jaremaga

mandarin duck
JM posts

Who’s Beautiful?

When we use the word “beautiful” in English, we are usually talking about women, not men. Women usually wear brighter colors and makeup while men dress in less colorful clothes. However, it is different for many birds, especially ducks. Winter is the season when many different kinds of ducks come to Japan, and the male ducks are beautiful now. Some have green heads, and others have white necks and long tails. The females are usually just brown. The male mandarin duck (“oshidori”) is the most colorful of all the ducks. It has a red bill (mouth), an orange “beard,” and a white head with a purple and green crest on top. The sides are covered in purple, orange, and blue feathers with black and white stripes.

February 26, 2024 No Comments
Essay Contest winner

JHS Essay Contest, tied for 4th Prize:  A Good End to the Year

I sometimes play tennis with my friends. It has been three years since I started playing tennis, and I am becoming good at playing. I enjoy playing tennis very much, but these days it is getting cold, and my body doesn’t move very well. Especially in the morning, I cannot move. The other day, when I played tennis with a friend, I got very excited because everyone was very cold and moving strangely. They were all moving like robots and old men, including me. For the first time in a long time, I was able to laugh a lot. It was a good end to the year.     By Hayato

February 25, 2024 No Comments
Readers' Corner

Readers’ Corner: Dictionaries or Smartphones?

A new school term has started, and I guess high school students are interested in buying a new dictionary. Actually, I bought a new electronic dictionary for myself last month. It’s been about 20 years since I bought the old one. Recently I have had a bit of trouble with it, so I decided to buy a new one. The screen is clear and easy on my eyes. The dictionary contains a vocabulary book for the STEP test, so you can study with it. I don’t fully make use of all the new features, but it is very convenient. These days, you can search for words or phrases just by using your smartphone. I wonder whether high school students are still using dictionaries. I’m sure that the number of students who use paper dictionaries is very limited.   (137 words)

May 24, 2021 No Comments