MIOLOG2

When considering ways to spend free time, there are various opinions because values among the people are diversified in affluent societies of recent years. Whereas some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors, others prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. I am personally in agreement with the latter opinion, for indoor activities are merits in various points. My answer is based on the following two respects.

Firstly, indoor activities are more economical. It would cost much more if we spend our free time outdoors. To illustrate, first, we have to spend expensive transportation expenses like train tickets, gas costs, and expressway tolls. Second, If we go to theme parks, we need to pay entrance fees. If we go shopping, we buy something like clothes or furniture. Thirdly, it is more expensive to have a meal at restaurants than at home. If I hold a party in my home, there is no need to pay much expensive transportation expenses and entrance fees, and ingredients can be obtained inexpensively. Therefore, we can save money in the case of indoor activities.

Secondly, indoor activities are more comfortable. In the case of outdoor activities such as swimming in the sea, hiking, skiing, and so on, they might be relaxing, but fatiguing. Also, they could be canceled if rain falls, and we have to be worried about the weather. Conversely, if we spend indoors, we do not need to care about the weather. Furthermore, outdoor activities might jeopardize us by distress; for example, we might get lost in mountain, or the rip current might pull us out to sea. Contrary to outdoor activities, indoor activities are free from such perils. In this way, it is more comfortable to spend indoors.

In conclusion, as noted above, indoor activities are more comfortable and more economical. Indeed, outdoor activities may be relaxing, but we can also be relaxing indoors, and do not have to pay much attention. Therefore, I prefer to spend my free time inside my house.

When considering influence of television, there are various opinions because values among the people are diversified in affluent societies of recent years. Whereas some people believe that television has destroyed communication among friends and family, others do not. I am personally in agreement with the latter opinion, for television actually promotes communication. My answer is based on the following two respects.

Firstly, television make a family bond firm. Without television, people will possibly lose opportunities to communicate with their family. As an illustration, most families have a meal together with watching TV. Watching a baseball game together, for example, they can talk each other about the game. By sharing time to be pleased and mortified, family conversation will be smooth. Furthermore, news programs provides various accidents or crimes every day, and parents can educate and teach their children; for example, they can teach that when an earthquake happens, they should hide under the table, or when a strange man speak to them, they should not go with him. In this way, a family bond becomes firm.

Secondly, television makes a conversation among friends smooth. For example, you can talk about popular celebrities such as comedians, idols, musicians, actors, and so on. Also, if you watch the same TV program such as animation, drama and variety as a friend of yours watches, you can talk about it, and can exchange opinions. Furthermore, because you can passively obtain information through television, you do not need to pursue information voluntarily. Then, you can have an amount of topics, and will not be worried about topics to talk. Thus, you can always have a conversation about the topic as long as you continue to watch TV.

In conclusion, as noted above, television promotes communication both inside a family and among friends. To be sure, some TV programs might be vulgar and harmful, but television has already been an essential tool to communicate.

When considering education of foreign language, there are various opinions because values among the people are diversified in affluent societies of recent year. Whereas some people believe that children should begin studying a foreign language as soon as they start school, others do not. I am personally in agreement with the latter opinion, for there are more valuable things that children around should learn before learning a foreign language. My answer is based on the following two points.

Firstly, children should learn their first language because their competence to express depends on it. That is to say, they should make a foundation of language at first. As an illustration, in the case of Japan, Japan is high context culture, and Japanese people have to obtain the ability to read between the lines. Then, children should be educated the ability by reading Japanese book. Moreover, they have to know their culture and history, and to be able to express their opinions and feelings. For the sake of it, the skill of native language must be intensified. Without those skills, they would neither be able to introduce their country nor be able to explain their emotions and ideas, even after obtaining an English skill.　Therefore, children should learn regarding their native country.

Secondly, children in the lower grades of elementary school cannot comprehend grammar. It is best way to learn a foreign language to learn its grammar because of wide application, but they are too young to learn it. Some people may insist that it is easier for children to assimilate knowledge and they do not need to learn grammar; however it is demonstrated scientifically that the way of memorizing changes as they grow up and only infants can master a language. Even if they can absorb knowledge as it is, they should spend for a prolonged time to memorize a lot of words and phrases. What they learn by heart will not be applied to other because they do not know grammar. In this way, when learning a foreign language, children should learn grammar, but little children do not have comprehension.

In conclusion, as noted above, given obtaining children’s competence to explain and their incomprehensibility of grammar, they should not commence studying a foreign language as soon as they start elementary school.