CROSSROADS Language StudioÊs Newsletter February,February, 2022
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Winter gives us a very much needed
respite from incessant humidity present
throughout much of the year. Low
temperatures in the dead of winter are
perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, but here in
Ehime the season is relatively short and not
too cold. February usually receives somesnowfall in the mountains and thus provides
a short period of opportunity to wear winterjackets and hats. Low humidity in the air
results in high visibility at long distances,making a mountain hike a particularly
rewarding weekend activity.
Most modern warm clothes are made ofsynthetic fabrics, which efficiently trap bodyheat and expel moisture which builds up
from exertion. A combination of low
humidity, cold air and synthetic fabrics
create excellent conditions for conducting
electricity. The result is an unpleasant zap,
whenever we try to touch things in oursurroundings.

And as much as it can be incredibly
annoying to get mildly electrocuted at home,several times a day, this phenomenon can be
put to good use in many applications.
One such application is printing with alaser printer, where ink particles arecharged up and travel straight onto a paper
carrying an opposite charge. Nowadays, cars
are painted using static electricity, ensuringthat spray paint goes directly onto the car’s
body, minimizing waste into the air.
But what about us? Nobody wants to getpassively zapped by electrons for no goodreason. There are proven methods for
reducing static shock.
One good idea is to keep humidity in thehouse above 50% and, if it’s practical,
spraying water mist onto dry surfaces toincrease their moisture content.
Our shoes are perfect insulators andeffectively prevent electrons discharging toour body, but some soles, such as rubber, area good conductor, so avoid those.

EllaJanis

When the air is humid, charged electrons
freely travel between objects and surfaces,with positive and negative charges balancing
each other out all the time. However, in low
humidity, the objects begin to build up acharge over a long period of time, and whena positively charged object touches anegatively charged object, a near-instantexchange of electrons occurs, leading to anaudible and often visible spark between
these objects.

Additionally, before you reach for yourexpensive smart-phone, touch a metal
surface attached to a wooden surface to get
rid of static charge, as phones have delicate
parts sensitive to excess electricity.

Article by Marek

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
For more info and useful vocabulary, head over here:

https://www.britannica.com/science/static-electricity

Joshua Says: I think that we are settling in very nicely in our new schoolbuilding. And I get the feeling that you, our students, are quite satisfied too!
It’s gratifying to see the “Open House” is being used more than in the lastschool, with many of you coming in early to “chill out” before your lessons
start. Do feel welcome to come any time, even if it’s not your lesson day, andenjoy the facilities, and the view!
Junko Says: I am going to add some more TV programs in our OpenHouse this month. They will be current world news programs in
English from various countries such as the U. K., Australia, Canada,
the U.S.A., New Zealand and Europe, as well as Japan. Japan has two
English news channels, NHK World News and Nippon TV News 24. I
hope these will prove to be useful to you.
Marek Says: I am anxiously awaiting Spring, checking out weather forecast
2 weeks in advance hoping to see temperatures in double digits. A few days
ago, I got very excited when I saw 3 yellow butterflies in my garden looking
for nectar in winter flowers and, on a brick wall, I spotted a huge grasshopper
catching early morning rays. It immediately put me in a Spring mood for awhole day. One more month to go!
Mandcy dit: Bonne Saint-valentin à tous et ne mangez pas trop de chocolat!! Un peu
d'amour en chiffres ce mois-ci. En effet, selon un sondage realisé par Opinionway, 53 % descouples francais avouent avoir posté une photo heureuse ensemble alors que ça n’allait pas dansle couple. Comne quoi, les reseaux sociaux ne reflètent absolument pas la réalité. De plus, 64% des Français estiment que les couples ne devraient pas s’étaler sur les réseaux sociaux. Je croisbien qu'ils sont jaloux, très jaloux!!! Je me demande bien ce que pense les japonais de ceci.
ACROSS
4 opposite of aggressive
6 able to accomplish a purpose
7 direct the course of something
9 water in the atmosphere
14 materials to protect from noise,
heat, etc.
15 tiny pieces of anything
17 easily broken or damaged
18 not of natural origin
19 currently happening or existing
20 comparatively
DOWN
1 cloth often for wearing
2 disturbing, irritating
3 to a moderate extent
5 making a great effort
8 continuing for a long time
10 not easy to believe
11 a walk usually for exercise
12 strike suddenly
13 observable with the eye
16 able to hear

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(print version here)

20Select the correct interpretation, A, B or C for each of theproverb below:„The cat may look at the king‰ – A: Everyone, even a king, should have a pet.
B: A person of lower status isn’t completely
restricted in what they may do in the presenceof their superior.
C: You shouldn’t try to hide when your boss
walks into the office.
„Softly, softly, catchee monkey‰ - A: You have a better chance of achieving yourgoal if you proceed discreetly and carefully.
B: If you want to catch a monkey, don’t make a
lot of noise.
C: Get a good night’s sleep and have pleasant
dreams.
„A little knowledge is a dangerous thing‰ – A: Knowing too much is dangerous.
B: It is better not to know anything than
to know everything.
C: A small amount of knowledge canmislead you into thinking you are anexpert on the subject.
„Lie down with dogs, wake up with flees‰ – A: Sleeping in and being late for work
can get you fired.
B: You can gain some information fromeveryone you associate with.
C: If you associate with dishonest people,you’ll get a bad reputation.
SI N T R I G U E
AENL
NFEM Y S T I C I S M
S O L I T A R Y
RE
IACA
M
CCO
ATFO
NEI
D E P I C T E DUF
G O O F YNNARUOET
G U A R D I A N S
S T A N Z A
SGITIO V E R L O O KEOUNM
U N S A V O R Y
U N I Q U EWEED

Last Month’s Puzzle SolutionDOWNACROSS
2 fascinating, interesting,curious
5 a belief beyond ordinary
understanding
6 preferring to be alone
11 represented in a drawing
or in words
12 foolish
14 protectors
15 part of a poem
16 fail to notice
17 unacceptable, displeasing
19 outstanding, one-of-akind

1 a general conscious
awareness
2 causing harm
3 (two words) another versionof oneself
4 a distinctive period of time
7 disorder, lack of clear
thought
8 cause to remain in place
9 showing no fear
10 frightening
13 highlighted, given
prominence
18 a great feeling of wonder oradmiration

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.