Eiken

This blog is the 400th post since 2008.

I've applied an English test, Eiken Pre-1st grade. This is the first Eiken for me.

In order to prepare for the test, I'm working on some Eiken workbooks now. The major problem of studying for Eiken is lack of my vocabulary. I could get only 10 to 13 point of the first 25 vocabulary questions. That's a huge disadvantage for me. I need to get at least 20 points for the section. And because of my poor vocabulary, I often misunderstood the meaning of problem articles. Words, words, words!

The test is held on January 25. Wish me luck.
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Phobia or Fear?

I wrote a blog about phobias the day before yesterday. After that I checked some articles about phobias and I found that I had overlooked the difference between phobias and fears. I thought a phobia is just a strong feeling of a fear, but I was wrong. 

Fear is normal feeling and it even prevents us from dangers. Fear makes our quick response for protect ourselves. 

On the other hands, phobia is unreasonable feeling of fear that you yourself already realized it and you cannot control it. 

For example, if you face a big snarling Doberman without a leash, you would be afraid of it. It's a normal feeling of fear. But if you fear a cute chihuahua or a friendly poodle on a leash in a distance, you might have a dog phobia or cynophobia. 

Another example is that if you are afraid of being high placeses like being on the top of a high ladder, it's normal. But if you reject a good job because the office is on the 10th floor of the building, you might have a phobia. 

I don't like standing at a high placeses, but I would be normal. It's just a fear of heights.
Do you have any problems of fear?

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Election in Japan

Japan's Prime Minister Sinzo Abe has dissolved the lower house and the election is held on December 14. 

The primary issue of the election might be economics. Japan has been suffering sever depression for several decades. The hike of consumer tax has prevented economic recovery. To accelerate Japan's economic growth is a big challenge for politicians. 

It's obvious that these candidates speak out economic issues for their campaign, but when the election is over, these representatives should consider Japan's national security first. Japan has been exposed to security risks. If Japan were invaded, no one could guarantee your life, family and property. 

Be careful to watch candidates' policy of foreign affaires and national security. You shouldn't vote a candidate like Alien Yukio Hatoyama. Politicians can destroy a nation easily when they take a wrong policy. 

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Phobia

I think everyone has an irrational fear of something or has many of it. I also have some. 

In English, a fear of something is called a phobia. I don't like being high places. It's called acrophobia. I don't like to imagine I'm in too tight places and it's called claustrophobia. 

When you check phobias in the dictionary or on the web, you can find lots of them. 

I like toads because they are cute. But someone fears them and they are bufonophobia. Few, only a limited population, I believe, Chinese and Korean might be Japanophobia that protest against Japan. I'm not a shinophobia, but I'm sometimes angry with their behavior in politics. 

As developing the modern civilization, new phobias would be founded. For example, there are some people suffering from nomophobia. They are not dislike Hideo Nomo, but fear of no mobile phone. I gess you might be one of them. Be careful! 

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Xenophobia

I listened to the VOA radio news the other day and I got a new word from the news. That was xenophobia. It means a strong fear of people from other countries. The news was about a survey that found a rise of xenophobia in Turkish people. 

There are some reasons on that feeling of fear. 

Turkey is surrounded by countries with strained relationship, Siria, Iraq and Iran. Its border is exposed in danger. It is one of the reasons of the fear. 

But the feeling is nothing new. Turkish schoolchildren were taught that their country was surrounded by enemies from ancient times to present time.  

They might be afraid of another Lawrence of Arabia. 

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Catholic Population Decreases in South America

South America has almost a half of Roman Catholics in the area. But the number of people who goes to the Catholic Church has been decreasing in the past few decades. 

I thought the reduction came from because younger generations dislike the strict religious rules such as anti abortion, same sex marriage. But, according to some articles, the reality is different. 

A lot of people have been converted from Catholicism to Protestantism. Most people who becomes Protestant said they did so because they were seeking more personal connection with God, according to the NYT. 

I think religious policies should adopt the life of modern society little by little. I'm not a religious person, so it's just my opinion. 

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Volunteer Guiding

I've thanks to joined an English volunteer guide group in my city, Matsue, without taking any English tests since last year. I also wasn't asked my TOEIC score or Eiken grades. Looking around the other members, there are many retired English teachers or majored in English. I have to study English and the castle more. 

Our main work is guiding foreign visitors to Matsue Castle in English. Yesterday was the last time this year because we are off in the winter. I was at the information desk almost once a month. But in my turns, I didn't have any opportunities to guide a visitor to the castle. Of course there are lots of foreign visitors here, but many of them are come from Taiwan, Korea and China. 

Matsue is an inconvenient city to come from big cities in Japan because of lack of traffic facilities. But other than that, my city is a good place to visit. We have historical remains, buildings and tasty food from the Japanese sea, Lake Shinji and farmers around the city. 

I would like to do something to increase the number of visitors here from around the world. What should I do for that?

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