Monday Morning EnglishTRAVEL NEWS WIRE…
Japan follows South Korea in English scores: A report by consultancy Education First ranked Japan in 22nd place worldwide in terms of ability of the population to speak English. In a report about Japan’s performance, the report noted that the number of Japanese students studying abroad (mostly in the US) has declined from 83,000 in 2004 to 40,000 in 2010.
The top ranked countries for English proficiency as a second language were: Sweden in first place, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and Norway. Singapore was 12th worldwide, Malaysia was 13th, and South Korea placed 21st, just ahead of Japan at 22nd place.
The report on Japan can be viewed at:
THIS WEEK’S NATURAL PHRASE
rests on your shoulders
Mei: I don’t know whether to take a low-paying job in town, or move to a higher-paying job in another city, far from my family. I wanted to decide today, but I can’t make up my mind.
Zahara: Wait a few days before making your decision. Everything rests on your shoulders. You need time to think.
Explanation: When we say that something “rests on your shoulders” it means that there is a big decision or responsibility that you have to deal with. It is like carrying something very heavy on your back.
THIS WEEK’S MEDICAL PHRASE
F.A.S.T.
The acronym F.A.S.T. is a four-point information campaign by the American Heart Association on how to spot the warning signs of a stroke. The main signs are: F: face drooping, A: arm weakness, S: speech difficulty, T: time to call 911(emergency number in USA)
You can watch the one-minute video clip on:
feature=player_embedded&v=wH7k5CFp4hI
THIS WEEK’S EMAIL PHRASE
pressing issue
Dear Mr. Rodriguez:
I know that you have a lot to do today, but we have a very pressing issue that just came up in the office. Can you come to the director’s office in five minutes?
Explanation: The term “pressing issue” is a very important issue that cannot wait until later. It needs to be solved quickly. It has the meaning of creating pressure.