating the rules.
Christy, what is the core image of the word suspend?
-For me, suspend has the image of hanging in space, unable to move in any direction like some action is being paused..
「一旦停止する」です。そこから、「停学処分」や「アカウントの凍結」、さらには「（交通機関の運行見合わせ」や「免許の停止」、「刑の執行猶予」など
suspendの本来の意味は「つるす」
suspendは、「下に」を意味するsusと、「つるす」を意味するpend
例: The bridge is suspended by steel cables.
「宙ぶらりんにつるされて、どこにも行けない状態」から「一旦停止する」という意味が派生した
Suspend your doubts, not your dreams, and every suspension is just a break, not the end. So keep moving towards your goals.
- impeach /ɪmˈpiːtʃ/ : （高官を）弾劾する、公職者を告発する行為（動詞）
- impeachment /ɪmˈpiːtʃmənt/ : 弾劾、告発の手続き（名詞）
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 今週のスピーキング練習
4月18日(金)
Alright everybody, off we go.
MARINE LE PEN BARRED FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE FOR 5 YEARS
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen of France has been convicted of embezzlement. She'll be barred from running for office for five years.
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４月１６日（水）放送回より
But French newspaper Le Monde says appeals are often met with particularly long delays, so it's uncertain if a new trial could happen before the election.
uncertain
uncertainは「確信が持てない、どうなるか分からない」で
it's uncertain if …
uncertain whether -> uncertain＋疑問詞の形
人を主語にする場合は、
uncertain about＋疑問詞という形もよく使われます。
Yeah, you can use uncertain like this.
例: He is uncertain (about) what his girlfriend will say.「彼はガールフレンドが何と言うか分からない」
「我々は顧客がどう反応するかよく分からない」
We are uncertain how customers will react.
We are uncertain about how customers will react.
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JAPAN'S SHOPPERS ADOPT CASHLESS PAYMENTS FASTER THAN EXPECTED
Japanese shoppers have been switching to cashless payments at a faster rate than the government expected.
４月１７日（木）放送回より
The ministry credits the steady pace of adoption to an increase in the number of small and mid-sized restaurants accepting QR-code payments.
adoptionは「採用、導入、可決」
例１: the adoption of new technologies「新しい技術の採用」
例２: the adoption of a proposal「提案の採択」
「多くの会社がＡＩの採用を推進している」
「推進する」はpromote
Many companies are promoting the adoption of AI.
--
Discussion Session
「キャッシュレス決済」
「皆さんの意見は？」=> I agreeあるいはI disagree
I agree with …で答えましょう。
A:I'm surprised that 60 percent still use cash in Japan. Tom, do you think Japan should move more towards cashless payments?
B: Oh, for sure! I mean, just think about all the benefits. There’s speed, convenience, and traceability. The availability of cashless payment options has been shown to boost spending, too. For me, the broader adoption of cashless payments is a no-brainer.
A: Really? I see things a little differently. It is always uncertain what will happen in case of disasters. In those situations, payment systems could become unusable, making cash indispensable. We should maintain methods for using cash.
So, listeners, what are your thoughts?
---
I agree with
I agree with Tom about traceability. It's really useful when it comes to final tax returns.
-It was great. Yeah and it made a lot of sense. Thank you for agreeing with me. So, I have to give you a higher score. Uh, so I'll say it one more time.
Yes, that's the only little change that would make final tax returns. Kind of makes it general for everybody not just for one so. It's really useful when it comes final tax returns. Perfect and made a lot of sense. Great job.
- traceability /ˌtreɪsəˈbɪləti/ : 追跡可能性（支払い履歴など）
- availability /əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/ : 利用可能性
- boost spending /buːst ˈspɛndɪŋ/ : 消費を促進する
- has been shown to ~：～であることが示されている（現在完了・受動態）
- broader adoption /ˈbrɔːdər əˈdɑːpʃən/ : より広い導入
- a no-brainer /ə ˈnoʊ ˈbreɪnər/ : 考えるまでもないほど明らかなこと
- see things differently : 違う視点で見る
-
unusable /ʌnˈjuːzəbl/ : 使えない
-
indispensable /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbl/ : 絶対に必要な、不可欠な
I agree. Rice which Sake is made from is a crucial staple for the Japanese if Sake becomes more popular worldwide, it could boost rice produciton in Japan.
Totally. It's presure to read everyone's imput.
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I agree with A. It’s risky to go fully cashless not only in the event of natural disasters, but also when there are communication problems, system errors, machine glitches, or even hacking — all of which are increasingly common these days.
That said, we have to admit there’s an urgent need to move forward with cashless payments. With the growing number of tourists coming from all over the world, Japan is said to be far behind other countries in terms of cashless adoption. That’s a problem that needs to be addressed.