5th October 2012

|Episode 68|

Salarymen’s Money Shrinks

Follow ENW on Twitter: twitter.com/enwpodcast

Follow ENW on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ENW1975

Go to our Homepage: http://pod.flare.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/cms/enw.php

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

Contents Pages

Part 1 | Warm Ups

Odd-One-Out Page 3

Brainstorm Page 3

How Much? Page 3 & 4

Quiz | Japan & Economy Page 4

Part 2 | Before Listening / Reading

Jumbled Sentences Page 5

True or False Page 5

Vocabulary | Antonyms Page 5

Part 3 | Listening / Reading

The News Story Page 6

What Do You Think..? Page 6

Part 4 | After Listening / Reading

Q & A Page 7

A & Q Page 7

Part 5 | Extra Stuff

Extra English I Page 8

7 to Chinwag Page 8

Writing Activity Page 9

And Finally….

Did You Know? Page 9

TV Links Page 10

The Answers Pages 10-12

| A1 This symbol = Listening activity in the podcast.

| A1 ポッドキャストに含まれているリスニング演習。

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

[201210-01] Salarymen’s Shrinking Pocket Money | October 5th 2012

| PART 1 | Warm Ups |

Warm Up | 1 Odd 1 Out

Look at the four words below, which word is different from the other three?

Write your reason in the box underneath. Check your answer later.

a) Expand b) Decline c) Reduce d) Collapse

My Reason… _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Warm Up | 2 Brainstorm

How many different words can you connect to the word in the box? Can you think of at least 10 words? Why do you think this?

|My Money|

Warm Up | 3 How Much?

Look at the list of items you could buy in a Japanese convenience store.

Match the correct price with the correct item

€1 = ￥100 / US$1 = ￥79 / £1 = ￥127 / MYR 1 = ￥27

1: 500ml Coca-Cola ______ 6: Lunch Box ______ 2: 1L Milk ______ 7: 330ml Beer ______ 3: Pack of Cigarettes ______ 8: Fashion Magazine ______ 4: Snickers Bar ______ 9: 4 x AA Batteries ______ 5: Rice Ball ______ 10: Bread ______

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

How Much? | Which Figure?

Look at the list of prices in Japanese Yen for the items on page 2. Which is

the correct price for each item? How much would they be in your country?

A:￥420 approx. F:￥650 approx B: ￥195 approx. G:￥500 approx. C: ￥275 approx. H:￥90 approx. D: ￥480 approx. I: ￥150 approx. E: ￥120 approx. J: ￥240 approx

Warm Up | 4 | A1 Quiz

Read the questions about this week’s news story.

Remember if you don’t know – use the internet to help or GUESS!

1: Which is the average yearly salary for a Japanese person? a: $24,000 b: $34,000 c: $44,000

2: What is the current population of Japan? a: 116 million b: 126 million c: 129 billion

3: What is the average monthly pocket money for a Japanese salaryman? a: $384 b: $484 c: $584

4: What group of islands is causing problems between Japan & China? a: Senkaku b: Falkland c: Okinawan

5: What is the biggest Japanese car company in the world? a: Honda b: Mazda c: Toyota

6: What is the unemployment rate for Japan? (September 2012) a: 3.8% b: 4.2% c: 5.6%

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E1: Who is the head of Japan? a: The Prime Minister b: The President c: The Emperor

E2: What is ‘shinkansen’ called in English? a: Bullet Train b: Express Train c: Super Express Train

E3: Which is the colour most associated with the Islamic faith?

a: b: c:

END OF PART 1

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

| PART 2 | Before Listening |

Pre-Listening / Reading | 1 Jumbled Sentences

The sentences below are from a paragraph in the news story. The word order has been mixed-up. Un-jumble the sentences and put them into

the correct order.

A. For 30 years from 1960 to the early 1990s the success of Japan’s economy was

based on huge, successful Japanese companies.

B. During this period the standard practice for many Japanese salaryman was to

give their wives their entire salary each monthly pay day.

C. Companies such as Honda, Toshiba and Sony offered ‘jobs for life’ to their office

workers and paid them high salaries for long working hours.

D. In return their wives would give the husband a monthly pocket money to spend

on his own personal use.

Correct order: _________

Pre-Listening / Reading | 2 | A2 True or False

Read the headline of News Story ~ Salarymen’s Pocket Money Takes a Hit

Look at the 5 statements. Guess if you think 1 – 5 are True or False!

1: Japan’s economy was strongest between 1960s – 1980s. [T] [F]

2: Japan is in a diplomatic row with China. [T] [F]

3: Japanese salaryman always give their salaries to their wives. [T] [F]

4: The average Salaryman monthly pocket money is $500. [T] [F]

5: Japan’s economy is improving in 2012. [T] [F]

Pre-Listening / Reading | 3 Antonyms

A synonym is a word with a similar meaning. Match the 10 words on the left with their synonyms on the right.

All the synonyms in black are from the News Story.

1: Stagnate 6: Control A: Failure F: Powerless

2: Success 7: Average B: Cheap G: Grow

3: Export 8: Expensive C: Delete H: Exceptional

4: Long 9: Struggled D: Import I: Relaxed

5: Standard 10: Add E: Unusual J: Short

END OF PART 2

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

| PART 3 | Listening |

Listening / Reading | | Listening Salarymen’s Pocket Money Takes a Hit

Three Choices | Help

Listen / Read the news story and chose the correct word from the 3 choices. Listen / Read the rest of the sentence to help with your understanding.

Salaymen’s Pocket Money Takes a Hit

Japan’s salarymen the backbone of the country’s 20th Century economic success are the latest victim of the country’s 1: weak/strong/low economy. As Japan’s economy continues to struggle in 2012 the average yearly salary for these company office workers remains stagnate. With hopes for the rest of 2012 2: high/low/weak because of the on-going row with China over the Senkaku Islands continuing to affect Japan’s usually strong export industry.

For 30 years from 1960 to the early 1990s the success of Japan’s economy was based on 3: big/small/huge, successful Japanese companies. Companies such as Honda, Toshiba and 4: Sony/Sharp/LG offered ‘jobs for life’ to their office workers and paid them high salaries for long working hours. During this period the standard practice for many Japanese salaryman was to give their wives their entire salary 5: every/each/most monthly pay day. In return their wives would give the husband a monthly pocket money to spend on his own personal use.

This pocket money system is still popular today amongst Japanese families, with 74% of the household 6: fee/money/budget still controlled by women according to results published by research firm Softbrain Field. Shinsei Bank which has also analysed the pocket money 7: trend/style/linear since 1979 reports the average salaryman’s monthly pocket money in 2012 is ￥39,600 or $500. This is down from the late 1980s when the average monthly figure was ￥76,000 or 8: $870/$970/$1070.

Yukio Taisaku, a salaryman interviewed by the BBC lamented that his monthly pocket money was just not enough to 9: buy/pay/spend for his expensive hobbies and so he had to give up his car, motorbike and playing golf. He went on to add that he would like a pay increase but understands that with the Japanese economy continuing to struggle he has to accept his pocket money won’t be going up any time 10: soon/now/later.

What Do You Think? | Pocket Money

How much pocket money would you need each month to be happy? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

END OF PART 3

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

| PART 4 | After Listening |

Post-Listening / Reading | 1 | A3 Q & A

How much can you remember from News Story?

Read / Listen to the questions below and choose the correct answer.

If you can’t remember any answers, guess!

1: How much is the average monthly salaryman pocket money? 2: What is the name of the Japanese bank?

__________________________ 3: What TV news channel is the news story?

_ 4: What is the name of the Japanese salarymen? ________ 5: What percentage of Japanese families still uses pocket money? __________________________ 6: What year was the highest for monthly pocket money? __________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B E1: How many countries are in the news report? ___________________________

E2: What 3 hobbies are in the final paragraph? ________________ _____

Post-Reading | 2 A & Q

How much can you remember from the news story? Read the answers below and write the correct question. There is more than one possible correct question for each one!

[A1] 30 years. [Q] _____________________________?

[A2] Senkaku Islands. [Q] _____________________________?

[A3] Salaryman. [Q] _____________________________?

[A4] Jobs for Life. [Q] _____________________________?

[A5] Pocket money. [Q] _____________________________?

END OF PART 4

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

| PART 5 | Extra Stuff |

English Extra I Reporting Verbs

A reporting verb in English helps to explain how something was said. EXAMPLE: He shouted “GO AWAY!” - shouted is a reporting verb as it

explains how ‘GO AWAY’ was spoken. Look at the box of reporting verbs below and then put them into the correct

sentence.

A: Shouted B: Advised C: Warned D: Suggested

F: Offered G: Ordered H: Lamented I: Cried

1: “If I were you I’d go and see the doctor” said Jock

I was feeling very sick so Jock __________ me to go and see a doctor.

2: “I can help you move into your new apartment’ said Jeffrey

Jeffrey __________ to help me move into my new apartment.

3: “Do your homework now or I will get angry” said my mother.

My mother __________ me to do my homework.

4: My friend said “Why don’t you buy the cheaper, smaller car?”

My friend __________ I buy the cheaper, smaller car.

5: The football supporter said “SHOOT!!! “

The football supporter __________ shoot!

6: “If only the USA could beat Europe at golf” said my unhappy boss.

My unhappy boss _________ that the USA couldn’t beat Europe at golf.

7: “If you don’t finish this report, I will fail you” said my teacher.

My teacher __________ me to finish my report.

8: “Ow! That really hurt!”

I __________ that really hurt!

7 to Chinwag Salaryman Pocket Money

ENW Podcast Topic | Salarymen’s Pocket Money Takes a Hit

Ask / Answer the questions below on this week’s ENW Podcast Topic!

1: What did you think when you read this week’s topic title? 2: What do you think of the pocket money system? 3: How much money do you spend each month on bills? 4: How much money do you spend each month on hobbies? 5: What is your most expensive outlay every month? 6: Would you be OK to have a monthly pocket money? 7: How much money is enough for you each month?

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

Writing Monthly Expenditure

What do you think about money? Write about your thoughts regarding what you spend your money on? Think about your monthly expenditure? What do you spend the most

money on? What luxuries do you buy each month? Why? How much money do you spend on your hobbies? Why? How much do you spend on food or clothing? How much money do you need each month to live comfortably? Why?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

END OF PART 5

And Finally | X & Z | A4 Did You Know…?

That the phrase x: ______ money originated in the United

Kingdom as a term to explain the money given by parents to

their children each week. The average pocket money for a 14 year

old in the UK is £25 per month, which is just over ￥3,000 or $40!

That is a big z: ________ on when ENW was a 14 year old child…

The End

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

Visual | TV Links

BBC News | (UK) 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19674306 [2:34]

Japanese Salaryman Pocket Money

You Tube | (USA) 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ObboAchljE [4:22] Salaryman in Japan: Drinking

Podcast | Key

| A1 These activities are audio and can be listened to on the podcast.

Answers | Part 1 Warm Up 1-4

Warm Up 1 | Odd-1-Out

A – Expand B / C/ D – Are all words that mean = to shrink or reduce.

Warm Up 3 | How Much..?

1 – I 2 –J 3 – A 4 – E 5 – H 6 – G 7 – C 8 – F 9 – D 10 – B Warm Up 4 | Quiz

1 – B 2 – B 3 – A 4 – A 5 – C 6 - B

E1 – C E2 – A E3 – C

Answers | Part 2 Pre Listening / Reading

Jumbled Sentences

A / C / B / D

True or False

1 – F 2 – T 3 – F 4 – T 5 – F Antonyms

1 – G 2 – A 3 – D 4 – J 5 – E

6 – F 7 – H 8 – B 9 – I 10 – C

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

Answers | Part 3 Listening

Salaymen’s Pocket Money Takes a Hit

Japan’s salarymen the backbone of the country’s 20th Century economic success are the latest

victim of the country’s weak economy. As Japan’s economy continues to struggle in 2012 the

average yearly salary for these company office workers remains stagnate. With hopes for the rest

of 2012 low because of the on-going row with China over the Senkaku Islands continuing to

affect Japan’s usually strong export industry.

For 30 years from 1960 to the early 1990s the success of Japan’s economy was based on huge,

successful Japanese companies. Companies such as Honda, Toshiba and Sony offered ‘jobs for

life’ to their office workers and paid them high salaries for long working hours. During this

period the standard practice for many Japanese salaryman was to give their wives their entire

salary each monthly pay day. In return their wives would give the husband a monthly pocket

money to spend on his own personal use.

This pocket money system is still popular today amongst Japanese families, with 74% of the

household budget still controlled by women according to results published by research firm

Softbrain Field. Shinsei Bank which has also analysed the pocket money trend since 1979 reports

the average salaryman’s monthly pocket money in 2012 is ￥39,600 or $500. This is down from

the late 1980s when the average monthly figure was ￥76,000 or $970.

Yukio Taisaku, a salaryman interviewed by the BBC lamented that his monthly pocket money

was just not enough to pay for his expensive hobbies and so he had to give up his car, motorbike

and playing golf. He went on to add that he would like a pay increase but understands that with

the Japanese economy continuing to struggle he has to accept his pocket money won’t be going up

any time soon.

Answers | Part 4 Post-Listening / Reading

Q & A

1 – 39,600 YEN / $500 5 – 74% still use pocket money 2 – Shinsei Bank 6 – 1990 3 – BBC E1 – Two countries 4 – Yukio Taisaku E2 – Car, motorbike & playing golf

A & Q | Example Questions

A1 – How many years was Japan’s economy very successful? A2 – What islands are called Diaoyu by China? A3 – What is a male office worker called in Japan? A4 – What policy did many Japanese companies have in 20th Century? A5 – What is a monthly allowance called?

広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.

2012 | Ep. 68| Salarymen’s Pocket Money Shrinks

English Extra

1: B 5: A 2: F 6: H 3: G 7: C 4: D 8: I

And Finally X & Z

X – pocket / Z – increase

References Episode 68

MAIN PHOTO / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rush_hour_Tokyo.jpg

www.xe.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JPY_Banknotes.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yuan_collection.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Currency_South_Korea.jpg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19754353 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19754290 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nb20120929a2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaryman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19674306 http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21651701/japan-industrial-output-core-cpi-fall-august http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/28/markets-japan-stocks-idUKL5E8KS0U420120928 http://thesaurus.com/browse/struggle?s=t http://www.childalert.co.uk/article.php?articles_id=423 http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/reportingverbterm.htm