CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter January,January, 201
20 1 7

Next to the bark of a dog or the meowingof a cat, “cock-a-doodle-do” is one of themost recognizable animal sounds on Earth.
But not just a noisy commotion at thecrack of dawn, roosters, and their chicken
lady friends, are far more complicatedcreatures than commonly believed. Whatscience has learned about the avian brain
over the past 15 or so years contradicts
hundreds of years of misinformation,
harmful stereotyping and downrightprejudice.
WELCOME TO THE YEAR OFTHE ROOSTER!

Results from recent research haveEllaconfirmed that in areas of communication,
brain and cognitive function and social
behavior, chickens and roosters (as well as
otherJanis members of the avian family) are as
sophisticated as some primates. For
example, chickens don’t just learn fromtrial and error. They retain memories frompast experiences along with knowledge ofthe surrounding situation then apply thatknowledge when making decisions. They
can solve complex problems and theyempathize with individuals from their own
flock that are suffering or are in danger.
They have also been observed todemonstrate an awareness of themselves
as distinct from others in their group. The“pecking order” that chickens organize
themselves into, based on each individual’ssocial status, is evidence of their ability toreason logically.

Chickens have over 30 distinct
vocalizations that communicate
a wide range of information.
Results from research by
Carolyn Smith of Macquarie
University in Australia haveshown just how well chickens
cancommunicate with each other.
One example “is how males entice femaleswith food as a form of “courtship” that does
not immediately lead to mating. This meansthat females, not only take their time to....evaluate the males’ behavior, but theyalso must form an opinion about various
males - and their reputations for providing
food - and then commit these various
experiences to memory. Only then does thefemale express a mating preference.”
Chicks are taught about edible food fromtheir mothers and retain what they learn,
while mothers modified their teachingbased on the progress of their chicks’
learning.
While science provides us with insightand
understanding about chicken
behavior,
anyone with an inquisitivemind andnormal
humansensibilities,
must
begin
to question
theway thepoultry
industry
deals withthese
intelligent
creatures
and also
question why
it is that wecontinue to treat
these birds
like unfeeling,unthinking
objects.

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
Here are 10 surprising facts about chickens:
http://www.peta.org/action/10-surprising-facts-chickens/Joshua Says: With Japan’s population dramatically dropping while aging at thesame time, the domestic market for goods and services here is also shrinking. Themost logical response for local manufacturers and suppliers will be to search foropportunities to expand in overseas markets. This will mean that command of
foreign languages, especially English, will become essential. One result is thatJapan, even Ehime, will become much more “internationalized” in the near future.
Junko Says: Recently I found an Australian reality TV series called “Bondi Vet”.
It follows the lives of a team of veterinarians at a Bondi Junction veterinary clinic
in Sydney. The team rescues and treats animals from a wide range of locations
such as normal family homes, office buildings, public spaces, streets and even fromnational parks. “Bondi Vet” was nominated the best reality TV program inAustralia in 2016. If you are interested, you can watch this program on YouTube.
Mark Says: Unfortunately, over the New Year holiday period I was unlucky
enough to contract Norovirus. As a result, I spent most of my time in bed,
stretched out on the sofa watching TV or in the smallest room in the house.
Ironically, I recovered just in the nick of time for my return to work. Go figure!
Matt Says: : In England, Christmas is viewed as a family holiday
and New Year is for friends and partying. However, in Japan this is
obviously reversed. New Years Eve is generally seen in the west as
the night of the year where bars make the most money so it wasstrange to see 80% of them closed while I was walking around town.
Danielle dit Je vous souhaite à tous et à toutes une bonne et heureuse année
2017 et que celle-ci vous apporte plein de bonnes choses. Au début de l'année,
il convient, plus par tradition que par conviction, de prendre de bonnesrésolutions pour l'année à venir (que l'on ne tient en général pas trèslongtemps). Quelles sont vos bonnes résolutions pour l'année qui vient ?
ACROSS
3 thorough, plain and blunt honesty
6 characteristic of birds
9 mental response to external stimuli
11 a noisy disturbance
12 refined, complex
13 sounds made for communicating
14 relating to how the brain works
15 encourage through promises or persuasion
16 not simple
DOWN
1 changed
2 suitable as food4 deep or clear understanding
5 hold back, keep
7 monkeys, apes and humans8 goes against
10 understand the feelings of others

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That’s me!

OEPGNTTULPIR
MC R A Z I E ROP E R I O DRSENANA
TF U S S YTR O O T S
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SPT
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RC O U N T L E S S
EERYHU N D I S P U T E DOUVN
T R A C E
ELM Y S T I C A L

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
7 more bizarre or unusual
8 the end, nothing else will follow
9 unnecessarily worrying
10 beginnings
12 too many to count14 generally agreed upon
15 follow or go back over
16 beyond ordinary understanding

DOWN
1 things to chose from
2 hired for work or military service
3 surely, certainly
4 pleasurable things to eat
5 more desired than another6 one supplier controlling a particular market
11 circumstances relating to peoples lives
13 a hand tool

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See our notice board, or ask Junko in our office, for the details.