Warm up
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- What industry do you work in and what is your role?
- What are your responses in your role / position?
- Can you describe to the function of your workplace / company?
- How many departments, how many offices. National or International?
- What are the minimum requirements for employment ie Education or Experience?
- How many opportunities are there to ‘move up the ladder’?
- What is the process for changing job roles ie Interview? Test?
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- Current projects? Deadlines? Opportunities?
- Anything of interest happening?
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1. The Japanese government has warned of possible power shortages in Tokyo and is urging greater efforts to conserve energy while Japan experiences unusually hot temperatures. Weather officials announced the earliest end to the annual summer rainy season since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1951. The rains usually help keep summer temperatures lower, often well into July.
2. Japan has seen record high temperatures for June, with some areas reaching temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Temperature in downtown Tokyo rose to nearly 35 C on Monday.
(1)What are your thoughts on the unusually hot weather in Japan?
(2)When was the last time you experienced a power outage?
3. The temperatures are increasing concerns over power shortages in summer. The economy and industry ministry urged people living in the region serviced by the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) to conserve power in the afternoons. TEPCO said it was expecting contributions from the Tohoku Electric Power Co., which serves Japan’s northern prefectures, to help with the power shortages.
4. Kaname Ogawa, director of electricity supply policy at the ministry, asked people to save as much power as possible, but said they should use air conditioning appropriately and take precautions against heatstroke. More than 250 people were taken to hospitals in Tokyo over the weekend for treatment of heatstroke, according to the Mainichi newspaper.
(1)Do you take any steps to conserve power at home or in your office?
(2)Do you expect extreme or unusual weather events to become more common in the near future?
5. Heatstroke is a major concern since many older Japanese tend to avoid using air-conditioning, partly out of habit and partly to avoid expensive electricity bills. And older Japanese homes often don’t have proper insulation, making them very hot in the summer and very cold in winter.
6. Japan’s power supply has been limited following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, when the country closed most of its nuclear reactors. While the government has been closing down old coal plants to meet promises for reducing carbon emissions, it has also been trying to restart reactors that have passed upgraded safety standards.
(1)In your opinion, what parts of your country have the best weather?
(2)How can people improve the environment that we live in?
Phonetic Chart
