Group B

Subject: We should prohibit students from working part-time jobs.


Moderator: Carol

Agree side: Finnian
                    Hanna
                    Kofy

Disagree side: Lucus
                        Allie


Opinions of agree side:


・Finnian
     Students should concentrate studying. If they want to learn somethings by working, they should do so after graduation.

・Hanna
     The best thing for students is studying. If we they get money, they will not obey their parents.

・Kofy
     Students should study and reading books. Reading books makes them more sensitive.


Opinions of disagree side:


・Lucus
     He doesn't have enough money to go to school. If we prohibit, some students can't go to school.

・Allie
     Students can learn a lot of things by working, such as importance of money.


Carol: What do you think about that some students can't go to school without working. (to agree side)
Finnian: Ordinary family have enough money to go to school. Most of students will spends money for hanging out with their friends.
Lucus: Their parents should manage their earned money.

Kofy: Their studying time will get shorter.
Lucus: The studying time of students belonging club is short, too. Students can spend time efficiently.

Hanna: What is the purpose of working part-time jobs? (to agree side)
Allie: The purpose is not only earning money.

Hanna: Can they go to school by working part-time jobs? (to Lucus)
Lucus: They can help their parents by it.

Carol: What do you think about that their studying time will get shorter? (to disagree side)
Allie: They can learn how to concentrate by working. They can concentrate studying, even if their studying time will get shorter.
Kofy: They can't study well. They may be able not to understand completely.
Allie: They can ask their teacher during the break.
Finnian: They may doze during the class. During the break, they will not study, because they are tired.

Audience: Government helps students who can't go to school.
Carol: No.

Audience: We can't lump junior high school students and high school students together.
Kofy: We want to focus on junior high school students.

Hanna: I think we should make law about type of jobs and age.

Carol: At first, let's discuss about type of jobs.
Allie: I think jobs before going to school is good.
Finnian: They should get home by ten.

Carol: Next, let's discuss about age.
Allie: All of junior high school students is good.

Carol: What do you think about type of jobs?
Finnian: It is difficult to make law about type of jobs, so every schools should decide.
Audience: I think it is good to make it club activity. School can control.
Finnian: It is good that schools give students choices.
Lucus: It is good to have students get permission from school or their parents.


Conclusion: Every junior high school students can work part-time jobs. Students have to get permission from school or their parents. Every schools make club or give students choices. The part-time jobs that they can work are before going to school or they can get home by ten.


I think the idea that school make club or giving choices is so good. In my opinion, we shouldn't prohibit students from working part-time jobs, because some students can't go to school. But working part-time jobs have some demerit, so opinions of agree side are understandable.

Group C

Subject: Can we submit a bid to host the Olympics?


Moderator: Sara Cooper

Agree side: Emily Thoma
                 Isabela Horan
                 Lucy Walter

Disagree side: Sophie Dawson
                     Ashley Turner


Opinions of agree side:


・Emily
     If we hold the Olympics in Apollon, many people will come to Apollon. Holding it has many benefit. It is good opportunity to advertise Apollon.

・Isabera
     She would like to join the Olympics someday as a cheerleader. If we hold it in our country, our motivation will be raised.

・Lucy
     It has good economic effect. We can improve Apollon's image.



Opinions of disagree side:


・Sophie
     We don't have enough money and place.

・Ashley
     It needs money and place for athletes' quarters and stadium.



Sara: What do you think about benefit that agree side said? (to disagree side)
Ashley: It has benefit. But, Montreal Olympics get into the red. Apollon Olympics may go into the red.
Emily: We have money. It is not such a big issue.
Sophie: But we don't have stadium. It needs much money to build it.
Isabera: After Olympics, we can use it in many ways.
Ashley: Apollon is not big. We don't have enough place. It is difficult to holding Olympics in Apollon.


Sara: It needs much money. How can we cover? (to agree side)
Emily: We can keep to a minimum.
Sophie: How can we cover money to build stadium.
Emily: I think it is not so huge.
Ashley: It needs athletes' quarters. It needs much money for it, too.


Audience: I want to know concrete plan about how to cover.
Isabera: For example, we can use tax.


Lucy: Holding Olympics is good for international exchange. If we can hold, we should limit games.
Isabera: I think the World Cup is good.
Sophie: It needs 400 million dollars to build stadium.
Audience: Holding the World Cup needs much money, too.


Audience: I think marathon race is good. Runners can enjoy beautiful view.
Sophie: It don't need place, so I agree with her idea.
Sara: I think it is good sport event for Apollon. Olympics is too large scale for Apollon.
Disagree side: I agree with smaller scale sport event.
Isabera: I think it is good to hold marathon race as an event of Sunflower Festival.



Conclusion: We hold marathon race as an event of Sunflower Festival.



I think their discussion was good, because I could understand why agree side wanted to hold Olympics in Apollon. At first, I couldn't understand that, but in the middle, I could understand well. If we hold Olympics in Apollon, we can have international exchange, but we can have it also by holding other sport event. I think it was so good opinion.

Group D

Subject: Should we introduce sales tax system?

Moderator: Kate Hail

Agree side: Anna Jones

                    Alex Bell

                   

Disagree side: Rie Chein

                         Rachel Williams

                         Amy Green

Opinions of agree side:

・Anna

     Last year, we decided that we hold sunflower festival, make calendar, and plant sunfrower along the street to make Apollon famous. Government should pay a lot of money for these plans. They need a lot of money. So we should pay more taxes. And sales tax system is good because government can get much money easily.

・Alex

     Goverment can use money for education. It is helpful for us. So, we should pay sales tax.

Opinions of disagree side:

・Rie

     If we introduce the system, low income people must pay a lot of money, but high income people must pay less. And most people will come not to buy something. Goverment's income will less. He think income tax system is better.

・Rachel

     The system is hard for low income people.

・Amy

     People will come not to buy something.

Kate: What do you think about low income people? (to Anna)

Anna: The system is hard for them. So, we should introduce reduced tax rate for them.

Rachel: Clerk can't know who is low income people. (to Anna)

Rie: Sales tax system is not fair, but income tax system is fair. So, income tax system is better. (to agree side)

Anna: Sales tax system is better because government can get much money easily.

Amy: Our income dosen't change, but must we pay more tax? (to agree side)

Anna: We have a lot of national debts and plans, so we must pay more tax.

Rachel: Tourists will come not to Apollon. (to agree side)

Anna: We can make tax-free system or tax-free shops.

Audience: What kind of tax system does Apollon have?

Panelist: Apollon has other system but sales tax system and income tax system.

Audience: How much sales tax rate? (to agree side)

Alex: 3%.

Anna: If the rate is high, people will not agree. So, at first, it should be low, such as 3%.

Audience: How can clerk kow who is low income people? (to Anna)

Anna: Goverment should give something showing he/she is low income people, such as a paper. By it, clerk can know.

Rachel: Some people may move to another countly. (to agree side)

Anna: We must pay tax for Apollon. It is our duty.

Agree side: We think income tax system is not fair. (to Rie)

Conclusion: We can't decide which is better, sales tax system or income tax system. If we introduce sales tax system, the rate is 3%.

We couldn't come to a conclusion. I think we must find fair tax system, but it was so difficult. Our thought about fair was different, so we couldn't conculude. I think we should have ask audiences opinion more. It might be helpful for us.

Group A

Subject: Let’s make point-system in Apollon

Moderator: Belle Waterfall

Panelists: Angelina Miller

                 Mac Jason

                 Laura Addy

                 Tama Homer

                 Jack Bauer

Discussion 1: How can we collect points?

・Jack

     → tour guide volunteer and entrants for the photo contest

・Tama

     → Sunflower Festival staff

・Mac

     → buying goods made in Apollon

・Angelina

     → recycle

Discussion 2: Where can we use them?

・Jack

     → public transportation fee and charges for public service

・Mac

     → shopping center

            Jack: It is difficult for government to control.

            Mac: Only shop want to do should install the system.

・Angelina

     → It is not good to use the points for amusement or hobby.

            Laura: If we can use the points for such things, many people will want them.

Questions by audience:

・1 point = 1 apollon?

     → Yes.

・If we can get points by volunteer, it is not volunteer.

Conclusion: We want to make point-system.

I think it is good that they told us a lot of information. And we had enough time to talk with other audiences. Angelina wrote ideas on white board, so I could understand what they discussed about easily.

Group B

Subject: We should make a national holiday, Sunflower Day.

Moderator: Lucus

Agree side: Finnian

                    Kofy

                    Allie

Disagree side: Carol

                        Hanna

Opinions of agree side:

・ Finnian → We should hold some events on the Sunflower Day to develop our country economically.

・ Kofy → We tend to forget our national flower, so we should make the day to remember.

・ Allie → It is decided that we hold Sunflower Festival in last year. We should hold it on Sunflower Day.

Opinions of disagree side:

・ Carol → We need money and place for the festival.

・ Hanna → Most of young people don’t think national flower is important. We don’t have to make a national holiday.

Conclusion: We make Sunflower Day on last Saturday in July and hold Sunflower Festival.

I can’t understand why they want to hold Sunflower Festival on Sunflower Day. I think if we hold the festival on Saturday, we don’t have to make a national holiday on Saturday.

Group C

Subject: Do we associate with other country?

Moderator: Emily Thoma

Agree side: Ashley Turner

                    Lucy Walter

                    Sara Cooper

Disagree side: Sophie Dawson

                        Isabela Horan

Opinions of agree side:

・ Ashley → We can introduce other’s good points, such as technology. And we can help each other when some disaster happens. It is good for tourism, and it is one way to develop Apollon.

・ Lucy → It is good for development. We can accept other countries’ culture. If we have connection with foreign companies, our work will be easy and wider, and we could introduce Apollon.

・ Sara → She wants foreign people to see her pictures. And she wants to buy other countries’ items, such as photo books.

Opinions of disagree side:

・ Sophie → We don’t have to associate with other country. If we associate with other country, we might have some problems. She can introduce Apollon to other country as an entertainer.

・ Isabela → If we associate with other country, we must help other country when they go to war, and our culture might be lost.

Conclusion: We should associate with other country for economic development and advertisement.

I think if they narrow the issue, such as about only trade or business, their discussion would be better. At the middle part of discussion, they left the audience behind, so their discussion was difficult for us to understand. But it was good that they suggested many ideas.

Group D

Subject: Should the elementary school students have their own cellphones?

Moderator: Anna Jones

Agree side: Alex Bell

                    Amy Green

                  

Disagree side: Rie Chein

                         Rachel Williams

                         Kate Hail

Opinions of agree side:

・ Alex

     → She and her husband both work. So her son has own cellphone, and Alex can contact with him in emergency. And it is good that cellphone has the GPS function.

・ Amy

     → Some crimes are happen while children go to school. So they have their own cellphone that can be used as a crime prevention buzzer. And we should teach them the correct way to use it.

Opinions of disagree side:

・ Rie

     → The cellphone is not good for children’s eyes. It wastes time. Children will come not to play outside.

・ Kate

     → Children have a lot of things to learn. They should use their time to learn that things.

・ Rachel

     → Internet is dangerous for children. For example, the online dating Web site is so dangerous for girls.

Conclusion: We should make a family rule depends on their situation.

It was difficult to moderate. I made dead time… It was so bad point of my job. Panelists’ opinions were easy to understand.

Group A

Subject: We need immigration laws in Apollon

Moderator: Tama Homer

Supporters: Angelina Miller

                    Mac Jason

                   

Oppositions: Laura Addy

                     Belle Waterfall

                     Jack Bauer

Opinions of supporters:

・ Angelina

     → We can improve our hospitability by accepting immigrants.

・ Mac

     → Now, we don’t have enough young people. And inviting immigrants is only way to develop Apollon.

Opinions of oppositions:

・ Laura

     → If we invite immigrants, the crimes will be increase because of the differences of culture.

・ Belle

     → She was concerned about immigrants’ political rights, their work place, and losing our unique culture.

・ Jack

     → If we invite immigrants, we have to build high buildings. But, they make the scenery worse. And some immigrants may lose their job, and become homeless.

Conclusion: ???

This discussion was difficult for me. Because, I can’t understand what the immigration laws regulate. If you want not to accept immigrants, you should make a law that regulates that we don't accept immigrants. So I can’t understand why oppositions think that we don’t need laws.

Group B

Subject: Should we develop our countryside?

Moderator: Hanna Marin

Supporters: Allie Collins

                    Lucus Arden

                    Finnian Lee

Oppositions: Carol Smith

                     Kofy Keita

Opinions of supporters:

・ Allie

     → If we develop our countryside, Apollon will be more famous.

・ Lucus

     → Now, most people live in the city. Because of that, some problems happen, such as air pollution. But if we disperse people to country side, the problems will be solved. So we should develop our country to disperse.

・ Finnian

     → It is good for young people to develop our countryside. And we should make tourist resort.

Opinions of oppositions:

・ Carol

     → If we develop our countryside, our nature will be lost. We should protect it.

・ Kofy

     → Countryside is the place where I can be concentrated. I'm a writer, so it is an important place. And we shouldn't develop our countryside to protect nature and for children.

Conclusion: We should develop our countryside with protecting nature.

I think supporters discussed about "how should we do to develop our country" more than the subject. So if they discuss about the subject more, their discussion will be better.

And it seems to be so difficult to answer the question to ask the place of countryside.

Group C

Subject: Should we use a solar energy instead of a nuclear energy?


Moderator: Isabela Horan

Supporters: Ashley Turner
                    Lucy Walter
                    Sara Cooper

Oppositions: Sophie Dawson
                     Emily Thoma



Opinions of supporters:


・ In the long view, it saves much money to use a solar energy. But, using a nuclear energy needs  much money to maintain.

・ Nuclear system is dangerous.


Opinions of oppositions:


・ We have to kill nature for the space to install solar panel.
　　　→ Supporters: If we use the space that install nuclear system now, we don't have to kill nature.



Conclusion: We try to reduce the nuclear energy until finding a better system.



I think Isabera did good job. I can understand panelists' opinions easily because she formed their opinions.

Last presentation

 I talked about my future family. First, I talked about my future children. I want two children, because I want not to feel lonely. And I want my future children to take calligraphy lesson to have good handwriting. Second, I talked about my future husband. I want him not to gamble, because it is waste money. And I want him not to smoke, because it makes the wall yellowish. Third, I talked about how do I want to be. I want to quit my job after having a baby to devote myself to housework and my future children. Finally, I said that I don't want to be a family with nothing conversation.

 Taiga talked about human relationship. Being insensitive is important to have good relationship.
 His presentation was difficult for me. But his presentation was good because his voice was loud.

 Rina talked about success. She said "success" has a lot of meanings, and challenging is important to succeed.
 At first, she asked us a question. Her presentation was good.

 Akari talked about alone life. She is from Fukuoka, and now she live alone. She didn't know how she relied on her mother. It is little hard for her to do housework. And she talked about importance of family. She regrets that she didn't talk with them.
 Her presentation contains her experience, it was good.

 Yoko talked about technology. Our life came to be convenient, but it is difficult for old people to use high technology.
 Her presentation contains her experience and she made eye contact with us, it was good.

 Nagisa talked about her positive and negative point. Her positive point is that she is not shy and active. Her negative point is that she is indecisive and she has no sense of direction.
 Her presentation contains her experience, and she made eye contact with us. And it was well constructed, so I could understand easily.

Introducing... me as a child!

 We talked about our childhood.

 When I was a child, I often fought with my older sister. She is five years older than I. So of course, I lost every time and I cried. But now, we don't fight because we have few conversations. I think when I was a child, our relation was better than now.
 And when I was a kindergartner, I was good at doing forward upward circling on the horizontal bar. Sometimes teacher told me to be a model of it. So I did it in the presence of other kindergartner. I think when I was a child, I was less shy than now. Now, I'm not good at speaking in the presence of others.

 When Aya was a child, she was shy and silent because she had no siblings. It was difficult for her to communicate with someone. But now, she is belong to two circles. For her, this is surprising. She can change better.

 When Nagisa was a child, she was shy and silent. But she is not shy and silent now. And when she was a child, when she came home at 17:00 or 18:00, she was scold by her mother. But now when she come home late, she is not scold by her mother.

 When Rin was a child, she often played with her brothers. And she couldn't do something by herself. But now, she can do something by herself.

 When Akari was a child, she often fought with her sisters. Now, she don't fight with them, but she think their relation is not good. And when she was a child, she was more shy than now. As the years passed, she became less shy. But now, she is still shy.

When Ayaka was a child, she was shy. She was always with her mother. She has no siblings, so her hobby was watching TV. She had a hamster, and she played with it.

Some people said "I was a shy, but now I'm not shy." I envy them, because I was not shy, but now I'm shy.

Best Friend

 We talked about our best friends and definitions of best friend.

 My best friend is Yuki. I met her for the first time when I was a high school student. We had been in the same class for three years. She was belong to chorus club. She is good at singing and she likes singing. So we often went to karaoke. And we like same singer, so we could enjoy karaoke. Now, she is a student of the Kumamoto University. So I can meet her at Kumamoto. But she is busy with her club activity, so I don't meet her recently.
 For me, best friend is who I associate the word "best friend" with. I always associate "best friend" with Yuki. So I think she is my best friend.

 Suzuka's best friends are female and male. She and her female friend had been in the same class for three years in high school. And her male friend is important person for her. They understand well each other.
 For Suzuka, best friend is who is not change even if they have distance and who their conversation become lively even if she meet after a long time.

 Nanami met her best friend for the first time when she is in the second year of junior high school. Nanami was so shy, but she can be best friend with her.
 For Nanami, best friend is who she can tell her worries and can help each other, who is not change even if they don't meet for a long time, and who she trusts well.

 Rin met her best friend thirteen years ago. She keep in touch with her best friend for example, they often send pictures each other. She can talk everything with her.
 For Rin, the best friend is who she trusts, who knows her well, and who she can talk everything with.

 Manami has two best friends. She met one for the first time when she was elementary school student. And she met another for the first time when she was high school student. They were belong to same club.
 For Manami, best friend is who she can tell her worries and give advice to her, and who she can talk everything with.

 I could think what is best friend and who is my best friend.
 And when I talked again, I could talk without looking note many times.

Self-improvement

 I'll talk about my group presentations.

 First, I talked about how to be confident in myself. The several things I can do to be confident in myself are to be positive, not to be troubled with a complex, to find things I like about me, and to try many things.

 Second, Chiaki talked about how to be a good manager. She would like to be a good manager in time and money. The several things she can do to be a good manager are using schedule book diligently, setting a limit to time, making a budget, and writing pocket money book.

 Third, Aya talked about how to be confident and be attractive. What she can do to be confident is telling her opinion without being afraid of.  And the several things she can do to be attractive are being interested in others, speaking to others, finding what she can do, and making progress what she is not good at.

 Fourth, Erisa talked about how to stick to will. The several things she can do to stick to will are making out a schedule and giving her rewards. And she said she makes spare days when she makes out a schedule.

 Fifth, Ai talked about how to be smart, brave, and confident. The several things she can do to be smart are reading books, being open-minded, and asking anything. The several things she can do to be brave are finding the person who is her goal and taking action. And the several things she can do to be confident are being positive, taking action, and speaking to others.

 Finally, Ayaka talked  about how to be smart, confident, and successful. The several things she can do to be smart are spending time effectively and reading books. What she can do to be confident is telling her opinion. And what she can do to be successful is drawing clear lines among something.

 In our group, some people said "I would like to be confident." I would like to be confident, too. I can learn methods for being confident by others talks. For example, I hadn't thought of that telling my opinion to be confident. And I can learn methods for being mature such as using schedule book diligently to be a good manager in time, writing pocket money book to be a good manager in money, making out a schedule to stick to will, and reading books to be smart. These methods are easy to carry out. So I would like to carry out them.

Hello

Hi. Welcome to my blog.
I'm Mayu Yanagisako. My friends call me Yana.
Nice to meet you!