CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter February,February , 201
20 1 6You've just started a new job and yourmanager is showing you around the office
and introducing you to your new colleagues.
After clasping a never-ending stream ofsweaty hands the first stop needs be thebathroom to fully disinfect the swathe ofbacteria now infesting your right palm.
Yes, the Western custom of thehandshake is spreading its grip around theworld. But it’s not as warm a gesture as it
sometimes seems. The original handshakearose as an easy weapons check via theancient Romans, who, upon first encounter,latched onto each other’s arms to feel for
any weapons hidden up the sleeves.
EllaNowadays, etiquette workshops andonline body-language tutorials regularly
churn out advice on how to deliver theJanis
perfect
handshake. The wrong kind of grip
could leave a bad impression for decades tocome, but a firm one, they say, could land
you a coveted job or wow that gorgeous
stranger. And oh, how complex a thing it isto give that perfect handshake. How longshould I hold? How firmly should I grip?
What to do about my sweaty palms? How
do I get out of a handshake that has been
going on far too long?

In addition to forcing us into physicalcontact with someone we might ordinarily
avoid, handshakes are also natural vehicles
for spreading infectious diseases. They’reticking germ bombs — with the Centre for
Disease Control in the U.S. estimating thatnearly 80 percent of infections aretransmitted by hands, which teem withmillions of bacteria and viruses. This has
led some, particularly the younger “hip”
generation to laud a safer salutation — thefist bump — while health officials promoted
the elbow bump during Haiti’s cholera
outbreak, Mexico’s swine flu scare and therecent Ebola epidemic. But fist bumps are
too hipster and elbow bumps are justawkward. Imagine knocking elbows withyour future boss at a high-stakes jobinterview.
The European and Latin American kisses
on the cheeks are even likelier to pass on
the flu. But how about the bow, so
commonly practiced in East and South East
Asia. The icky factor for the bow? Zero. It’san all-in-one, touch-free alternative rooted
in humility rather than power trips. No
physical contact required. No running forthe bathroom for a quick disinfect aftergreetings are completed.
Business globalization over the past few
decades has seen the handshake creepingfrom West to East. In a time when there aresome question marks over the future
effectiveness of antibiotics in fighting off
infection, perhaps it would be wise for theworld to adopt the practice of bowing as auniversal (non contact) greeting.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
If you have any doubts about how to shake hands
correctly, go here: http://www.wikihow.com/Shake-Hands

Article by MarkJoshua Says: What is the “correct” spelling or pronunciation of English. AmericanEnglish versus British English is most commonly debated in this respect. However, as I haveexpressed in this space before, English “belongs” to no culture but the International culture.
Arguing back and fourth between British versus American is no more valid than arguingwhich is more accurate, Egyptian, French or Japanese English; pointless! English is growing
with input from every corner of the globe and no single culture has priority or “ownership”.
Junko Says: The 4 th of February is the first day of spring. Contrary towhat this may imply, the first day of “spring” is likely to be the coldest
day of the year; the peak of the cold weather. On the one hand, thedays are cold; on the other hand the first day of spring singles the endof the cold weather. From now on, I will watch our outside garden
attentively, while waiting for the real start of the new spring.
Mark Says: I've being doing a lot of cycling over the past several months andin that time I have become acutely aware of the unpredictability of Matsuyama
drivers. Some students have even explained that at intersections the rule bookis often thrown out the window. So, when driving around Matsuyama, pleasetake care and be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists.
Colm Says: I got some great advice from two of my students about places toeat at in Matsuyama. Ryoko directed me to Enya, a nicely designed
traditional Japanese restaurant (excellent Tai Meshi); while Eiji told me
about a small place specializing in Onisuki (Onigiri’s smaller brother). It pays
to listen to students when it comes to food.
Danielle dit: Quel début d'année mes aïeux ! Entre les disparitions d'artistes
tels que Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie ou encore l'acteur Alan Rickman, lesconflits internationaux, et, plus localement, le temps bizarre et très froid quenous avons eu en ce début d'année, c'est à se demander comment 2016 va
finir. En espérant que février soit plus clément!
ACROSS
1 a follower of the latest trends
4 stay clear of, stay away from
6 hold firmly
8 an area or strip of something
9 praise or honor
10 kill microorganisms and germs
12 (out) produce at a fast rate
13 holding firmly and tightly
15 came into existence, form or shape
DOWN
2 rules governing social behavior
3 greatly desired
5 living on or in a host in large numbers
7 moving slowly but surely
9 taken hold of, gripped
11 a very bad feeling, soft and sticky
14 to impress greatly

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Take Chances to Communicate:
By S(a)3Ês Taro

Let’s shake on it!

If you want to communicate in foreign
languages, how will you study them?
Most Japanese students tend to learn
grammar systematically. Needless tosay, I understand the importance ofgrammar. However, it is sometimes
useful to memorize complete phrases. In Yokohama with some other
When I go abroad, I always memorize soccer fans from around the world.
practical sentences, like “Where is therestroom?” or “How much is it?”, in local languages.
Last December, I visited Yokohama to watch soccer, the Club WorldCup final. The game was between FC Barcelona from Spain and FCRiver Plate from Argentina. Both teams’ fans speak Spanish. Therefore,
before going to Yokohama stadium, I learned some Spanish phrases
such as, “Podria sacarnos una oyo juntos?” (Would you please take aphoto with me?) or “Muchisimas gracias” (Thank you very much).
By memorizing single words in phrases, you can suppose their
meaning easily. From the above sentences, you can guess “podria”
means “would you”, “juntos” means “together” and “muchisimas” is“very much” in Spanish. I think this guessing approach can help you
learn new words.
Furthermore, many Argentineans looked very happy when I talked
to them in Spanish. I’m very glad if they value my attitude tocommunicate in their language. When you make friends with foreign
people, I recommend you try to use their native languages as much aspossible. It will relax them and smooth your relationships. In fact, I
conversed in a mixture of English and Spanish.
In my opinion, the most important factor in international
communications is to take positive chances. You may upgrade yourlanguage skills at home alone through textbooks and audio books.
However, languages must be spoken actively. Let’s find theopportunity and talk aloud. First of all, you shouldn’t skip weekly
CROSSROADS classes! Don’t miss this valuable opportunity!!
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Did you thinkpeople were theonly creatures toshake hands, paws,
or whatever?
Take a look atthese critters greeting
each other.

Hey, old buddy!
How have you been?

It is an honor to makeyour acquaintance.

Well, Burney, it’s
been great
catching up, but...

Shake with a whale!
Let me introduce myfriend. Sidney, this is...

“High-5” witha squirrel...

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSSDOWN
1 when opposing forces meet,
2 represent with a image orthey...
model
8 part of the whole
3 in disagreement
10 uniquely or distinctly
4 make as small as possible
characteristic
5 most frequent or common
11 not suited or compatible together 6 bring to a final conclusion
13 one's inescapable future
7 an individual part on
14 telling the futuresomething
15 forced compensation for a
9 make as big as possible
wrongdoing
12 plentiful
16 force back or reject by force

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