投稿者: CaptainNomura

Do you rely on reviews when you buy a product?

American cosmetic company Sunday Riley was found fabricating positive reviews of its products for two years.

The company’s unfair actions were revealed through a former employee. They leaked photos of Sunday Riley e-mails with instructions on how to create fake accounts and write online reviews. So those comments do not reflect actual feedback from satisfied customers.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigated and established that the allegations were true. But they did not impose severe punishment, which enraged many people. “Why are the sanctions so light?”  “Consumers will start disregarding reviews as a reliable basis for purchasing products. “

“Dishonest companies will continue with fake reviews”

“Honest firms may say if they are losing out by following the law.”

今週の課題

このニュースに関してどう思うか、メイさんがたずねます。生徒の皆さん、グループで意見を作成してください。

Frozen 2 Has $127 Million Opening Weekend

Six years after the success of the first film, Frozen 2 has made more than $127 million over its first weekend in cinemas, says Disney.

Frozen 2 has also broken a number of records for Disney, getting the largest opening for any Walt Disney Animation Studios movie. It has also had the highest-grossing global debut of any animated film.

The new film brings back a lot of the same voice actors as the 2013 film, including Idina Menzel as Elsa and Kristen Bell as Anna. The couple who wrote the music for Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, returned too, although the songs in Frozen 2 have been less popular than those in the first film.

Reviews for Frozen 2 have been good, but not as good as they were for Frozen. Research company CinemaScore has given an A- grade to Frozen 2, but Frozen got an A+.

Critics gave the new film a score of 75% fresh on film review website Rotten Tomatoes, while the first Frozen got 90%. However, its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes was 93% fresh.

Singapore Bans Ads of Drinks with High Sugar Content

Advertisements of sweet beverages like soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, and instant coffee will soon be prohibited in the country. The ban will be implemented across all types of print, online, and broadcast media to discourage people from consuming too much sugar.

Singapore has been reported to be one of the biggest consumers of sugar in the world. The excessive sugar consumption has led to an increased number of citizens developing obesity and chronic illnesses such as heart diseases and diabetes. This prompted the government to come up with policies that would lessen healthcare issues among its citizens, which in turn could lessen healthcare costs for the government.　

The Singaporean government held public consultations about ways to reduce sugar consumption. Seventy percent of the respondents supported the implementation of advertising regulations

In addition, they are examining two other proposals on the sugary drinks  –  additional tax and a total ban on sales.

今週の課題

  皆さんは飲料メーカーの海外営業部門にいます。シンガポールでＣＭが禁止されれば売り上げ大幅ダウンが見込まれます。政府役人のメイさんに禁止を撤回するよう伝えてください。

Japan actress Erika Sawajiri arrested for MDMA possession

The police said they launched an investigation into the 33-year-old actress after receiving information she was “involved in illegal drugs.” They searched her home in the morning and found two white capsules in a plastic bag inside a jewelry box. Sawajiri admitted that they were hers.  Police says they will continue probing the case.

Sawajiri has had success not only as an actress but as a singer.  She starred in many movies and TV dramas.

 She was scheduled to play the role of 16th-century Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga’s wife in public broadcaster NHK’s historical drama series.

 NHK is having a headache over the scandal because the shooting has already started and has not been completed yet. “Re-editing the film is so hard. Also It’s impossible  to replace actresses.” said one of the drama production staff.

今週の課題

この事件についてメイさんがいろいろ質問をしてきますのでそれに答えられるようにしましょう。　(5W1H だけでなくYES/NO  questionにも)

例えば

Do you think Sawajiri  should make a comeback or not?

In Japan, films are often banned from public viewing due to scandals by actors and actresses. Do you agree to the idea?

結局2次試験を受けた生徒は全員合格しました。

再度まとめますと、

5級　　1名

4級　　２名

準2級　　4名

2級　　1名

となります。

皆さんお疲れさまでした！

二次試験はこれからですが、途中経過を報告します。

中1　Ｎさん5級。　部活をやりながら勉強も両立。えらい！

小6　Ｙくん4級。　前回1問差で不合格、涙をのんだ。その悔しさをばねに今回は正答率8割！　堂々の合格！

中3　Ｅさん4級。　いろいろ訳あって勉強が出遅れたが、気を取り直して合格。なあに遅れはすぐに取り戻せるさ。あせらず頑張ろう！

中3　Ｈさん準2級（１次）　不言実行の子。

中3　Ｍさん準2級（１次）　落ち着きないが２次は大丈夫かな？

高１　Ｋくん準２級（１次）　秀才だが英語だけニガテと本人。おいおい！

高１　Ｉさん準２級（１次）　合格したら親になにか買ってもらうことを楽しみにしている。

高１　Ｉくん２級（１次）　夏に１次合格していたが、高体連で２次試験が受けられなかった。　さあ取りに行くぞ！

みんな個性がばらばら。でも教え甲斐がある。だからこの仕事はやめられない。引退などするものか、まだまだ頑張るつもりです！