Vending Machines
05/12/2022
Tips
Uncategorized
Do you have vending machines in your country?
Most of you probably know you can buy beverages, ice cream and cigarettes from a vending machine without having to go to a store. These days, you can purchase hot meals like instant noodles, hot dogs, takoyaki, even local goods, and so on.
Well, how do you buy things at a vending machine?
1. Insert coins, banknotes, or tap your IC on a machine. * …
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A fire station
05/11/2022
Uncategorized
On April 22nd, new students at NILS Annex went on a field trip.
The destination: A fire station!
In a medical emergency, what are you supposed to do? Call 119. Don’t worry, you can communicate in English. They are also able to help you in other languages like French, Chinese, etc. (Jake: It was so exciting.)
In case of a fire, what do you do? If it’s a small fire, use a fire extinguisher.…
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New Students Arrived!
05/09/2022
Uncategorized
New Students Arrived!
The other day, I went to the airport to pick up new students. I could feel excitement in the air there because of more activities than it has been. When I was waiting for them with a NILS sign, the students walked over to us with a big smile saying “Hello.” Even students from Europe and the US who had to travel for a long time were so cheerful that I felt so uplifted.
&n…
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Bento
05/06/2022
Culture
Tips
Hello, everyone.
I would like to talk about Japanese bento today.
Bento means a boxed lunch. A basic bento looks like this (photo). Half of it is rice, with picked plums on top, and the other half is side dishes.
These days, parents make cute bento boxes for their children called “Chara-ben” which is shortened from “character bento.” People create children’s favorite character…
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How to Write Chinese Characters
05/02/2022
Uncategorized
There are three types of written language used in Japan – Hiragana, Katakana, and Chinese Characters (Kanji).
For international students, it’s probably very challenging to write Kanji.
I would like to show you three techniques of writing in Kanji.
They are Tome, Hane, and Harai. Let me explain these techniques by with a character 「手」.
Tome: This means ‘stop.’ Notice h…
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Hanami
04/11/2022
Culture
Hello, everyone. Are you familiar with Hanami? As you might have heard, many Japanese people enjoy viewing the blossoms of cherry trees. They eat, drink and appreciated the beauty of cherry blossoms.
In Fukuoka Prefecture where NILS is located, cherry blossoms are typically in full bloom around the end of March.
Today, let me tell you a few choice spots to view cherry blossoms.
(1) Maizuru Park…
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What Surprises Japanese People When We Go Abroad
04/08/2022
Culture
Hello everyone. Today I would like to talk about some of the things that surprise us when we go abroad. To put it another way, these kinds of things just do not happen in Japan.
-Kissing and hugging while greeting
I remember seeing all the homestay families in Canada greeting each other like this, and I was so nervous while I wait for my turn. In Japan, we basically don't touch each other whe…
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I receive the examination result just now.
03/29/2022
News
Uncategorized
Best wishes moving onto the next chapter of your life.
Do you remember when you got the test result of your taking the entrance exam?
He got the result from the school that he wished to enter onto.
Before opening,
And then opened the letter, before reading, and the moment of noticing the result.
I just took the moment of his delighting greatly in passing
Have a look at the happy moment.
…
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Oshi (For advanced Japanese learners)
03/24/2022
Vocabulary
※Japanese sentences in this blog are for advanced Japanese learners
Hello everyone. The spring season has arrived in Japan and the cherry blossoms have begun to bloom.
This is an important month in Japan as it marks the end of the year.
Today, I would like to introduce a word which is commonly used by young Japanese people, "○○推し(oshi).
“Oshi" is used for idols and celebritie…
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NILS Blog Hinamatsuri
03/22/2022
Culture
Hello, everyone. Have you ever heard of a Japanese traditional event called Hinamatsuri?
In Japan, parents of daughters display hina dolls in March and pray for their children to grow up healthily.
Hinamatsuri was introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period (710-794). It was celebrated only among the aristocracy at first, but the current form t…
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