Welcome to Inspiring Voices
Every day, we use our voices to meet all kinds of communication goals. We mightneed to share a secret or ask for help. Maybe we want to tell a joke or to change
someone’s mind. Or our goal may be to inspire others to think differently and to
take action. Succeeding in all these goals requires effectively communicating what
we know, what we believe, and what we wish for. This can be a challenge, anddoing it in a second language can be even more so.
The goal of Inspiring Voices is to help you build the skills you need to meet thischallenge. Each of the 15 chapters features an NHK Direct Talk interview witha creative problem-solver. Whether they are working with women in a Japanesefishing village or developing new ways to explore outer space, each interviewee hasa dream for, a plan for, and a message about making the world a better place.
The activities in each chapter are sequenced to support your understanding ofeach interview and to give you plenty of chances to advance all four English skills.
There is also a balance of individual work, pair work, and group work that will
help you participate meaningfully in class. The activities’ emphasis on target
language in context will give you the language you need to both understand andreact to each interview. Thinking skills are important too; you’ll develop them byidentifying and organizing key information into tables and charts.
At the end of every chapter, you’ll be invited to collaborate with a small group of
your classmates to complete a mini-project. This is an extra opportunity to reflect
on what you have learned and to apply it as you imagine yourselves as teachers,
business owners, and even scientists.
It’s easy to imagine that, as each interviewee has worked to change the lives of thepeople around them, they have noticed positive changes in their own lives as well.
Hopefully, their stories will inspire your own voice!

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Using Inspiring Voices
The activity sequence in each chapter will help you build the kinds of knowledge,
language, and communication skills you need to succeed in today’s global society.

Sharing Our Views
After you read the chapter preview, you’ll see three discussion questions related
to the interview topic. They’ll give you and your partner or group a chance tostart thinking about the interview topic as you share your own experiences andopinions.

Building Background
This passage will help prepare you to watch the interview. Reading the passage
and answering True/False questions will familiarize you with both the topic andsome core vocabulary of the interview.

Boosting VocabularyThis is your chance to confirm the definitions of more vocabulary that will comeup in the interview.

Introduction

Understanding the Main Topic

1st Listening
As you watch the introductory part by a news anchor in Part 1 of the interview,
you’ll confirm basic facts about the person being interviewed by checking thecorrect statements. Note that the audio version is narrated at a slower speed thanthe video.

2nd Listening
As you watch again, you’ll focus on important details as you complete the script byfilling in the blanks.

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Interview

Part1

Checking Key Points
Part 1 of the interview is 4-5 minutes. As you watch it, you’ll confirm key facts bychoosing the option that best completes each sentence.

Organizing Information
After watching Part 1 again, you’ll organize the key information by completing atable, chart, or summary.

Interview

Part2Checking Key Points
Part 2 is also 4-5 minutes. As you watch it, you’ll confirm key facts by choosing theoption that best completes each sentence.

Organizing Information
After watching Part 2 again, you’ll organize the key information by completing atable, chart, or summary.

The Words to Live By



Here you’ll focus on the meaning of the interviewee’s core message as you complete
the script by filling in the blanks. Again, the audio version is narrated at a slower
speed than the video.

Sharing Our Responses

This is your chance to reflect on and react, in your own words, to the interview.
In 1, you’ll write down three things you learned. In 2, you’ll write short messages
to people mentioned in the interview. If time allows, you can share what you’ve
written with a partner or a group.
Taking the Next Step

Here is your opportunity to work with a group on a mini-project! Together, you’ll
apply what you’ve learned by brainstorming ways to tackle an issue. If time allows,your group can share your ideas with the class. Can you persuade them that youridea can solve the problem?

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INSPIRING

VOICES
15 Interviews from NHK Direct Talk

Contents

Voice 1
Ride-Hailing Innovation:
Creating Jobs Through Technology……………………………………

11Nadiem Makarim (CEO, Gojek)

Voice 2
Bringing Medicine to the African Backcountry ……………… 17
Eri Machii (Chairperson, AfriMedico)

Voice 3
Saving Children in Poverty Through Music……………………

23Margaret Martin (Founder, Harmony Project)

Voice 4The Matcha Business: A Maverick Spirit …………………………… 29
Takeo Sugita (President, Aiya)

Voice 5
French Refugee Integration ……………………………………………………… 35
Ayyam Sureau (Founder, Pierre Claver)

Voice 6
The Power of Biologging……………………………………………………………

41

Yuuki Watanabe (Marine Biologist, National Institute of Polar Research)

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Voice 7
Farming Is the Future …………………………………………………………………… 47
Cherrie Atilano (Founding Farmer and CEO, AGREA)

Voice 8New Challenges for a Fashion Giant …………………………………… 53
Luciano Benetton (Co-founder, Benetton Group)

Voice 9Helping the Socially Vulnerable ……………………………………………… 59
Viola Cheng (Entrepreneur, Good Food Enterprise)

Voice 10
The Danish Recipe for Happiness ………………………………………… 65
Meik Wiking (CEO, Happiness Research Institute)

Voice 11
Knitting the Future by Hand ……………………………………………………… 71
Tamako Mitarai (CEO, Kesennuma Knitting)

Voice 12
Towards a Zero-Waste Future…………………………………………………

77

Sun Xiaolong (Scientist, Zerowaste Asia)

Voice 13The Healing Power of Dogs ……………………………………………………… 83
Toru Oki (Chairman, International Therapy Dog Association)

Voice 14
Uncovering Our Hidden Biases ……………………………………………… 89
Mahzarin Banaji (Social Psychologist, Harvard University)

Voice 15
Space Exploration: Can Private Citizens Play a Role? … 95
Bill Nye (CEO, The Planetary Society)Inspiring Voices.indd 9

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Voice1

Nadiem Makarim

Ride-Hailing Innovation:
Creating Jobs Through Technology
In this chapter, we’ll take a look at a venture company in Indonesia, where economic
growth has recently been very rapid. Let’s learn about a young entrepreneur’s attempt
to create jobs through technology.

Sharing Our Views
Think about the following questions and talkwith your partner.
1. When, where, and how often do you use taxis?
Do you think they are convenient?
2. When you use a taxi, what is the most importantfactor for you: speed, comfort, price, or safety?
3. What smartphone applications make your daily
life more convenient? What did you do before you
started using them?

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Building BackgroundDL 02CD 02

Read the latest post by a popular travel blogger and answer the True/Falsequestions below. The words in bold will appear in the interview.

Ojeks: Couldn’t live without them!
After two weeks of traveling around Indonesia, I’mback in Jakarta, the country’s bustling capital.
Shopping in the Menteng Flea Market, visiting
Ragunan Zoo, spending the day on Ancol Beach...
And my favorite way to get from one place to another?
Ojeks! An ojek is a privately-owned motorcycle taxi,and there are literally thousands of them in Jakarta.
You can find them parked and ready all over the city.

By Sheri Steinberg
Updated 18 March
Posted in Jakarta

I’ve been taking them on a daily basis, both here andin rural areas, and I have to admit—I’m really crazy about ojeks! But I’ve also
learned some important lessons about taking them.
For one thing, if you approach a driver on the street, don’t jump onto the backof his ojek until you’ve reached a mutual agreement on the price. And if you
sense that he’s not a conscientious, safe driver, don’t be shy about askinghim to let you get off.
For another thing, a more reliable option is to use a ride-hailing app like Gojek;
it’s similar to an app you would use to book a regular taxi. You enter your locationand your destination and an ojek is dispatched right away. And because of themeter, there’s never a disagreement about the fare. The success of ride-hailingapps has given rise to new kinds of ojek apps, for example delivery services. My
driver yesterday told me that these apps have had a big impact on his workday.
Off to see the National Museum—you’ll read about it in my next post!

1. Ojeks are not generally available in the rural areas of Indonesia.

T/F

2. Sheri advises deciding on the fare before taking an ojek anywhere.

T/F

3. Apps like Gojek allow drivers to set their own fares and destinations.

T/F

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Ride-Hailing Innovation: Creating Jobs Through Technology

Boosting Vocabulary

DL 03

Voice 1

CD 03

Match these words from the interview with their definitions.
1. perception

a. strong, unlikely to fail2. stabilize

b. stop changing

3. robustc. think about something all the time

4. ineligible

d. impression, opinion

5. capitale. not allowed to participate

6. worthwhilef . deserving of time and effort

7.		 obsess

g. money, assets

Introduction

Understanding the Main Topic

Part 1 0:00-0:56
DL 04

1st Listening

CheckNadiem Makarim

.

CD 04

the correct statements.

□ is a motorcycle manufacturer□ started a venture business□ invented two-wheeled taxis□	has created more employment

2nd Listening

Complete the script by filling in the blanks.

Welcome to Direct Talk. Today’s guest: Gojek CEO Nadiem Makarim. In Indonesia,) economic growth in recent
a nation of 260 million that’s seen 1 ().
years, he’s taking the world by storm with a smartphone app 2 (3) has been unable to keep up withIn the cities of Southeast Asia, (growth, making two-wheeled taxis a familiar way to get around. The smartphone) motorcycle taxis. It can also be used to order food delivery orapp 4 ().
get a massage. This convenience has resulted in over 100 million 5 (), we spoke
It’s also created new jobs. Now at the height of the IT 6 (with Nadiem Makarim on how technology can lead to social change.

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PartInterview 1[ 4:53 ]Checking Key Points
Watch Part 1 and choose the correct answers.
1. An ojek is a form of transportation that can be offered by anyone who owns a( car / motorcycle ).
2. On average, many ojek drivers Makarim met were getting ( three / twelve )customers a day.
3. Makarim noticed that there was an ( imbalance / equilibrium ) in ojek supplyand demand.
4. When Makarim started his business, twenty drivers ( applied / were handpicked ) for jobs with the company.
5. Gojek first started as ( a call center / an online service provider ).

Organizing Information
Compare life before and after Gojek by completing the table. The firstletters are provided.
Before: ojek

After: Gojek

Drivers

AnyoneThose 1( r) with the company

System

Waiting around for hours

Easily 2( h) through an appRates

Occasional overcharge

3

Image

Untrustworthy,
unhygienic

Trustworthy, clean image, wearing greencompany 4( j)SafetyNot following rules

Conscientious

ServiceTransport people

Transport both people and 5( gIncomeUnstable6(R(S) prices))

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Ride-Hailing Innovation: Creating Jobs Through Technology

Voice 1PartInterview 2[ 4:34 ]Checking Key Points
Watch Part 2 and choose the correct answers.
1. One problem was that people were looking for jobs ( without having social
security / within the welfare system ).
2. Makarim firmly believes that technology can ( take people’s jobs away / givepeople opportunities ).
3. Traditionally, many women in Indonesia ( continue working outside the home /quit work for a range of reasons ).
4. Many successful entrepreneurs working for GoFood are ( talented women /working in malls ).
5. Makarim’s business has now expanded ( worldwide / to other Asian countries ).

Organizing Information
Explain how Gojek is solving problems by completing the table with items
from the box below. Some of them are extra.
Problem ①

Problem ②

Many people are outside the socialsystem. They do not pay income tax, soare 1() for socialsecurity.

Women who want to 2()
their careers need to stop working forreasons such as childcare.

Solution: Smartphone app technology
Anyone with a smartphone can access the outside world with one() and ﬁnd a way to 4 () the market.

3

Outcome ①

Outcome ②

Gojek drivers now have a reliable sourceof 5().

GoFood offers women opportunities tocontinue working and 6 ()money.

income / tap / worthwhile / pursue / earn / capture / ineligible / asset

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The Words to Live By

Part 2 3:41-4:34
DL 05

CD 05

Confirm the conclusion of the interview by completing the script below.
Makarim: This is the first company value
and most important company value inGojek. It’s called, “It’s not about you.” And1

and keeping people who are,for the large part, done with themselvesand don’t obsess about themselves but obsess about the problems out there in thereal world. Building an organization of 2
that’s not all about them is, I think, the only way tobuild truly great products. And 3
through technology.

Sharing Our Responses
1. Write down three new facts you learned from the interview. Share them with yourpartner.
2. With your partner, discuss and decide on a message for each of the following:
Nadiem Makarim, Gojek drivers, and women considering working for GoFood.
Share your messages with your classmates.

Taking the Next StepYour group is starting a new ride-hailing company in Japan. As a group, think about
how you want to promote your company. Look up Gojek or a similar service in Japan orelsewhere for reference. Imagine the top page of a website for your company. Include:
1. The name of your company and the logo
2. The services you provide that regular taxis do not
3. The drivers and the target customers
Present your company to your classmates. Can you persuade them that your company
is the best one?

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