Number of Lessons: 50 Lessons – 50 Questions [Standard: 1 question = 1 lesson (25 minutes)]
※ Depending on the learner’s level, one question may equal ２ lessons (50 minutes)
(Please take as many lessons as you need based on your judgment.)
Features: Original teaching materials will be used, with test-like questions.
Lesson Overview
Preparatory Type: Students are recommended to prepare their answer in advance. During the lesson, the instructor will revise and advise based on the student’s answer, working together to create a model answer.
Practice Type: Like in the actual test, without prior preparation, students create their answer with guidance from the instructor, receiving revisions and advice while forming the model answer.
The answers will be revised based on four criteria: content, structure, vocabulary, and grammar.
━━ How the Lesson Proceeds ━━
① It is recommended to prepare in advance. Create your answer in a file such as Word. (For those who prefer the tension of the actual test situation, please proceed without preparation.)
② The standard is to complete one question in 25 minutes (one session).
③ During the lesson, the student drops their written answer into the instructor’s chat box for revision.
The instructor will revise the answer paragraph by paragraph, sharing the screen with the student.
At the end, the instructor will give advice on the entire completed document.
④ If the answer is not completed during the lesson, the instructor will provide the student with the partially completed answer in a document file (Word or OpenOffice Writer).
⑤ The student is to complete the answer by the next lesson and pass it to the instructor during the lesson time.
⑥ In the second lesson, the instructor will revise the completed answer on the shared screen. The revision, advice, and completion of the answer will be tailored to the student’s level in this writing lesson.”
● Read the article below and summarize it in your own words as far as possible in English. ● Suggested length: 90–110 words ● Write your summary in the space provided on your answer sheet. Any writing outside the space will not be graded.
「5 Tips for Answering Summary Questions」
① Identifying the Main Argument ⇒ After reading the entire paper, the author’s main argument is identified. The summary revolves around this main argument.
② Abstracting Specific Terms ⇒ Specific terms and proper nouns are paraphrased into more general or abstract expressions. For example, specific names like “Lake X” or “River Y” are changed to words like “water bodies” and abstracted.
③ Constructing Logical Structure ⇒ Care is taken to establish a logical structure, including causal relationships, to maintain the same logical flow as the original text. The summary simplifies the presentation of the main argument and the flow of the original text. Paragraph One Summary → Paragraph Two Summary → Paragraph Three Summary
④ Eliminating Redundancy ⇒ Redundant information and repetitions are removed, focusing on essential information. By consolidating repeated sentences or similar words into more general terms, the summary is made concise.
⑤ Confirming Coherence ⇒ Checking if the summary conveys the author’s main argument without requiring prior knowledge.
▮ Sample Article (312 words )
Poyang Lake is China’s biggest freshwater lake. Although people have fished it for generations, these days, a new resource is being removed-sand. Up to 10,000 tons of sand are dug up from the lake floor per hour, making this the world’s largest sand mine. Much of the sand is shipped to Shanghai—a city whose population has risen by 7 million since 2007-where it is used in the construction of high-rises, roads, and other structures. Massive mining operations exist not only in China but also in other nations, including Australia and the United States. GlobaJly, the largest importer of sand is Singapore, which has used the resource to increase its territorial landmass by 20 square miles.
The consequences of sand mining are a major concern. Removing sand from water bodies increases water sediment, blocking out sunlight; this interferes with underwater plants’production of oxygen, making survival for fish and other organisms difficult. ln the case of Poyang Lake, sand removal has made the channels leading out of the lake much deeper and wider, doubling the amount of water flowing out\var·d. Consequently, the lake’s water level has dropped dramatically. This threatens the water supply to neighboring wetlands, which are home to numerous bird species and other wildlife.
Many countries are becoming increasingly aware of the damage caused by sand mining. Demand for the resource has taken a toll on Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia, which have ba皿ed sand exports in efforts to preserve local ecosystems. However, increasing demand means that when mining stops in one area, other areas take on the burden of supply. China’s Yangtze River, for example, was fom1erly a major sand-mining site, but by the late 1990s so much had been removed that bridges collapsed along with large sections of the riverbank. When sand mining was banned on the Yangtze in 2000, operations shifted to Poyang Lake.
▮ Sample Answer (96 words)
Sand is being mined in large quantities from bodies of water around the world to fuel the development of urban areas. Despite the various positive effects that may result from these activities, sand mining also has ecological consequences that endanger the lives of various organis1ns. ln response, some governments are trying to 1nitigate the harm that arises from this by enacting laws that prohibit the export of sand. Unfortunately, banning sand mining appears to only be a temporary solution in some locations as mining operations often end up simply moving to other sites.
==============================================
Constructing Logical Structure ⇒ Care is taken to establish a logical structure, including causal relationships, to maintain the same logical flow as the original text. The summary simplifies the presentation of the main argument and the flow of the original text. Paragraph One Summary → Paragraph Two Summary → Paragraph Three Summary
Sample Answer
Evaluation Criteria
Answers will be graded on four aspects: content, structure, vocabulary, and grammar. Each perspective is evaluated on a 5-point scale from 0 to 8 points, with a maximum score of 32 points.
Makuhari Junior High School Returnee Students Quota Entrance Exam – English Test Interview
About Shibumaku Interview (渋幕の面接対策について)
コミュニケーション能力/積極性/自分の意見をしっかりいえるかどうかが問われます。
Communication skills, proactivity, and the ability to clearly express one’s opinions are key factors evaluated. Although Shibumaku does not have group discussions, in situations where group discussions are present, it’s not only about expressing one’s opinion but also about listening to others’ opinions, and being able to draw out those opinions.
The content of interviews for returning middle school students generally falls into five patterns:
① Small talk ② General questions asking for an opinion ③ Group discussions ④ Current affairs ⑤ Questions about a pre-submitted short essay/essay
In particular, for Shibumaku interviews, the actual questions asked were 1. Small talk (normal conversation), 2. General questions asking for an opinion, and 5. Questions about a pre-submitted pre-essay. When I took the exam, it started with small talk, like ‘How did you get here today?’ This type of conversation is, I believe, to assess basic communication skills. Then, there were general questions, such as ‘Do you think time is important?’ or ‘Should wearing school uniforms be mandatory during commutes?’ The ability to express an opinion, and logically explain the reasoning is crucial. This is followed by questions about the pre-essay submitted with the application form. A pre-essay, for example, could be about ‘Writing about your favorite character, including the reasons why you like them.’ You might be asked why you chose that character and what you learned from them.
渋幕中学 帰国子女枠入試面接試験 対策コース
Course Name: Shibumaku Junior High School Interview Course
― Contents ―
① Whom do you most admire?
② Do you enjoy watching movies?
③ What was the most important invention of the last decade?
④ How do you spend your free time?
⑤ What goals do you have for the future?
⑥ Which English books would you recommend to non-returnee students?
⑥ What club would you like to join?
⑦ What was the biggest difference between Japan and another country you have lived in or visited?
⑧ 8Please tell us about your background.
⑨ What is a technological innovation you would like to see in your lifetime?
⑩ Which historical event should students know more about?
⑪ What recent news story has interested you most?
⑫ What other activities do you do in your free time?
⑬ What advice would you give to other returnees about returning to Japan?
⑭ What do you want to achieve in junior high school?
⑮ What books do you enjoy reading?
⑯ Which author’s style do you like?
⑰ If you were to give a title to your life story, what would it be?
⑱ What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
⑲ Who is someone who has had an impact on your life?
⑳ Who is a fictional character who has had an impact on your life?
Lesson Course Name: EIKEN Grade Pre 1 Writing Summary Task
Number of Lessons: 50 Lessons – 50 Questions [Standard: 1 question = 1 lesson (25 minutes)]
(Please take as many lessons as you need based on your judgment.)
Features: Original teaching materials will be used, with test-like questions.
Lesson Overview
Preparatory Type: Students are recommended to prepare their answer in advance. During the lesson, the instructor will revise and advise based on the student’s answer, working together to create a model answer.
Practice Type: Like in the actual test, without prior preparation, students create their answer with guidance from the instructor, receiving revisions and advice while forming the model answer.
The answers will be revised based on four criteria: content, structure, vocabulary, and grammar.
━━ How the Lesson Proceeds ━━
① It is recommended to prepare in advance. Create your answer in a file such as Word. (For those who prefer the tension of the actual test situation, please proceed without preparation.)
② The standard is to complete one question in 25 minutes (one session).
③ During the lesson, the student drops their written answer into the instructor’s chat box for revision.
The instructor will revise the answer paragraph by paragraph, sharing the screen with the student.
At the end, the instructor will give advice on the entire completed document.
④ If the answer is not completed during the lesson, the instructor will provide the student with the partially completed answer in a document file (Word or OpenOffice Writer).
⑤ The student is to complete the answer by the next lesson and pass it to the instructor during the lesson time.
⑥ In the second lesson, the instructor will revise the completed answer on the shared screen. The revision, advice, and completion of the answer will be tailored to the student’s level in this writing lesson.”
「5 Tips for Answering Summary Questions」
① Identifying the Main Argument ⇒ After reading the entire paper, the author’s main argument is identified. The summary revolves around this main argument.
② Abstracting Specific Terms ⇒ Specific terms and proper nouns are paraphrased into more general or abstract expressions. For example, specific names like “Lake X” or “River Y” are changed to words like “water bodies” and abstracted.
③ Constructing Logical Structure ⇒ Care is taken to establish a logical structure, including causal relationships, to maintain the same logical flow as the original text. The summary simplifies the presentation of the main argument and the flow of the original text. Paragraph One Summary → Paragraph Two Summary → Paragraph Three Summary
④ Eliminating Redundancy ⇒ Redundant information and repetitions are removed, focusing on essential information. By consolidating repeated sentences or similar words into more general terms, the summary is made concise.
⑤ Confirming Coherence ⇒ Checking if the summary conveys the author’s main argument without requiring prior knowledge.
※ Instructors, please receive the Answer Key from the manager.
EIKEN Grade Pre 1 Writing Added ‘Summary’ task to existing ‘Opinion’ task.
Sample question
● Read the article below and summarize it in your own words as far as possible in English. ● Suggested length: 60–70 words ● Write your summary in the space provided on your answer sheet. Any writing outside the space will not be graded.
Constructing Logical Structure ⇒ Care is taken to establish a logical structure, including causal relationships, to maintain the same logical flow as the original text. The summary simplifies the presentation of the main argument and the flow of the original text. Paragraph One Summary → Paragraph Two Summary → Paragraph Three Summary
Model Answer
Evaluation Criteria
Answers will be graded on four aspects: content, structure, vocabulary, and grammar. Each perspective is evaluated on a 5-point scale from 0 to 4 points, with a maximum score of 16 points.
