A Lesson on Asahi Shimbun

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THE LESSON ON ASAHI SHIMBUN

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The Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's best-selling newspapers, with a daily circulation of over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "most respected daily Japanese-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was founded in 1879 and cost one sen (a hundredth of a yen). The paper "prides itself on its investigative reporting and analyses of business and political coverage, as well as insightful stories on Japan's fascinating subculture". There is a highly popular digital edition of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-depth coverage of China, the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia". There is a Kindle version that offers stories on "cool Japan". The newspaper has an alliance with the International Herald Tribune.

ONLINE QUIZZES

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    WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

    WARM-UPS

    1. BRAINSTORM CHAT: Write all the words you can think of about the Asahi Shimbun on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).

    2. ASAHI SHIMBUN STAFF ROOM: Each student pretends to be an employee of the Asahi Shimbun. They walk around the "staff room" (classroom) and talk about the company and their job.

    3. RUMOURS: Each student writes down a pretend rumour about the Asahi Shimbun. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.

    4. BETTER: Brainstorm ideas why the Asahi Shimbun is better than other newspapers and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs and think of ways to make these ideas better.

    5. TRUE OR FALSE: Students find out several facts about the Asahi Shimbun. They write these down and add the same number of things about the company that are false. Students test each other on which of their points are true or false.

    6. FACTS: In groups, students write down as many facts as they can about the Asahi Shimbun. The winner is the group with the most facts. Teacher may wish to have groups share their facts to make sure they are real.

    LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

    The Asahi Shimbun ____________________ best-selling newspapers, with a ____________________ over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "most ______________________-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was founded in 1879 and cost one sen (____________________ yen). The paper "prides itself on its investigative reporting ____________________ business and political coverage, as well as insightful stories on Japan's ____________________". There is a highly popular digital edition of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-depth coverage of China, ____________________ and the rest of Asia". There is a Kindle version that offers stories on "cool Japan". The newspaper ____________________ the International Herald Tribune.

     

    MATCHING EXERCISES

    SYNONYM MATCH

    1.

    circulation

    a.

    investigations

    2

    respected

    b.

    partnership

    3.

    founded

    c.

    regarded

    4.

    analyses

    d.

    interesting

    5.

    coverage

    e.

    distribution

    6.

    insightful

    f.

    reporting

    7.

    fascinating

    g.

    extensive

    8.

    edition

    h.

    started

    9.

    in-depth

    i.

    razor-sharp

    10.

    alliance

    j.

    version

    PHRASE MATCH

    1.

    one of Japan's best-

    a.

    of a yen

    2

    a daily circulation of

    b.

    in 1879

    3.

    It was founded

    c.

    and political coverage

    4.

    a hundredth

    d.

    over eight million

    5.

    The paper prides itself on its

    e.

    depth coverage

    6.

    business

    f.

    selling newspapers

    7.

    insightful stories on Japan's

    g.

    edition

    8.

    a highly popular digital

    h.

    International Herald

    9.

    in-

    i.

    fascinating subculture

    10.

    an alliance with the

    j.

    investigative reporting


    LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

    The Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's (1) ____-selling newspapers, with a  (2) ____ circulation of over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "(3) ____ respected daily Japanese-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was (4) ____ in 1879 and cost one sen (a (5) ____ of a yen). The paper "prides (6) ____ on its investigative reporting and analyses of business and political (7) ____, as well as insightful stories on Japan's (8) ____ subculture". There is a (9) ____ popular digital edition of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-(10) ____  coverage of China, the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia". There is Kindle version that (11) ____ stories on "cool Japan". The newspaper has an (12) ____ with the International Herald Tribune.

    Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

    1.

    (a)

    good

    (b)

    deepest

    (c)

    best

    (d)

    web

    2.

    (a)

    daily

    (b)

    day

    (c)

    daylight

    (d)

    daydream

    3.

    (a)

    best

    (b)

    most

    (c)

    fastest

    (d)

    hottest

    4.

    (a)

    discovered

    (b)

    considered

    (c)

    propelled

    (d)

    founded

    5.

    (a)

    hundreds

    (b)

    hundredth

    (c)

    hundred

    (d)

    few hundred

    6.

    (a)

    itself

    (b)

    themselves

    (c)

    self

    (d)

    selves

    7.

    (a)

    brokerage

    (b)

    leverage

    (c)

    coverage

    (d)

    adage

    8.

    (a)

    fastening

    (b)

    frosting

    (c)

    faltering

    (d)

    fascinating

    9.

    (a)

    lowly

    (b)

    highly

    (c)

    width

    (d)

    depth

    10.

    (a)

    depth

    (b)

    length

    (c)

    width

    (d)

    height

    11.

    (a)

    requests

    (b)

    confirms

    (c)

    offers

    (d)

    asks

    12.

    (a)

    ally

    (b)

    allergy

    (c)

    allegation

    (d)

    alliance


    CORRECT THE SPELLING

    The Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's best-nligsel newspapers, with a daily cnoauiiclrt of over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "most derstpece daily Japanese-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was nodudfe in 1879 and cost one sen (a rthundhed of a yen). The paper "prides itself on its investigative reporting and analyses of business and political gveoerac, as well as ignlfishtu stories on Japan's fascinating subculture". There is a highly popular digital itndioe of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-depth coverage of China, the Korean lnnsPuaei and the rest of Asia". There is a Kindle version that offers stories on "cool Japan". The newspaper has an eacialln with the International Herald Tribune.

    UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

    The Asahi Shimbun of one is newspapers selling - best Japan's, with over million daily of eight a circulation. Its website says it is the respected most " country's language - Japanese daily newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". founded and was 1879 sen It one in cost (a hundredth of a yen). The paper "prides itself on its investigative political and of and reporting analyses business coverage, as well stories Japan's subculture insightful on fascinating as". There is a of edition digital popular highly in newspaper the English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-depth coverage of China, the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia". There is a Kindle " that cool offers Japan stories ". on version. The newspaper has an alliance with the International Herald Tribune.

    INSERT THE VOWELS

    Th_   _s_h_   Sh_mb_n   _s   _n_   _f   J_p_n's   b_st-s_ll_ng   n_wsp_p_rs,   w_th   _   d__ly   c_rc_l_t__n   _f   _v_r   __ght   m_ll__n.   _ts   w_bs_t_   s_ys   _t   _s   th_   c__ntry's   "m_st   r_sp_ct_d   d__ly   J_p_n_s_-l_ng__g_   n_wsp_p_r".   "_s_h_   Sh_mb_n"   _n   _ngl_sh   m__ns   "M_rn_ng   S_n   N_wsp_p_r".   _t   w_s   f__nd_d   _n   1879   _nd   c_st   _n_   s_n   (_   h_ndr_dth   _f   _   y_n).   Th_   p_p_r   "pr_d_s   _ts_lf   _n   _ts   _nv_st_g_t_v_   r_p_rt_ng   _nd   _n_lys_s   _f   b_s_n_ss   _nd   p_l_t_c_l   c_v_r_g_,   _s   w_ll   _s   _ns_ghtf_l   st_r__s   _n   J_p_n's   f_sc_n_t_ng   s_bc_lt_r_".   Th_r_   _s   _   h_ghly   p_p_l_r   d_g_t_l   _d_t__n   _f   th_   n_wsp_p_r   _n   _ngl_sh   –   th_   _JW   (_s__   _nd   J_p_n   W_tch),   wh_ch   _ff_rs   "_n-d_pth   c_v_r_g_   _f   Ch_n_,   th_   K_r__n   P_n_ns_l_   _nd   th_   r_st   _f   _s__".   Th_r_   _s   _   K_ndl_   v_rs__n   th_t   _ff_rs   st_r__s   _n   "c__l   J_p_n".   Th_   n_wsp_p_r   h_s   _n   _ll__nc_   w_th   th_   _nt_rn_t__n_l   H_r_ld   Tr_b_n_.

    PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

    the asahi shimbun is one of japan's best-selling newspapers with a daily circulation of over eight million its website says it is the country's "most respected daily japanese-language newspaper" "asahi shimbun" in english means "morning sun newspaper" it was founded in 1879 and cost one sen (a hundredth of a yen) the paper "prides itself on its investigative reporting and analyses of business and political coverage as well as insightful stories on japan's fascinating subculture" there is a highly popular digital edition of the newspaper in english – the ajw (asia and japan watch) which offers "in-depth coverage of china the korean peninsula and the rest of asia" there is a kindle version that offers stories on "cool japan" the newspaper has an alliance with the international herald tribune

    PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

    Number these lines in the correct order.

    (    )

    respected daily Japanese-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun"

    (    )

    and analyses of business and political coverage, as well as insightful

    (    )

    depth coverage of China, the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia". There is Kindle version that offers stories

    (    )

    in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was founded in 1879 and

    (    )

    cost one sen (a hundredth of a yen). The paper "prides itself on its investigative reporting

    (    )

    circulation of over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "most

    (    )

    on "cool Japan". The newspaper has an alliance with the International Herald Tribune.

    (    )

    stories on Japan's fascinating subculture". There is a highly popular digital

    (    )

    The Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's best-selling newspapers, with a daily

    (    )

    edition of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

    The Asahi Shimbun .......... (be) one of Japan's best-selling newspapers with a daily circulation of over eight million Its website .......... (say) it is the country's "most .......... (respect) daily Japanese-language newspaper" "Asahi Shimbun" in English .......... (mean) "Morning Sun Newspaper" It .......... (be) founded in 1879 and cost one sen (a hundredth of a yen) The paper ".......... (pride) itself on its investigative reporting and analyses of business and political coverage as well as insightful stories on Japan's fascinating subculture" There .......... (be) a highly popular digital edition of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch) which .......... (offer) "in-depth coverage of China the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia" There .......... (be) a Kindle version that .......... (offer) stories on "cool Japan" The newspaper .......... (have) an alliance with the International Herald Tribune

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    REWRITE WITH SPACES

    TheAsahiShimbunisoneofJapan'sbest-sellingnewspapers,withadailycirculationof
    overeightmillion.Itswebsitesaysitisthecountry's"mostrespecteddailyJapanese-language
    newspaper"."AsahiShimbun"inEnglishmeans"MorningSunNewspaper".Itwas
    foundedin1879andcostonesen(ahundredthofayen).Thepaper"pridesitselfonitsinvestigative
    reportingandanalysesofbusinessandpoliticalcoverage,aswellasinsightfulstoriesonJapan's
    fascinatingsubculture".ThereisahighlypopulardigitaleditionofthenewspaperinEnglish–the
    AJW(AsiaandJapanWatch),whichoffers"in-depthcoverageofChina,theKoreanPeninsulaandtherest
    ofAsia".ThereisaKindleversionthatoffersstorieson"cool
    Japan".ThenewspaperhasanalliancewiththeInternationalHeraldTribune.

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

    The Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's best-____________ newspapers, with a ____________ circulation of over eight million. Its website says it is the country's "____________ respected daily Japanese-language newspaper". "Asahi Shimbun" in English means "Morning Sun Newspaper". It was ____________ in 1879 and cost one sen (a ____________ of a yen). The paper "____________ itself on its investigative reporting and ____________ of business and political coverage, as well as ____________ stories on Japan's fascinating subculture". There is a highly popular digital ____________ of the newspaper in English – the AJW (Asia and Japan Watch), which offers "in-____________ coverage of China, the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia". There is a Kindle version that offers stories on "____________ Japan". The newspaper has an ____________ with the International Herald Tribune.

     

     insightful

    hundredth

    alliance

    daily

    depth

    prides

    selling

    most

    cool

    founded

    analyses

    edition

    PROJECT ASAHI SHIMBUN

    Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of the Asahi Shimbun. Complete this table with your project partner(s):

    Main products

     

     

     

    How to improve them

     

     

     

    A brand new 'killer' product

     

    How the Asahi Shimbun is better than the competition

     

    How to beat the competition

     

    Part 2. Change partners and look at their project. Suggest improvements. Ask for advice on your project:

    Part 3. Make a presentation on your project. Give it to the class. Vote the best projects.

    ASAHI SHIMBUN – ROLE PLAY 1

    Role  A – Asahi Shimbun CEO

    You believe your company is the best in the world. It pays its workers very well and working conditions are great. Your company is very green – it cares about the environment. You think your levels of customer service are great. Disagree with person B, C and D.

    Role  B – Asahi Shimbun worker

    You think it's a bad company to work for. You're very unhappy with pay, raises and bonuses. You are very unhappy with the working environment. You don't like the company's policy on the environment. You keep hearing profits are more important than customers. Disagree with A and C. Tell D the truth.

    Role  C – Asahi Shimbun customer

    You are a customer of the Asahi Shimbun. You used to think it was great, but not now. You can never find anyone in customer service - no one answers the phone. You are shocked about its policy on the environment. You think all staff should get less pay. You disagree with person A and B. Tell D the truth.

    Role  D – A journalist from another newspaper

    You keep hearing bad things about the Asahi Shimbun. You want to tell the world in your newspaper. You heard the CEO gets a huge bonus every year. You found a company memo saying profits are more important than the environment. You want to know why so many staff are ill. Find the truth.

    ASAHI SHIMBUN – ROLE PLAY 2

    Role  A – Asahi Shimbun New Sections Director

    You have created a new features section for the Asahi Shimbun. You believe the new section will be the company's best ever. There are people who do not agree with you. You need B, C and D on your side. Tell them why this is a section that will bring great things to the Asahi Shimbun.

    Role  B – Asahi Shimbun Marketing Director

    You think the company's new section is a really bad idea. It will give your company a really bad name. You think the New Sections Director is trying to destroy the company. Try to get him/her to understand there's no way the new section will help the newspaper. Try to get person C and D to agree with you.

    Role  C – Asahi Shimbun Market Researcher

    You have interviewed thousands of people about the new section. They love it. You think it is risky but that it will be a huge success. Tell the New Sections Director he/she needs to go ahead with it very quickly. You do not trust person B. Disagree will him/her.

    Role  D – Asahi Shimbun Shareholder

    You know a lot about the Asahi Shimbun's new section. You are worried it will not be popular and share prices will go down. You think A is crazy and must find a new job. You agree with everything B says. You don't agree with C. The new section should not be put in the newspaper.

    JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

    INTERVIEWER  (Write the questions you want to ask the candidate.)

    1.

    ________________________________________________________

    2.

    ________________________________________________________

    3.

    ________________________________________________________

    4.

    ________________________________________________________

    5.

    ________________________________________________________

    6.

    ________________________________________________________

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    INTERVIEWEE  (Write questions you want to ask the interviewer.)

    1.

    ________________________________________________________

    2.

    ________________________________________________________

    3.

    ________________________________________________________

    4.

    ________________________________________________________

    5.

    ________________________________________________________

    6.

    ________________________________________________________


    DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

    STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1.

    ________________________________________________________

    2.

    ________________________________________________________

    3.

    ________________________________________________________

    4.

    ________________________________________________________

    5.

    ________________________________________________________

    6.

    ________________________________________________________

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1.

    ________________________________________________________

    2.

    ________________________________________________________

    3.

    ________________________________________________________

    4.

    ________________________________________________________

    5.

    ________________________________________________________

    6.

    ________________________________________________________

    ASAHI SHIMBUN SURVEY

    Write five GOOD questions about the Asahi Shimbun in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

    When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

     

    STUDENT 1

    _____________

    STUDENT 2

    _____________

    STUDENT 3

    _____________

    Q.1.

     

     

     

     

    Q.2.

     

     

     

     

    Q.3.

     

     

     

     

    Q.4.

     

     

     

     

    Q.5.

     

     

     

     

    WRITING 1 – SPEED WRITING

    Write anything about the Asahi Shimbun for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other's work.

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    WRITING 2 – LETTER OF COMPLAINT

    Write a letter to the Asahi Shimbun. Complain about one of its stories. Explain what the story was and why you don't like it. Show your partner your paper. Correct their work.

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    WRITING 3 – REPLY

    Write a reply to the reader. Say you understand his/her point of view and explain why you think the story was OK. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other's work.

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

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    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    _____________________________________________

    HOMEWORK

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about the Asahi Shimbun. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the Asahi Shimbun. What have they done recently? What are their plans? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    4. ASAHI SHIMBUN POSTER Make a poster about the Asahi Shimbun. Make sure you sell the company to the public.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

    5. MY ASAHI SHIMBUN LESSON: Make your own English lesson on the Asahi Shimbun. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

    6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, other social network account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on the Asahi Shimbun. Share your findings with the class.

    ANSWERS

    Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.




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