April CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter 2006

Oh! Mon Dieu!! C’est un Sacrilege!!!
France’s wine purists are up in arms. They
feel betrayed by their own government!
What’s going on?
For centuries, France, as well as most ofWestern Europe, has felt its status as thecultural, economic and political centre of
the world eroding. But there has been one
area where France has maintained its
position as the undisputed world leader:
this has been in the area of wine
production. Even today, French wine
accounts for 40% of total world production
by value. To maintain their premier status
in this world, French winemakers havecarefully cultivated a wine “culture” alongwith the wine itself. Partly to maintainthis culture and partly to protect
legitimate wine producers from“winefraud”, France has traditionally produced wine under very complicatedand strict controls. As a result of all
this, wine production in France
has set the standard for the restof the world – until recently…
With the onslaught of “globalization” andthe opening of world markets, even thisonce indisputable status is beginning toerode as less costly “new world” wines startto invade.

Wines from California,Australia, S. America andeven S. Africa are not onlycheaper, they taste good
too! Under pressure of competition thetechniques that are used to produce these“new” wines are starting to be adopted by
the French – much to the dismay of thepurists! To help French wines compete, theFrench government is beginning to relax therules.
The most recent fuss is about wood chips.
Australian winemakers searching for ways
to cut back on expenses and time were thefirst to begin throwing oak chips or shavings
into the modern stainless steel fermenting
vats commonly in use today. This saves on
the costs of having traditional oak barrels
made while still allowing the wine to draw
flavors from the chips which work to soften
and stabilize tannins. It also adds aromas
and has the added advantage of allowing
wines to mature faster. And now even theFrench will be permitted to produce wine
using this, and other, “new world”
techniques!
“It’s wine for the Coca-Cola andketchup generation!” say the purists. “It’sthe beginning of the end” they claim.
Ah, but Monsieur, it is wine!

(These words are in colour in the story)
purists 純粋主義者
onslaught 猛攻撃
fuss 騒ぎeroding 衰退している
legitimate 正統なfraudindisputable 反論の許されない
dismay 失望
fermenting 発酵(用)stabilize 安定させる詐欺

Joshua Says: I wish the scientists, doctors and other researchers would make up their minds! Oneday you read that something is good for you, the next, it’s bad!? Take, for example, our main topic
this month, wine. I have read on the internet and in newspapers that a glass of wine a day can bebeneficial. OK, that good news, isn’t it? Then, in a recent article I read that wine can cause cancer,
even a single glass a day! If the experts cannot give us a clear idea of what is good and what isn’t, Iguess we’ll have to make up our own minds. What’s your vote, for or against a glass of wine a day?
Junko Says: Recently, I saw on TV a very interesting experiment. Two groups of children wereseparated and studied for their responses to praise, or lack of praise. Both groups were asked toperform similar tasks, but the adult monitors in the first group did not give the children anyencouragement or praise. In the second group, the monitors lavished the kids with praise and positive
encouragement. The astonishing conclusion was that the children who were receiving constant praise
outperformed all expectations and developed much faster than the kids in the non-praised group.
Natacha Says: Making plans is not always easy. I'm thinking about Golden Week. I
wish to do something special but everywhere we go it is always so crowded. I found it very
interesting that in Japan, everyone has the same holidays at the same time. I feel it limits
our freedom in choosing where we wish to go. The airfares are overly expensive during
National Holidays. I wish everyone had the chance to choose their own time to takeholidays. I think it would be most enjoyable to have this kind of freedom, don't you agree?
Greg Says: The EASTER season has come and gone once again in Japan. Yet again it beats me
why the EASTER tradition has not caught on here. I understand from a religious view point it
won’t but from a commercial point of view it would be a money maker similar to Valentines andWhite Day. Oddly enough, I read in the newspaper how the farmers in Ehime have proposed
April 14th to become ORANGE day in the future!!!!! I don’t know if this will catch on, but I sure
hope the chocolate Easter eggs do…I really miss the traditional Easter morning egg hunt.

Iain Says: I grew up in the country side around trees andanimals and throughout all of my life in that environment I
never suffered from any allergies. But recently I’ve noticed thatI get hay-fever! What a bummer!!
Marita Says: This month I’d like to recommend 2 German films: "Was nuetzt die Liebe in
Gedanken" and "Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage", the actress in the latter film was evennominated for an Oscar. If you want to get an insight of a part of German history or everyday
life pay a visit to Cinema Lunatic or Cinemasunshine Okaido. Students of German can use theopportunity to listen to their preferred language. So have fun and let’s meet there.

William Says: It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Crossroads’
teaching staff. Teaching English and Guitar is really great fun!
My guitar class is learning fast, and I am looking forward tolearning classic songs together with them.
Yuka Says: The other day I had a chance to see Hayao Miyazaki’s animated movie “SpiritedAway” with my nephew and niece. Before that I thought animation was for children and I had
no interest in it. But after watching this movie, I completely changed my mind. I really enjoyed
the film which was full of rich imagination. No wonder it won the top prize at the Berlin Film
Festival a couple of years ago. I’d like to see the English version of “Mononoke-Hime” next time.

* And, don’t forgetto pass the word on to
your friends… It’s SPRINGCAMPAIGN time again!!!
* 10% off all tuition fees
during this month and next fornew students!
* Get the details fromJunko in the office.

*SPECIAL*
Let’s Go To The Movies!!
We are going to start up a regular movie
night every month – our own “SATURDAY
NIGHT MOVIE”. We will try to show thelatest movies for you (some not even releasedin Matsuyama yet!)
The first “SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIE”
will be held at the school on April 22 at
9:00pm and there will be a special repeat ofthis movie next month (May) on Saturday
the 13th at the same time.
You will be able to watch it on “THE BIGSCREEN” inour Open House lounge.
There will be a 300yen
POPCORN and DRINKS.

chargeforPlease invite your friends to comealong each month and enjoy
movies with us!

Courses you can take at CROSSROADS
NET LESSONS:

Are you too busy to come to CROSSROADS to study? Try ourlessons on the internet! --- It’s CROSSROADS in your homeor office! You get CROSSROADS’ great teachers, teaching
programs, even classmates, all on-line! Call for details.

NET SITE OF THE MONTH:
Learn about France’s many wine growing areas at:
http://www.weimax.com/france.htm

NET NOTEBOOK: Don’t forget to take a look at theInternet activity notebook in our open-house. You’ll findgames, news and English learning sites.

GENERAL COURSES:
2 x’s 60mins / week
1 x’s 90mins / week
Private 1 x / week
Semi-Private 1 x /week

GERMAN with Marita
SPANISH with Leo
RUSSIAN with Natasha
FRENCH with Natacha
CHINESE with Noriko
KOREAN with Kim

MOTHER & CHILD, group or private
KIDS, group or privateCOSMOPOLITAN COURSES:“Singing in English” with William
Yoga with Natacha
Guitar with William“Cooking in English” with Natacha“Magic in English” with Iain
Piano with Adrienne
Drumming with WilliamNETLESSONS:
group or private

Phone: 0120-21-7594
Tel: (089) 921-7595
Fax: (089) 921-7319
E-mail:info@crossroadsco.com
Web Site: www.crossroadsco.com