Oct.4 English Language Only Bar

※無料のオンライン英会話ミーティングはこちら(Free English Conversation Meeting is here)

Article:

English Language Only Bars Open in Tokyo and Osaka

In 2022, two new bars have opened in Japan that help customers improve their English conversation skills — by banning the Japanese language. The new bars opened on October 1, 2022, in Tokyo and Osaka, and are receiving very positive reviews.

The new bars are both called "Sick!" and are designed to have a fun atmosphere where people can practice speaking English while enjoying a few drinks. First-time visitors don't need to worry about their English ability, because the English-speaking bar staff will encourage them by chatting at their level.

However, customers at Sick! are only allowed to speak English. If they speak Japanese, they will be shown a yellow card. After that, if they continue to speak Japanese, they have to buy an extra drink as a punishment.

Both bars have an all-you-can-drink system where customers pay for the time they spend in the bar. The Tokyo branch costs 3,000 yen — or around $20 — for 30 minutes, and the Osaka branch costs 1,500 yen, or around $10.

Although this may look a little expensive for a few drinks, it does include English conversation practice that would cost as much or more at the average language school.

And the new bars' customers have been very happy. In a Google review of the Tokyo bar, one customer wrote that it was a fun place to speak English with friendly people.

And writing about the Osaka bar, another customer said they had not expected to have such a great time speaking English, and added that they can't wait to get drinks there again.

Questions:

What do you think about this article?

Would you be interested in trying these English bars?

Why are you studying English?

Do you have any favorite English expression?

Do you have any English expression currently you aren't good at using  but you want to be good at using recently?

To what extent do you want to improve your English? Is there any target for achievement in English study for you?

For you, what do you think is the most important in English study?

Do you think there was something or some way in your life which significantly improved your English?

Conversation starters

・今までに人生で大きな決断をしたことがありますか？
　Have you ever made a big decision in your life?

・最近仕事やプライベートで困っていることや嫌なことは何かありますか？
　Is there anything that has been bothering you or you dislike lately at work or in your personal life?

・最近ハマっている趣味やアクティビティはありますか？
　Have you gotten into any new hobbies or activities recently?

・いま立てている計画や目標などありますか？
　Do you have any plans or goals you are currently working on?

・最近何か100円ショップで購入したものはありますか？
　Have you bought anything from a 100-yen shop recently?

・いままで大人買いした経験はありますか？
　Have you ever splurged on something before?

・１人で旅行に行きますか？　１人で焼肉屋にいけますか？
　Do you travel alone? Can you go to a yakiniku restaurant alone?

・オンラインショッピングの履歴から買ったものを１つ教えて下さい。
　Please share one item you purchased from your online shopping history.
 

Sep.27 Beyond the Uniform

※無料のオンライン英会話ミーティングはこちら(Free English Conversation Meeting is here)

Article:

Should Appearance Define Professionalism?

In 2024, SAS, the Scandinavian airline, has announced a change that may seem small but says a lot about how workplaces are changing. Flight attendants and other frontline employees will be allowed to show visible tattoos and wear sneakers under the airline’s updated uniform policy. SAS says the goal is to create a modern, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

For many passengers, a tattoo or sneakers have little to do with whether an employee can do a good job. Yet airlines have traditionally had some of the strictest appearance rules at work. Uniforms, hairstyles, makeup, shoes, and even personal relationships have been tightly controlled.

SAS is not the first airline to challenge these old standards. Air New Zealand introduced a policy allowing visible tattoos in 2020, partly to avoid excluding employees with Tā Moko, a traditional Māori form of tattooing. Virgin Atlantic followed in 2022, while Air Canada was also required to loosen its tattoo restrictions after a Canadian labour ruling. Sneakers have also become more accepted, with airlines such as KLM and Iberia introducing similar options.

There is a useful lesson here for everyday life: traditions should be respected, but they should not automatically be treated as permanent rules. A workplace policy may have made sense decades ago. But if society, technology, or employees’ values change, the policy may need to change too.

Think about your own workplace. Perhaps there is a rule about clothing, working hours, meetings, or communication that everyone follows simply because “that’s how we have always done it.” Asking whether a rule still serves its original purpose can lead to valuable improvements.

SAS is also emerging from bankruptcy protection after receiving private equity investment and is preparing to leave Star Alliance for SkyTeam. Its uniform change may be more than a fashion statement. It suggests that even established organizations must adapt if they want to attract talent and remain relevant.

The broader message is simple: professionalism should be measured by the quality of someone’s work and behavior, not only by their appearance. Sometimes, progress begins with something as ordinary as changing a pair of shoes.

Questions:

What do you think about this article?

Do you have tattoo or have you ever thought of trying to get a tattoo?

Do you think Japanese airlines should take the same action about tattoos?

Is there any people who has tattoo around you like your workplace or so? What do you think of that?

If your child tells you he/she wants to have tattoo, how would you react?

Does your workplace have any rules about the employees' appearance? or what do you think of pierce, hair color, beard or mustache for your workplace?