CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter August,August , 201
20 1 5For decades
we have beenfascinatedbyrobotics. We love
the idea of robots,
but not just any
robot, we wantthem to look asmuch like us as
Pepper – ready to make happy
possible. Robots are still not quite at the level ofthe fanciful imaginings of Hollywood but arebecoming more human like in their appearance
and functionality with every jump in technology.
For several decades now robots have been
replacing humans in the workplace, doing thework that we do not want to or are unable to do.
However, these ubiquitous robots bear noresemblance to the human form. So, just how
long will it be before humanoid like robots maketheir entry into our homes?
In 2015 the first step toward robotic house-matesElla
was made when Softbank released Pepper for salein Japan. For just under ¥200,000 and a monthly
subscription
you can have your own friendly
Janiselectronic companion. But don't expect Pepper to do
any housework for you, Pepper's sole purpose, asstated by its designers is, “to make people happy,
have fun with people and connect people with theoutside world.” In other words, Pepper seems to be
little more than a smart-phone on wheels/legs. But
this is the kind of technology that is developing
rapidly and in the not too distant future it may
become difficult to distinguish between a realhuman and an android.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons through the net!
Read about the adventures of “Hitchbot” and other interesting
stories on robots here: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/robots

Once we reach the point of similarity there will
be a range of ethical issues to deal with. An
android themed TV show called Humans recently
aired in The U.K. The programme is set in thenear future where the latest must-have gadget
for any busy family is a synth – a robot eerily
similar to a human in nearly every respect. The
series explores the emotional impact that comesas the line between humans and machines
becomes increasingly blurred. Families become
attached to their new house-mates andboundaries are crossed as relationships evolve. A
recent movie, Ex Machina, takes the storyline
from Humans one step further. In this movie theandroid has true AI (artificial intelligence). As its
AI develops the droid begins to recognise that it
has little more to look forward to than an
existence of servitude as a house maid, sex slaveand curio. Finding this wholly unappealing it sets
about emotionally manipulating and destroying
those around it in order to escape from its
existence of subjugation.
The technology
on display in theaforementioned
TV show andmovie are notsome unrealistic
dream. They aretechnologies
already
underheavy developTwo androids in the movie Ex Machina
ment. The day is fast approaching where a robot ofsome kind in every house is likely to become areality. Before that time comes we will have to askourselves what boundaries must be put in place (ifany) and what the ethical use of those robots mightentail. If something looks like a human – should it
be treated like a human, or not?

Article by MarkJoshua Says: Speaking of robots. Do you think that in the future a robot will ever be able
to coach or teach you a second language? Many people nowadays are trying to pick up
English, and other languages, through Internet lessons, and web-cam hook-ups with“teachers” living overseas. Such activities can be good supplements for your studies, but theyare not enough. A regular lesson with a “live” teacher is essential as he or she can monitor andguide your progress along the way. I wonder if future robots will be able to do that, too?
Junko Says: We are making speaking and listening home-study files to suita variety of English proficiency levels to keep you busy at home between
lessons. Anyone who would like to have these materials, please bring along acomputer memory stick and we will download the files for you. When you areready for the next file, bring in your memory stick again and we will fill it up
for you! In time, you should have a nice collection to work at home with....
Mark Says In my home country of New Zealand 27 July – 2 Aug is Maori
language week (Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori), NZ's second official language. In thespirit of the week I thought I'd take the opportunity to teach a few mihi (greetings).
1. Kia ora (hello, goodbye, thank you), 2. Tena koe (hello), 3. Haere mai (welcome),
4. ka kite ano (see you), 5. kei te pehea koe (how are you) Maori vowels andconsonants are similar in sound to Japanese so should be easy to pronounce.
Aaron Says: I have noticed the weather is a very hot topic in Japan.
Most people comment about how hot it is many times a day, but tome it is not very hot at all. I was raised in a very hot climate, so I
am very used to it being too hot to even go outside during the day inthe summer! Because of this, whenever I hear my wife, for example,
complain about how hot it is outside, I just laugh a little bit.
Danielle dit; Le mois de juillet est fini. Les juilletistes, les personnes qui
partent en vacances en juillet, vont croiser les aoûtiens, ceux qui partent enaoût, donnant lieu à de monstrueux embouteillages sur de nombreuses routes
de France. Sans doute un des week-ends les plus chargés de toute l’année.
Malheureusement, la très forte canicule subie au mois de juillet ne semble pastout à fait terminée et août semble également menaçant.
ACROSS
1 see or hear differences
6 not attractive or appealing
8 forced to serve a master11 forced submission
12 a logical result or outcome
13 quickly
14 something unusual and interesting
15 a machine that closely resembles a human being
16 not clear, hazy
DOWN
2 a useful device or tool
3 being present everywhere at once
4 not based on facts
5 capable of serving a purpose well
7 being only one
9 similarity of appearance
10 having the characteristics of a human being

1234

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910
11121314

1516(print version here)

Here is the 7th installment of Ren’s “My stay in China”, series 2:

The university’s first semester finally finished. I passed all of my exams without any problems. The Chinese
New Year’s vacation is quite long, so I decided to travel, because it was a very rare chance for me to take time off.
First, I went to a very cold place, Haerbin. To be honest, I’d been afraid it
would be too cold. But I eventually decided to go because my Japanese
friends in Beijing invited me. The place was incredibly cold. We visited theice festival there at night. It reached -28 Celsius. But the atmosphere of thefestival was amazing. The trip was quite short, just 2 nights and 3 days.
After that short trip, I stayed on a little longer and journeyed alone for 3
Ice festival in Haerbinweeks. Because Beijing’s winter is so cold, I decided to go south: Taiwan,Hong Kong, Guanzhou and Kunming.
I stayed in Taiwan for 5 days. This was my second visit to Taipei, so I was
already a little familiar with it. I felt that half of Taiwan’s culture is reallyJapanese. I quite often saw Japanese stuff. Moreover, I even saw anadvertisement for Eastern Japan Railway on TV. It was strange to see this in
Maokong’s gondola stationTaiwan. By the way, I have a friend there. He went around in Taipei for somedays. He is a serious Christian. He took me to a church to pray several times. During my stay in Taipei, myfavorite place was a hill located in a suburb named Maokong. I went there by subway and gondola. There isa house on the hill that looked pretty and the atmosphere was relaxing. I like the scenery there.
Next, I went to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very modern city. I spent 1week here. There are so many tall buildings in a very small area in the centerof the city; I couldn’t even see the sky because of them. I spent the end ofChinese New Year here. So many people gathered in the streets to see
fireworks and street parades. I needed about 30 minutes to make my way
Night view in Hongkong
forward, even 100 meters, because the street was fully packed. The nightview of the city is really beautiful. I got the impression that Hong Kong is avery small but convenient city. The room that I stayed in was really small.
One bed almost occupied the whole space. I didn’t have any space to change
my clothes. I wonder how they got the bed into that room. It was apparently Chinese New Year’s fireworks
impossible. I believe it was the smallest room I have ever stayed in.
Anyway, I found a very good book about hiking around Hong Kong Harbor in a tourist info. center. Byhiking, I was able to enjoy seeing a lot of natural scenery. I walked a lot on this visit. It was good exercise
for me. I think Hong Kong is a very good city to travel to, but a little bit inconvenient for students, because
the prices for commodities are quite expensive. (To be continued)
I N C O R P O R A T EGA
XESA M A L G A M A T I O NSRRIC O N C E I V A B L E
MOIS P I R I T U A LDA
D I A L E C T
L Y R I C SL
TNE
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C O L L A B O R A T I O NLL
DYUAIEBTV E R S I O NYI MM I G R A N TCO
G E R S H W I N

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
1 join, unite or merge into a whole
5 a combination of two or more
6 able to be imagined
7 an African-America religious song
8 a unique use of language
9 the words to a song
13 the act of working together
14 something a little different from the others
15 a person who moves to a new country
permanently
16 a famous music composer from the 1930'sDOWN
2 greater than usual ornormal
3 a distinct class, style ortype of art
4 to incorporate or becomepart of
10 to have an effect onsomething or someone
11 a soft, quiet song sung to achild
12 a long standing practiceDon’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.