CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language
L anguage StudioÊs Newsletter January,January , 201
20 1 9Now the “Year of the Pig” is with us, it is

PIGS ARE STUPID:
only appropriate that we set the records Not so! Scientists
straight about this much maligned and believe that pigs are
misunderstood animal. Here are a couple one of the most intelligentof misconceptions about our porky friends a nima ls there
is, ranking closethat need to be readdressed.
PIGS ARE DIRTY: Not so! Pigs are very behind apes andclean animals. They purposely keep their dolphins, and more
toilet area far from where they lie down or intelligent than thewhere they eat. The pig's unfortunate average three-year- old child.
Not only that, they can be very creative
reputation as a filthy animal comes mostly
aswell. Take Smithfield for example, afrom its habit of rolling in mud to cool off.
You see, pigs do not have sweat gland – real “Pigasso” if ever there was. Smithfield’s
paintings fall into the category of
they cannot sweat like we do – and“abstract expressionism” and Franare at serious risk of overheating.
Martin, his proud owner, sells
Muddy water evaporates much
Smithfield’s paintings over theslower than clean water, so a mudinternet for £8 each. In fact,
bath is just the thing! They also risk
Smithfield is something of a celebrity
getting sunburn in hot climates. Ain America. He is a featured
roll in the mud helps to protectElla
attraction at charity events across thetheir skin as well as cool them off.
country and has even been a guest on
Even the idiom, “sweat like a pig”
the Oprah Winfrey TV show.
is Janismisleading. It has nothing to do
In addition, pigs make great pets,with animals. It’s an expression that
Smithfield at work naturally affectionate, loyal and very
comes from the traditional method
gentle. This may be because they are veryof iron smelting.
Pigs that live in cool, covered sociable animals. They enjoy the company ofenvironments stay very clean. In fact, other pigs and, when invited into the house as
some wild boars at Basel Zoo in pets, they enjoy the company of humans. Let’s
Switzerland have become famous for their let a famous quote from Winston Churchill befood hygiene. These animals were given the final word on pigs: “I like pigs. Dogs lookapple slices coated in sand. Rather than up to man. Cats look down on man. Pigs lookeating them immediately, they carried us straight in the eye and see an equal.”them to the edge of a creek in theirenclosure and put the pieces of fruit in thewater shaking them to and fro with theirsnouts before eating. Even if they were NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
really hungry, they still took the time to …. Try our lessons on the net!
wash their food. The boars never did this Here’s a tell-all video about pigs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eef_rGf_0OQ
for any clean apples they were given.

Joshua Says: We’re at the start of another new year. For many it’s a time for anew start, a new beginning, a new challenge, a time to set goals. For others, it’stime to reaffirm goals that have already been set. Our goals may start out aspersonal challenges we strive to overcome on our own, but often we can’t help
involving and affecting others around us as we try to achieve them. Improving yourEnglish has exactly this effect, so don’t give up! And, “Happy New Year” to all.
Junko Says: The New York Times chose our “Setouchi Islands” as one of the “52places in the world to go to in 2019.” There are several reasons they chose this area: 1)
Setouchi Trienniale 2019, a major art fair featuring the beautiful balance of nature
and art; 2) the reopening of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum; 3) the Guntu-a
floating Ryokan; 4) scenic flights in a fleet of Kodiak 100’s sea-planes; 5) the world’s
first artificial meteor shower in 2020. If you have time why not visit these places too.
Kevin Says: I am very glad to have arrived in Japan, and Matsuyama. Thepeople are very polite and friendly and the place itself is clean, not too
crowded. It’s not too big or small, I think I’ll like it here. So far, I’ve only been
to the castle but there’s plenty of time to explore. I’m looking forward to thenext year. See you around!
Darrin Says: Happy new year everyone! Hope that you all had a great start
to the year. Did you make your New Years resolutions? I thought I would
share this motivational saying to help you start the year off on a good note.
‘Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a great one!’ Good
luck fulfilling your resolutions for the year.
Mandcy dit: Bonne année 2019 à tous!! Je vous souhaite plein de bonheur etune bonne santé. Mes meilleurs voeux. Alors , quel est votre granderésolution pour cette année ?? Personnellement, j'ai été tres gourmandependant les vacances d'hiver et j'ai décidé de perdre 3 kilos et d'aller à la gym!!
Bien sûr , J'oublierai ma résolution dans deux mois hahahahahaha
1ACROSS
2 with intention
5 a positive feeling of liking (someone)
8 speak unfavorably about
9 suitable, fitting
11 very dirty
13 incorrect idea about something
15 highlighted, given exposure
16 deceiving, giving incorrect information
DOWN
1 a general estimation (of someone)
3 wild pigs
4 covered
6 when liquid turns to water
7 extracting metals from ore by heating
10 a bodily organ
12 big or long noses
14 related to pigs or pig-like behaviour

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For the Year of the Pig we’ll devote page 3 to somecommon English “piggy” idioms...
That’s me!
Buy a pig in a poke - buy or accept something without examining
it first, somethingof poor quality or something you didn’t want. A ‘poke’ is a bag.

Like stealing acorns from a pig - doing something that is very easy.
Look like a saddle on a sow - look ridiculous, out of place.
When pigs fly – it will never happen.
Can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear - you can’t turn something ugly
or useless into something
beautiful or useful.

Pig out – to eat excessively, gluttonously.

Bring home the bacon – to earn money (especially a steady salary)
Cast pearls before swine - give something to someone who does not appreciateit.

Road Hog – a driver who takes too much space on the roadYou can put Lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig – make something appear more attractive
In a pig’s whisper – very quickly and in a very shortor more successful thanit actually is.

amount of time.

Fat as a pig – a very overweight person.
Pig headed – unreasonably stubborn.

...Oh, and... Happy New (pig) Year!

BRA
DGI N C E P T I O N
GSNS I N I S T E R
EENNDMGGDS Y N O N Y M O U S
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IEGS
O B V I O U S L YILNTYLast Month’s Puzzle Solution
DOWN
1 acting self-important
ACROSS
2 make less sensitive
3 a beginning
4 leaving undone, not caring
5 indicating evil
6 try to equal, especially by imitating
9 the same as or nearly the same as 7 be in control
11 losing the rights to something
8 to take away or lose
14 making violently angry
10 appearing to be
15 capturing great interest
12 a person's equals
16 unmistakably, clear
13 even though

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.