『Basmati米のパスタソース炒め・チキン添え』
まぁ、ようするに、チキンライス。
うまうま。
某先生のススメで、少し前に書いたEssayを記事として公開してみました。
英語そのものには気を使って書いてるつもりですが、内容はまだまだ未熟です。
特に論理の組み立てとか、自分の意見をサポートする理由とか。
そして、ちょっと（というか、かなり）嫌なMaterial &Technologyの課題のEssayが１ヵ月後締め切りとなりました。間に合うかなぁ。間に合わせないとなぁ・・・・・・。
ついでに、その１週間後はEgyptian Religionの課題Essayの締め切りとなってます。
こっちは興味もあるし、やりやすいから妙に落ち着いてる。・・・けど、本はまだまだ読み足りてない。がんばろう。
昨日、パソコンの電源プラグに使ってるアダプターが壊れた。
２つあったんだけど、既に１つ壊れてたので、電源入れられなくなった。
（ノートパソコンなんだけど、バッテリーがおかしくて電源ないと動かないｗ）
なので今日の放課後に買物いってきた。
そのお釣りの中に、今年からの新しいデザイン？の硬貨を発見！
前のよりカッコよくなってる。
画像も載せようかと思ったんだけど、接写になるからどうしてもボケちゃう・・・
検索してみたら、どうやら４月にデザインは発表されてたみたいだね。
http://www.royalmint.com/newdesigns/designsRevealed.aspx
↑英国造幣局による新硬貨デザインの発表
どうやら１ポンドのデザインが王室紋章である盾に、５０ペンス・２０ペンス・１０ペンス・５ペンス・２ペンス・１ペニー硬貨を集めるとその盾が浮かび上がるようにデザインされているらしい。
・・・ちょっとコレ、カッコよすぎない？
記念硬貨じゃなくて、一般に流通するフツーの硬貨なんだけども。
是非ともコインが綺麗なうちにコンプして保管しておきたい・・・
（まぁ汚れを落とす方法もあるけどね）
ちなみに、今まで行った海外の紙幣と硬貨を出来る限り集めて、弟にあげてますｗ
ちょっと不謹慎だけど、個人的には、２００７年のジンバブウェ・ドルが欲しかった。
１０００億ドル札（小切手）とか、もうなんかわけわかんない単位になってるやつ。
インフレ率が５２兆％とかWikiに載ってたけど、これも単位が・・・
新通貨（でも名前は同じ）になっても、５万ドル札とかあるらしい。（０８年８月）
日本の硬貨もデザイン変えたりとかしないかなー。
This was written on the difference in education in Japan and Britan, based on my experiences. In the third and final "chapter", I am proposing a few ideas for Japanese educational system. [October 2008]
History and Problems of Education in Japan
Our early schools in Edo era started as places where teachers (especially priests, samurais, or doctors) had young apprentice from commons learn how to read, write, and calculate and learn the practical knowledge and techniques. These might be like a mixture of an elementary school and a job-training school. Later in history, those schools came to teach the classical Chinese literature, as a beginning of “studies” for commoners.
Nowadays, most Japanese people can easily receive a good education. It is evident that Japan is rich in technologies and that its quality is supported by the educational environment. However, there occurs some problem: traditional techniques passed down are in danger of being lost.
For example, many may not know that a today’s mobile phone is possible only because some small Japanese back-street factory possesses the technique to make a thin metal box from a single plate without a weld. This skill was of Japanese tradition and used to be exclusive for this factory in the world. By losing our traditions, not only the culture but also the technology may be vanished.
Moreover, the Japanese culture has a great influence on the Westerners. This has also been obvious but a number of tourists actually visit Japan and touch and learn our culture. The government recently became aware of the power of those Japanese traditions as the strength of Japan, and they are seeking how to multiply this advantage.
However, they are actually making little change in reality for the moment. This is partly because they also give attention to its profit on a state level. What we need is a true change in an educational system itself. The goal the government seeks is critically different from the aim of students.
Even though the government promotes students to learn how to speak and make a conversation in English at schools, the majority of them want to know how to get a higher score especially in the entrance examination. This is because the schools themselves set a simple choice answer test, which is easy for examiners to mark its score. It is not learning but remembering the words and patterns, without a real thinking. What is worse, this fact has also been causing students not to study hard.
Educational Atmosphere in Britain
From what I experienced and heard, I found the educational environment in Britain quite good, or at least better than that of Japan. There, teachers and students are facing and talking to each other very frankly. I first felt it strange, but this feeling was also one of evil products of Japanese educational system.
As they can easily chitchat, they can understand each other and feel the uniformity. This state of connections between teachers and students helps both to work together. Teachers arrange their lessons for the students, even for one of them, and students become willing to get involved in classes.
What I give attention to is pressures on students. Obviously, students in Japan feel nervous as they have the massive amount of exercises and difficult exams; I was not surprised when one of my friends met in Liverpool know this truth. There in the UK, the burden and difficulty at school seem relatively weightless and students can enjoy classes.
Students in British schools need to read many thick books to prepare for classes. However, it is universal to read many books in most countries around the world, not only because so is the education.
However, I could see a few problem of this system. Of them, the most noticeable fact is that many newly-hired employees seem to be of a poor quality at local branches, as if they were part-timers. This is partly because of my conception of “typical” workers, but also because of British bureaucracy. Workers are not passionate about their work, only to handle the task.
Better Educational System for Japanese
There are three possible changes in the future educational system: (1) the revival of traditional methods, (2) the introduction of the individual-based curriculums, and (3) the adoption of the standardised tests for schools.
Even with significant changes, universities will still impose current, difficult entrance exams. This requires a lot of knowledge and skill to solve the question quickly. Now that we see the failure of the “relaxed” education, we should return to the cram education which is fit in the society.
Simultaneously, students may like to concentrate to learn what they concern and need. What is important is to encourage students to have a vision of their future at school. The unification of elementary and secondary schools may help fully to grow and support their dream as aims for future.
The educational gap between urban and rural areas has long been pointed out. One of possible amendments is the adoption of nationally-standardised tests instead of entrance exams. With them, schools ought to follow the same requirement, and as a result the gap will decrease. Since I know the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and the GCE A level (General Certificate of Education Advanced Level) in the UK, I feel it very useful as a reliable certificate.
These ideas are a mere extension of the current system, therefore it might be possible. However, most importantly of all, we Japanese must learn our history, situation in the world, and identity as Japanese. The young with no dream are born because the elder tell nothing of them other than what are written in books.
Changing the education system means turning the society as a whole into another. I think that Japanese educational environment should be revised and amended before getting out of hand.
*I sent this essay to some teacher and was asked to explain my conclusion. What I meant was that current students are not eager to learn something themselves and, in nature, they are passive to learn. I'm sure nobody can understand and remember everything taught in school, even if they are eager to know it.It is too idealistic and too harsh both for students and teachers, but schools should provide as much as possible, and then teachers should be consulted and give further explanations to those who couldn't get a point. Why do you have to teach them, adjusting the content of classes to the average of students or so? Different students have different needs. Some really want to "study" something further. Others doesn't want to learn anything but music or sports.
**I found that the essay itself and above explanation are not good arguments, but I tried my best. This is horrible... I knew it!