CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter September,
September , 201
20 1 3Throughout

theWorld,
urban
communities are presently striving forways to reduce the demand for energy.
One of the main reasons for this push is toalleviate our dependence upon fossil fuels
and emission of greenhouse gases to theatmosphere together with its adverse
effects upon world climate. To this end,
global initiatives such as C40, a network of
the world’s megacities, have been taking
action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from buildings and transportation. Tokyo
is an exemplary member of the C40 groupwith an ambitious program to reducebuilding thermal load (through insulation)and use more natural energy, conservation
programs,andefficientenergymanagement.
Use of electric vehicles has reached apoint where the benefits of this form oftransportation can now be fully marketed.
However, one of the hurdles that industry
and the society at large face is how topromote these cars compared to theinternal-combustion engine (ICE) car intermsofcost,serviceability
andenvironmental benefits.

NET LESSONS: Are you too busy to come toCROSSROADS?....Try our lessons on the Internet!

SITE OF THE MONTH:
Here’s some interesting info on Electric Cars:
http://www.kids.esdb.bg/smart_inventions.html

Japan is poised to be a World leader inelectric car production and usage. They were
the first country to mass produce a hybridvehicle in 1997. Since then, global sales ofToyota Prius reached one million by May
2008, and 4 million by October 2012. The
hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) allows the car torun on an electric motor at low threshold
Henson Recording Studios, LA, USA
speeds or when stopped, and a gas-powered
motor at higher speeds. The all-electric
Nissan LEAF and Mistubishi i-MiEV run onelectric power alone with no ICE as a backup. In Japan, it would cost about 45,340 yen
to re-charge an electric car over the course of
one year for an average driving distance of
11,100 km. This compares with 111,500 yen
for the cost of gasoline to operate an ICE car(6.2 L/100 km) over the same distance.
Much of the yearly cost to run an electric car
could be met by a solar car port. Not only would
this reduce the operating costs to virtually nil,
it also avoids emission of carbon to theatmosphere. In this respect, one must bear inmind the carbon output from electric power
generation itself when comparing the carbon
emissions of electric cars with ICE cars.
The advantages of the electric car for
short-distance urban travel far outweigh its
disadvantages. Firstly, electric cars could
significantly
reducegreenhousegasemissions and global warming. Secondly,
they would reduce the incidence of heartdisease, stroke and several forms of cancer
that come about from just too many ICEcars in our urban living space. And thirdly,
they are definitely cheaper to drive thanICE cars. As gasoline prices continue to rise,people ought to be thinking about switching
their mode of travel.

Article by Kenneth

Joshua Says: It’s gratifying to hear from our students and ex-students
about their experiences overseas. Our goal as a language school, of course, isto help people expand their horizons, to join in with the international
community and become part of the world citizenry. Even those who do nothave the chance to go overseas for an extended stay can still be part of thisexperience just by becoming speakers of a second language.

Junko Says: We all know that Tokyo will be the host city for the Summer
Olympics in 2020. I remember the time Tokyo became the host city for the
first time in 1964. Japan joined the world economic wave then. With that big
historical event, and with the following Osaka World Expo 1970 event,Japan’s bubble economy took off. I hope the new Tokyo Olympics 2020 will
create a new cycle of international economic growth for Japan.

Kenneth Says: The summer break is over and our kids are back toschool. It was a good summer with a couple of excellent fireworks
displays in Iyoshi and Mitsu. We enjoyed a trip to the Science Museumin Niihama, and the Ehime History Museum in Seiyo. A daytrip to Tobeto see the Ehime Kodomo no Shiro was popular with the kids too.

Adrienne Says: I was in the storehouse putting my sons’ elementary
school artwork into plastic containers; it took me several hours to do thisbecause I looked at each work of art very carefully. I realized that I had
not looked at the artwork very carefully when they first brought it home.
What was I so busy doing? I thought. Then, I felt sad. I have a lot of freetime now, but I think I was happier when they were home.

Stephanie Dit: Bonjour ! Comment ça va ? Oulala il fait encore chaud àMatsuyama ! Rien de tel qu’un plongeon à la piscine pour fuir cettechaleur ! Si comme moi, vous vous déplacez à vélo, je compatis… EnFrance, Septembre est le mois de la rentrée des classes pour les enfantset des vendanges pour les amateurs de bon vin ! Le saviez-vous ?

… I started my life in China on August 11th this year in Beijing. But
even before arriving in Beijing, I had trouble. My flight was delayed
due to bad weather. The airport staff told us the flight might even becanceled! Nevertheless, in spite of the delay, we managed to get toBeijing on the day.
After I arrived, my support staff helped me open a bank accountand find my hotel. There are sooo many people living in the place I
am staying in.
I started going to Chinese school the day after I arrived. Theseearly days have been a little tough. I recognized that my Chinese
language skills are still too weak to live in this country normally. IThe hotel where I stay

have to keep studying as hard as possible. In addition, I have had other things to do in orderto start my life in China; many applications and emails to school, embassy and company. I
was so busy with these matters I didn’t have a chance to travel around during the first week.
I know it was late, but on the first weekend I finally decided to travel by train. I planned anddecided on my destinations on the day!
CONTINUED NEXT MONTH…..

How are you, everyone? I have already spent 2months here!! I have been to Alnwick, Edinburgh andManchester, and I want to go to London as well.
My course is going well, but the university staffers areso lazy⁄. After nearly a week of exams, IÊll have amonthÊs break, so IÊm struggling to finish all my tasks first.
Then, IÊll have to apply for a visa extension.
The weather is changeable and a little cold, but IÊm still
comfortably riding to school by bike.
These are some pictures from my trip to ManchesterRupertGrint(thered-haired
actorwho
playedHarry
Potter’ssidekickatHogwarts)
keepsoneoftheseasatpet.So
doesDavidBeckhamandothercelebrities.Itseemsthatpigsare
alltherageaspetsfortherichandfamous.
Thislittleguyisa“TeacupPig”,
aminiaturepot-belliedpig.Whenhewasborn,heweighednomore
than3or4kg,andwasthesizeofateacup!(hence,thename.)
Somehowitseemsfittingthat
Mr.Grintwouldhavesuchapet,
givenallthetimehehasspentgoingtoHOGwarts…

Don’t forget… Our SPECIAL 1+1 Campaign offer! Up to 50% off!!
See our notice board, or ask Junko in our office, for the details.