Aug CROSSROADS Language Studio’s Newsletter 2004

Every 4 Years
The 2004 Summer Olympics will be atime for athletes from the four corners of
the world to put into practice their hard
work, and strive for gold in their chosen
sports.
This year’s games, will coincidentallytake place in Athens, Greece where they
originated. It’s said that Heracles, the sonof Zeus was responsible for having founded
the Games. However, the first official
Olympics of which records were kept
occurred in 776 B.C. At these games, a
naked runner named Koroibos
wonthe only event held - a raceof 192 meters, making him thefirst Olympic champion in history.
The ancient games grewfrom there and were held every four years
for 1200 years until, in 393 A.D., theRoman emperor Theodosius abolishedthem on account of their pagan influences.
About 1500 years later, a French
aristocrat named Pierre de Coubertin tried
to revive them. In 1890 he founded a sports
organization - Union des Societes
Francaises de Sports Athletiques.

Four years later, 79 delegates, whom he
had invited to a meeting of thisorganization, approved the idea of reviving
the Olympics. They then founded theInternational Olympic Committee toorganize them. Demetrious Vikelas, aGreek, was named the first president, andAthens, Greece was chosen as the site forthe games.
The first modern era Olympics were
held during the first week of April in 1896.
The government lacked funds to build astadium, so a rich Greek architect named
Georgios Averoff, donated one million
drachmas ($100,000) to restore
the Panathenaic Stadium.
Since the Olympics were notgreatly publicized, people were
not chosen nationally, butrather represented themselves. They also
wore the uniforms of their athletic clubs
rather than the uniforms of their national
teams. The sports pole vaulting, sprints,shot put, weightlifting, swimming, cycling,target shooting, tennis, marathon andgymnastics were all part of the firstmodernOlympics.
Story by Grace(These words are in color in the story)

Joshua Says: It’s the cricket season again! This year we will hold the second

all West Japan cricket tournament here in Matsuyama at Tobe Athletic ParkTamokutekihirobu on the 28th and 29th of this month (August). The games will
be on all day, both days, and will involve about 5 or 6 teams from the WestJapan region. So, why don’t you have a day out with us and come to cheer forour team?!
Junko Says: There’s another “big” event coming up soon. On Saturday the 4thof next month (September) we are going to hold our first BEER GARDEN partyon the rooftop of the new school. It starts here at 7:30pm and will go to … ?
Bring some drinks or food (we hope to have a Bar-B-Q also) and all your friends!
This is going to be a real treat, so don’t miss out on the fun.
Grace Says: Do you have any special plans for Obon? I was planning to visit

Tokyo, but have decided to do so in September, when my trip will be muchless expensive and the weather cooler too. Instead, I’ll just stay in
Matsuyama and take it easy by catching up on my sleep and reading, goingto the gym, watching films etc. Have a good Obon everyone!!
Rachael Says: In July I took a short holiday and went back to Yamaguchi

where I lived and worked 3-4 years ago. It was so amazing to be back, I
remembered every tree, every building and the names of people who I
hadn’t even thought about for three years! It’s the first time I’ve returned toa place where I’d lived before and it was so great to meet up with all my oldfriends, colleagues and students again.
Greg says: This month I’m planning to go to Oita during the Obon
holidays. I went there 2 years ago during Golden Week and stayed in a log
cabin on a huge farm. I loved the beautiful scenery and the delicious food somuch that I’ve decided to take off again to Oita and try to recapture all
those pleasures once more. I’ll let you know if anything has changed frommy last trip.
Here’s a way to expand your English. Ask your friends,
teacher or family members what the heaviest English book they have everread is. Borrow it and start to read it. Don’t put it down for any reason, even
if it starts to get a bit heavy for you after awhile. Keep trying to hold on! Asa starter, this one is heavy – “The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri” –1.5kgs!!
Richard Says:Natasha Says: I am in Moscow now. The latest news says that the Siberianpipeline will be constructed from Taishet (near Lake Baikal) to Nakhotoka (JapanSea). On my island, oil and gasprojects, Sakhalin 1 & 2, areunderconstruction.Russian oil production will soon outdo Saudi Arabia’s as the world’s
No1. For the next several decades Japan will import much oil from Far-Eastern
Russia, and the Japan-Russian relationship will develop to the next level.
Yuka Says: How often do you go to the movies? Every month? Every week?

Or, more? I seldom go to see a movie, but last month I went three times!
The reason was simple; just to avoid the unbearable summer heat. Inside
the theater it’s cool and comfortable. Besides, we can listen to real English
and, if we wish, we can sleep! Isn’t that a nice place to relax?

Mikako says: I went to Kyoto to see “Gion Matsuri” with my mother. There
are many big and historical festivals in Kyoto and “Gion Matsuri” is one ofthem. This year 48,000 people attended in temperatures that rose to 36
degrees! “Gion Matsuri” falls in July and the main events are held on the 14th,16th and 17th. On the 17th there is a big parade called “Yamaboko Junkou”. It’s
really fantastic and very beautiful. If you have the time, I recommend you go
and see “Gion Matsuri” for yourself.
Yuri says: Recently I went to Osaka to meet some old friends from my technical college.
We went to Wakayama together. Wakayama was very hot, but has some beautiful beaches.
I swam but the water temperature was low so I only had a short swim. We stayed onenight and the next day we returned to Osaka. I took the bus back to Matsuyama.

Beer Garden Party!
Place: Crossroads’
roof-top
Date: Sat. 4th Sept. 2004
Time: 7:30pm start to ..?
Bring: food/drink andall your friends!!!

CRICKET –TheWestJapan Cricket
Tourney will beheld at
Tamokutekihirobu on the28th and 29thof Aug. 2004

Congratulations to Yukihisa
for passing his Eiken exam!!
We hope that you also do well inthe exam for the next level
coming up in September.

NET LESSONS:
Are you too busy to come to CROSSROADS
to study? Try our lessons on the internet!
It’s CROSSROADS in your home or office!
You get CROSSROADS’ great teachers,
teaching programs, even classmates, all online! Call for details.

NET SITE OF THE MONTH:If you’re a sports fan and want to get thelatest Summer Olympics coverage, visit thiswebsite:www.athens2004.com/athens2004
Don’t forget to take a look at the N E TNOTEBOOK in our Open-house lounge.
You’ll find games, news and English study
sites.

HOMOPHONES ARE WORDS THATARE PRONOUNCED THE SAMEBUT HAVE DIFFERENTMEANINGS.
ROLE: an actor’s part in a play or filmMelissa’s role ininteresting too.

the play was funny andROLL: to turn something over orround, to rotate something… roll the dice on the table.

FLOUR: powder from crushed wheat
to make bread and cakes with
You need flour to bake bread.

FLOWER: part of a plant from whichseeds and/or the fruit develops
There’s only one flower left in the vase.

Phone: 0120-21-7594
Tel: (089) 921-7595
Fax: (089) 921-7319
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