CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter November,November , 201
20 1 4

With the mapping of the human genome
completed in 2003, and the testing of
thousands of DNA samples from people
around the world, there's now mounting
physical proof that every person on theface of the earth today, no matter whatrace, color or creed, is a descendent of one
small group of people who migrated fromAfrica on an incredible journey that begansome 60,000 or more years ago.
Just think about it! A small group,
perhaps only a single tribe, set out fromAfrica and eventually replaced all otherspecies of humans and humanoid races
living throughout the world at that time.
DNA studies suggest that, apart from a
few isolated African tribes such as theBushmen, no other genetic strain remains
or survives to any significant degree but theone that was carried by that group of people
all those tens of thousands of years ago. Thisevidence suggests that, incredibly, we are all
Africans - at least at a genetic level.
Africa is where we first evolved andwhere we have spent the majority of ourtime on this earth. The earliest fossils
recognizable as modern Homo sapiens, i.e.
us, appear to go back about 200,000 years in
Africa, but the trail left by our ancestors ismuch younger than that. What could havecaused these people to migrate some 60,000
years ago? Some scientists suggest it wasclimate change.

Around the time of the “great migration”
some suggest there was a major climate
shift – a sudden cooling of the earth driven
by the onset of one of the worst periods ofthe last Ice Age. Genetic evidence suggeststhat at that time there was a dramatic
reduction in the world’s population. In fact,
it is likely the earth’s human population
dropped to fewer than 10,000.

The original routeout of Africa

Once the climate started to improve,
however, we came back from the brink ofnear-extinction with a vengeance! It was at
about this time that some intrepid
explorers started to venture beyond Africa.
This first great foray lead our species
across the globe. But if climate change cancause such a dramatic shift in the humanexperience, what does the present change
in climate bode for us?

The first “tribe”

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons through the net!
SITE OF THE MONTH:
For a complete map of our journey, go here:
https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/human-journey/

Joshua Says: It is always a pleasure to see our students doing something extra
towards trying to improve their English. The more you get involved outside of theschool – yes, that includes homework! – the faster your English will develop. Oneexcellent way to keep busy at home is to write. Your teachers will gladly correct yourwritten homework and, if it’s interesting and, with your approval, we can feature iton page 3 of our newsletter. (Just like Taro’s has been for the last two issues.)
Junko Says: Here’s a great idea to keep in touch with other Crossroads
students, and practice English at the some time. Some students would like to linkup through Facebook and so we decided to create an English-fan club. It is going
to be a way to share study experiences, keep in touch outside the school and topractice English together. We support this idea 100%, and Crossroads will also
link in with you. Please leave your Facebook address with us and we’ll pass it on
to the “club” members. Let’s link up and keep using English every day!
Kenneth Says: Over the first long weekend of November (Culture Day) wereturned to Saijo and Higashihiroshima, where the main campus ofHiroshima University is situated. We had a good visit with my colleagues at
Hiroshima University, and returned to some favourite rural spots around
Fukutomi ─ Café Sprouts country bakery and Cadore farm, a favourite spotfor gelato ice cream and where the kids can feed the farm animals.
Danielle dit: Novembre, c'est le mois de mon anniversaire. En effet, je suis née a Ottawa lorsd'une grosse tempête de neige ! Par contre, je trouve le mois de novembre un peu triste. Le temps est
froid et maussade, les arbres sont denudes et souvent il n'y a pas encore de neige pour pratiquer le ski ou
le patin. Les Canadiens célèbrent le jour du Souvenir, autrefois appelé jour del'Armistice, tous les 11 novembre à 11 h. Ce jour rappelle la fin de la Première Guerremondiale et est une occasion de se souvenir de tous ceux qui ont défendu la nation.
ACROSS
2 change place or direction
4 the first attempt to venture forward
8 not influenced by fear or intimidation
9 an organism's complete DNA sequence
11 surprising beyond belief
12 going up, increasing advancing
14 a system of beliefs
15 the beginning or early stage
16 go ahead despite risk or possible danger

123

45
6
7

8

910
11

DOWN
1 move from one country and settle in another3 cut off or left behind
5 a sign of something (important often bad) to come 14
6 a special group (mainly biological)
7 appearing to be or similar to human
10 redress or payback
13 a path or track
www.CrosswordWeaver.com

1213

15

16

Carefulness and Boldness by S(A)1’s TaroI(CONTINUED FROM LAST MONTH) …... nstead of declaring my nationality, I secretly kept an eye

on them. The moment our elevator stopped, the couple ran like rabbits. The Spanish
gentleman behind me looked bug-eyed and perplexed. I couldn’t help laughing. Questioned
why they dashed away in a hurry, I answered they might have been running to the restroom.
Was the couple too scared, or was myappearance too fierce? Anyway,
excessive fear may prevent you fromenjoying happy holidays. I believe
travelers need to be bold in some cases.
Other books caution that in somecountries, especially Western
European countries such as Spain
or Germany, few people canunderstand English. However, in my experience, wherever I have been, airports,
hotels, sightseeing spots, most Spanish people were proficient in English. Although I
studied Spanish a little, my English was understood better than my rough and ready
Spanish. It may be natural for them to be familiar with English because they havealways welcomed many foreigners. To my surprise there were even some clerks whocould speak Japanese at souvenir shops in Madrid.
Of course, it is valuable to study other languages as well as English, but you don’t
have to give up going abroad only because you are not skillful at them. If you have
any interest in traveling abroad, take the opportunity and enjoy it!
ERX
HECUI D Y L L I C
S T U D D E DMENCPBSAT R I N K E TLPRAI N T E R V E N T I O NPORINVASFAF A C E T
T S A RLNIRBIOYUC O M M I S S I O N
LHOD U M BS

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution

ACROSSDOWN

4 delightful, charmingly simple and1 far greater than the usualserene
2 control or rule (usually by royalty)
6 scattered with or adorned with many 3 meek or modest, not arrogant
8 (usually) cheap, showy jewelry or
5 almost no hope leftornament
6 near worthless material
9 action that brings about change
7 skills obtained by study and
12 a distinct feature
practice
13 male Emperor of Imperial Russia
10 disappear
14 place an order for a service or product 11 extremely pleasing
15 lacking good sense or understanding

And, here’s Danielle’s #3, Hana-chan.
One day, four years ago, we found Hana chansitting by our front gate. She had been abandonedin the mountainside because she was going to have babies.
She came to us very skinny and hungry. We let her in the garden,
fed her and she stayed! Loulou and Nana accepted her quickly and
now we have 3 dogs!!! Sometimes they fight but they are a team.
They walk together, sleep and play together. Hana is a sweet girl.
She chose us to be her family.

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.