<例会のトピック＞
1st Part
Jennifer Golbeck The curly fry conundrum : Why social media “likes” say more than you might think
Link:
http://www.ted.com/talks/
(I recommend using subtitles and transcripts.)
Questions
1. Do you use social media or social networks? If yes, please share how you use them.
2. Jennifer says she can predict all sort of hidden attributes for all of social media users. Discuss good and bad points of them.
3. How can we get along well with social media or social networks? Do you agree with Jennifer’s idea?
4. Do you think Social Networking sites are good for society? How about for children?
2nd Part
Questions
1. Have you ever done early morning activities (Asakatsu)? If yes, please share your experience with us.
2. How do you think about Asakatsu? Discuss good and bad points of them.
3. If you do early morning activities, do you think
– Will they improve your work efficiency?”
– Will your life be better?
4. Why is Asakatsu getting popular in Japan? What are the reasons for this?
Use details and examples to support your explanation.”
Source:http://the-japan-news.
Workers get leg up in early morning
Company employees’ early morning activities, dubbed “asakatsu” in Japanese, are diversifying.
Until recently, workers engaged mainly self-developmental programs, such as obtaining licenses or certificates, but now they are branching out into hobbies, leisure, physical exercise and various other activities.
This trend has arisen partly because of the recent work situation company employees find themselves in. Along with the economic recovery, overtime work has increased, forcing workers to use the early morning hours for personal activities, rather than at night.
Shortly past 7 a.m. on Tuesday, about 40 men and women gathered at an office building in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district. They were there to participate in a lecture program called “Takibi [bonfire] Maestro Class.”
From April, they have learned how to light a bonfire and touched on various other problems such as problems related to the forestry industry and biomass. The program included hands-on experience.
On that day, the participants spent about one hour talking about what they had achieved from the two months-long program.
Takuya Shimada, a company employee, said with a satisfied expression, “As I can enjoy outdoor activities early in the morning, I can go to work with peace of mind.”
The program is one of 33 organized this spring by the “Morning University of Marunouchi,” a body established mainly by companies in the Marunouchi district. The project began in fiscal 2009, and last fiscal year, a record 3,100 people participated in the programs.
The organization said recently an increasing number of participants said it was easier to spare time in the early morning hours for such classes.
Many people tend to be more active in the early morning hours.
In what could be termed as unusual activities before going to work, participants climb hills, swim in the sea and even enjoy barbecues before heading to work.In August last year, an organization called “Japan Extreme Going to Work Association” was established.
Sota Amaya, a 30-year-old company employee who is corepresentative of the association, said: “When I felt fed up and tired of work, I went to the office after having breakfast in Tokyo’s Tsukiji market. I could then spend the rest of the day feeling more fulfilled. It was what prompted me to act.”About 250 members of the association report their morning activities on various platforms, such as Twitter.
There are also entrepreneurs who spend their early morning hours doing business.
Nomura Securities Co. and Tohmatsu Venture Support Co. hold business meetings, called Morning Pitch, every week in Tokyo. It is an early morning business meeting event starting at 7 a.m. with the aim of bridging major and start-up companies.
The event began in January 2013. So far, 250 companies have explained the outlines of their businesses, and 60 tie-up agreements have been reached.
“Because only companies with enthusiasm participate in the early morning hours, the success rate is very high,” a Tohmatsu official said.
However, there appear to be some overly active people, who give up and feel fatigued from the early morning activities.
Kisou Kubota, a professor emeritus of Kyoto University who is an author of a book about such activities, said: “By getting about seven hours of sleep and waking up early, work efficiency improves and one’s health can be maintained. It’s pointless if people work until late at night, cut back on sleep and then get up early.”
