Rarejob Daily News Articles Mistakes

I found some sample sentences doubtful in some example sentences in the Rarejob Daily News Articles and reported them to the Japanese office.

I wrote them 2 emails: one on February 8, and the other on February 12.  The Rarejob office admitted that they were their mistakes.

At that time I found that one of their replies was very late.  I emailed them my first inquiry on Feb. 12.  According to their reply on the same day, they said they would ask someone and find the correct answer.  They also wrote that they promised me to get back immediately.  However, I didn't receive any reply more than one week, so I emailed them again on the 20th.  They admitted the sample sentence they showed on their website was not appropriate, and revised their sentence.  They also apologized for the late reply. 

Many tutors have recommend that I read more articles, and I agree on the point.  However, I am wondering about the quality of the example sentences shown on the Daily News Article.  The Article itself seems to be okay, but the examples doesn't always have good qualifty of English. 

I am not satisfied with the way that they treat their students, either.  The Rarejob team which posts Daily News Article must check their sentences carefully before posting them on the Website.  As they use them as English lesson material, they may need to check with the dictionary such as Oxford for Advanced Learners, Collins, Longman Contemporary English and so on.  I also suggest that getting some information from experts of the same field of the topic maybe necessary.   And also if any Filipino tutors may have found any inappropriate sentences, they may need to report them to their office so that the quality of their lesson material would be better.

I am not quite agreed with the way they revised the sentences which I reported them and they forgot about sending me their reply.

The content of my emails to Rarejob Japan office are shown below.

My email dated  February 12, 2014 ----------------------------------------------------

I am writing this for regarding your daily news article on January 11 titled Most Silent Films Have Now Vanished.

http://rarejobdailynewsarticle.blogspot.jp/2014/01/most-silent-films-have-now-vanished.html

As for the Unlocking Word Meanings of REPATRIATE (v.  to be sent something back to its original source)   Example) It is expensive to repatriate defective products shipped abroad.

I am wondering if this word is used properly in your example sentence. 

Here is the meaning from online dictionary

1. to bring or send back (a person, especially a prisoner of war, a refugee, etc.) to his or her country or land of citizenship.

2. (of profits or other assets) to send back to one's own country.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Repatriate

-----

For your article, the word is used as follows:

Studios were not able to repatriate the copies due to expensive transportation costs.

the word REPATRIATE is used for the copies of vintage silent movies, which I guess it is equal to an asset, or something valuable.

On the other, your example sentence, REPATRIATE is used for defective products, which I guess it might be said USELESS or VALUELESS. 

I have worked in import and export businesses for more than 20 years, and I have dealt with our customers for claiming of defective products, but I have never seen this kind of expression before.

They just use the verb RETURN, for example, please return defective products so that we can ship the replacement immediately.     

Please check the sentence once again!

Thank you!

They admitted that the sentence they showed was didn't use English appropriately and revised their sentence in their website.   


My email dated February 9, 2014

Thank you for offering us your service of the Daily News Article.

I like this lesson material, so I read it every day to improve my English skills.  The article's length is just right, also the topics are interesting.

As for your article of February 8, titled Sleep Loss Damages Brain, Study Claims,  I found a little doubt for the word usage of MOLECULE  in the Unlocked Word Meanings.

It is read  MOLECULE  (n.) the smallest part of a chemical compound

Example: Water or H2O has two molecules of Hydrogen and one molecule of Oxygen.

-----
On the other, I talked to my husband who has been teaching Chemical in high school for more than 25 years.  He told me that the smallest particle would be the one what we call ATOM, not molecules.

Also I found other sentences which might help for reference on the Internet.  That was:

QUOTE
One molecule of pure water is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.UNQUOTE

The source was as below.
 http://answers.ask.com/Science/Chemistry/what_makes_up_water

Your comments on this inquiry would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

----------------------------

However, I think they have still their mistakes in their website.

Please click here

3. molecule [MOL-uh-kyool] (n.) – the smallest part of a chemical compound



Do you agree that the molecule would be the smallest part of a chemical compound?

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary,
molecule (noun) the smallest unit, usually consisting of a group of atoms, into which a substance can be divided without a change in its chemical nature.

My husband says the following is the theory from the vieewpoint of chemical specialists.

（incorrect）the smallest part of a chemical compound
 (correct) the smallest part of a chemical UNIT

My tutor last Sunday said that she had a lesson with a female student on the same topic.  The student, who works as a doctor also mentioned the same mistake.  The tutor who has been working as an ESL tutor for 8 years or so also agreed with her student.  But she didn't report it to Rarejob office for asking revision.  I guess that she should write in the case like this.  

I am wondering that if they seek the details carefully when writing about the examples sentences?
Or any science expert write about these sentences?  Otherwise, it's not better to memorize these sentences.  If I have a chance to speak with some science experts, they may laugh at my poor knowledge in science. 


The only articles I have now concerned with is the writings by Kyoko Mori.
Kyoko was born to Japanese parents in Hyogo, and she wrote about her experiences as birdwatching,  planting flowers, and knitting, etc.  As I currently live in Hyogo, and I like birdwatching, planting flowers, and knitting.  We have some subjects in common.  However, it seems that her sentences are too difficult for some RareJob tutors.   

Handmade yarn Cockatiels

I didn't tell anyone, but....

I kept everything secret to everyone, even to my husband that the whole procedure of applying for a part-time job.  I prepared my resume, went to a job interview last Monday, and received a call informing me of being hired yesterday afternoon.

Maybe I was supposed to wear business suit and skirt to such a formal occasion but I wore a thick sweater under a winter coat and sport pants.   It took me about a 20-minute bicycle ride to get to the office on a cold, windy day.

Dear Eray sensei,

Thank you for your comment for your suggestion that it would be better to use complex sentences more.  Is this blog entry arranged by the sentences simple and compound?  I didn't notice them.
Please tell me that how I arrange them during your revision because that it would help me to be a better writer. 


How I found the job?
When I went to the police station to renew my driver's license last week, I found an advertisement in bulletin boards seeking caregivers.   They looked for caregivers who visit individual homes for elderly people.  The work requires a caregivers trainee license at least under the Japanese law.

I added the blue color places below after our lesson yesterday. 

There are two kinds of the licenses.  At first, we should go to a vocational school and finish the curriculum to become a caregiver trainee.  Then, we have a chance to be employed as a caregiver.  Secondly after working as a trainee for at least three years, we can apply for the national test to become a licensed caregiver.  However, this test is optional to Japanese citizens.  If we don't want to take test, we can remain as a caregiver trainee.

I finished the necessary curriculum at a school in Himeji in 2011, and I have the trainee license now.
 
That school is a part of a large company whose offices located in all areas in Japan.  Not only they provide services as functions of vocational institutes for caregivers and medical clerks, but also offer  services to those who need such help, especially for elder people or the physically handicapped.

The advertisement was from our school's next town's office.

I was quite interested but if I apply to their position, I may commute them using bike, train, and walk to get to their office.  It is far.  I wondered if their office in our town were looking for caregivers and  called them last Friday.

Related article from News De Eikaiwa please click here


How was the interview?
I met two female people in the office; one was the person who is responsible for the facility, and the other, a veteran caregiver.

I talked them about my working experiences as a caregiver in an elderly home which has a capability for 29 elderly people in their home last year.

I really enjoyed working there.  We, the 5 caregivers in the short stay unit for 9 elderly people took turns for working 24 hours at first.  I really admired the female leader in her 50s who has had the experience of 20 years in this field, but she and one other staff members resigned their work simultaneously last March.  The new leader, a male worker in his 30s, allocated me a duty to take care of  6 elderly people for helping their bath last April.  The assignment seemed too strenuous for the person like myself as a middle aged woman at the age of the late 40s.  I was not sure I was able to perform the work with safety for those people.  Maybe if I were done it in a hurry, I may have excused from wiping of the floor.  Maybe the floor becomes slippery, some of the elderly may cause bone injuries.   I'd rather choose to hand in the resign letter to the president of the elderly home in April and resigned from the work last May.

Since then, I have been thinking, maybe I can just choose the work that requires me to visit those individual elderly people who need caregivers' help in their own home. 

It took me nearly 10 months before I decided to work again.  The snow and rain was the main reason because I am not good at driving so I visit each individual homes by bike. 

Christmas Rose Festival in Himeji 2014

An exhibition of Helleborus or Christmas rose will be held in Himeji Tegarayama Botanical Garden starting on Saturday, March 1.  They will display approximately 200 pots with 30 varieties of  Chirstmas roses during the 3-week long event until Sunday, March 23.  They are also planning some events for the flower fans on Sunday, March 9.  Some veteran planters will talk about their experiences of growing the flowers and the trend of Christmas roses these days.  They will also answer your questions about growing Christmas roses.  The events will be held twice in a day: at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.   The features of the topics will be the same.     

 

As the seat is limited to only 20 people for each event, you need to call the office in advance to make reservations.  According to the office staff, already the 30 seats were already booked as of February 23.

 

 

 

 

 

A Busy Week

I noticed our plum tree began to bloom little by little early this week.

February is the month when the tax office is busy because citizens take the chance to claim their income tax returns from the previous year.  We need to prepare necessary documents.  There is a case wherein a household paid more than 100,000 yen for medical expenses.  If we submit receipts and fill out the documents, we may have a chance to get some tax returns. 

Last Monday, I cleaned my husband's place and found his medical receipts.  It took me all day cleaning his place and sorting out receipts, and found about 50 pieces of them.  I am such a person who kept all my medical receipts in a certain file, so mine was easy to prepare. 

Tuesday, I made an Excel file to arrange the medical receipts for the year 2013 to show the total amount and the names of the hospitals and pharmacies.   The 2-page long document showed that we paid more than 200,000 yen. 

Wednesday, I rode on a bus and went to our tax office to claim the tax return.   There was a long line of people to claim their tax returns, and it took me more than one hour to wait for my turn.  I input the necessary data with the help of staff members there.  I was shocked to find out that they would return less than 10,000 yen this year.  They returned us more than 30,000 yen last year.  As I didn't do it by myself, maybe the calculation is correct, so I couldn't complain about it.   I walked about 4 kilometers to go to the tax office and I was kind of tired by then.  But I was still eager to go shopping to walk another 4 kilometers because I had stayed home all these days. The tax office is located closer to Himeji station.  The last time I went shopping around Himeji Station was last December, so I was a little excited to see the changes of the decorations and items of the stores.

Yesterday, Thursday, I went to the police station to renew my driver's license.  I rode my bike for 10 minutes to go to the station, then took a 10-minute train ride, and walked about 20 minutes to the police station.  I filled in the document and had my picture taken for a new license.  With a 30-minute' lesson in March, they will issue the license.  I am the one who is called a paper driver, which means, I have the driver's license, but I am not used to drive.  But the license works as an excellent ID card with picture because it show my face.  I went to the shopping centers located close to them and had lunch.   I had another enjoyable day with good exercise of  5 kilometers's walk yesterday.

The picture shows our train station's name with a colorful illustration of our famous festival held in October.  I haven't been in this station in quite a while, so I immediately noticed this plate board yesterday. 

 

Today, Friday, I would like to take a little rest but to clean the house because my husband stays home on weekends.

This Saturday and Sunday, I will help my husband with his work.  He works as a school teacher and his students had a test today, so he will ask me to calculate the students' scores after he marks the papers.

I think I need a good day on my birthday, March 2, because I think I have been doing well for householding stuff.  I wish I had more time for improving my English skills though.

On Valentine's Day

For fun, I decorated a picture of my cockatiel this morning.

I woke up this morning at seven, and it was snowing then.  I found the ground covered with snow.  It stopped snowing before noon, but then it started raining.

I wanted to go shopping when it stopped raining, but I gave up on the idea, and went shopping even though it was raining.

It has been cold these days, so I wanted to eat something warm.  I bought a pack of Sundubu soup and other things in the grocery store.

Sundubu is a very hot soup, originally served in Korea.  They put egg to give the soup a mild taste.  There were two kinds: hot and mild.  I chose the latter one.

The pack contains the liquid soup, no any vegetables or meat in it,

so I added some carrots, tofu, and spinach.  I cooked it for 7 to 8 minutes.

The soup is chicken's flavored, so if we add some meat, maybe chicken is the best. 

But I added some pork this time because we had them in our refrigerator. 

I didn't put any eggs on it, but I added some red pepper.

I also bought a pack of chocolate in the grocery store. 

I chose this because it is my husband's favorite. 

The chocolate ball covers the whole almond, and he likes the taste of it. 

Young Female bird of Blue Rock Thrush or Isohiyodori (Feb. 11)

I took the pictures below while taking a walk this afternoon.

 

I didn't know the bird's name and wondered what it is called, so I uploaded three pictures on some SNS (Social Networking Services), and asked for its name.

 

I was very glad when four netizens immediately gave me their answers.

 

Three people wrote on their replies that the bird is called Blue Rock Thrush or Isohiyodori.

The male birds have blue shade on their bodies while the females do not have.

 

One of them seemed to be an expert of birdwatching, and he asked me for more pictures so I uploaded similar pictures here to answer his request.  I know that I am not good at taking pictures, it might get boring to someone.  He was kind enough to show his interest for the inconspicuous bird.

 

I proceeded to show him more pictures on the blog.  He could tell that the female bird is young from the feather white spots.  

 

No. 1  At first, I found the bird on the tree to be relaxing.

No. 2  Then, her tail was moved upward.

No. 3  She noticed me afterwards.

She has some spots in her bosom.

 

enlargement of No. 3

No. 4

enlargement of No. 4

 

No. 5

No. 6

No. 7   Then, her tail was moved upward again.
Maybe she was showing her dance on the street.    

enlargement of No. 7

 

No. 8

No. 9

No. 10  Then she stayed momentarily on the ground.

My cockatiel shows a similar style which signals her affection.

 

 

 No. 11  But I don't know what it means when it comes to wild birds.

 

 

No. 12

 

 No. 13  She was still watching me might be wondering whether
I was still taking her photos.
 

 

 No. 14  Then, she moved to the top of the roof.
 

No. 15

 

No. 16

 

No. 17

 

No. 18

 

 

I go for a walk every day, however I only saw this kind once 5 years ago.

I was very lucky to take many photos of her.  

I was glad to have someone teaches me the bird.

Snowing

I took pictures this morning.  It's snowing here.

 

Our Japanese Plum Tree has many buds now

I have a friend in Osaka.  I live in Himeji and it takes a 90-minute train ride to Osaka.

He showed us a picture of Japanese plum tree in full bloom in his area a few days ago.  The pale pink flowers were very attractive in this cold season.

The temperature in Osaka and Himeji are almost the same, I guess.  Our plum tree hasn't bloomed yet.  There are many buds in the tree, though.

                                                         The Japanese plum tree in our garden

During the blossom season, I see Japanese White Eye or Mejiro birds visit the tree to drink the sweet nectar of the flowers.
  
I don't know where they are coming from, but I see some of them when I go for a walk at the foot of the mountain in my neighborhood.  They always hide in the trees.

Japanese White Eye or Mejiro

I love taking care of birds as much as I enjoy watching them.  I am the owner of three pet birds: one cockatiel and two budgerigars.  I change their food every day and there are always some leftovers.  Some might throw them away, but I keep them in the refrigerator for winter season because I pity the sparrows which visit our garden. 

Today, I took some pictures while it was snowing.  There were many sparrows with voracious appetite.

 

Every morning, I go for walk for exercise, but I found it very cold today. 

I decided to stay home and read a book written by Kyoko Mori.

What Kyoko wrote in her book was something I can relate to.

 

I am keen to learn about things which trigger my interest. 

For our lesson Feb. 5

(Tutor's revised sentences)
I had the chance to unwind (or relax) yesterday.  I ate lunch in a Japanese restaurant, bought food for dinner in a grocery store and went to the 100 Yen shop to buy notebooks.

(My original sentence)
Yesterday afternoon, I went shopping to somewhere.

* * * * *

(Tutor's revised sentences)
I was holding two small pink notebooks while I was checking for other things that I may possibly buy in the shop.

(My original sentence)
I was having two small notebooks in my hand, and strolling for something else to buy in a shop. 

* * * * *

(Tutor's revised sentences)
Then, suddenly a grey-haired lady came and asked me where I found the pink notebooks.  She added that the color is attractive and she is as well interested to buy one for herself.

(My origingal sentence)
Then, suddenly a grey-haired lady came and asked me where I found the pink notebook, she said the pink color is attractive and she might want it. 


This A6-sized note book contains 180 pages each, so I thought it maybe one page for one day for the two books keep as long as 360 days.

The previous week, I had bought the A5, bigger size note book, which contains 120 pages.  One year has 52 or 53 weeks, so I can write 2 pages for one week, it means I can use this for my weekly diary. 

* * * * *

 &
(Tutor's revised sentences)
I showed her where the shelf was.  However, there were only blue and brown colored ones left.  I was taking hold of the two pink ones, so I thought of giving up one for her.  But because I wanted two, so I decided to take them with me.

(My original sentences)
I showed her where the shelf was.  There were other blue ones and browns ones left, but there was stock for the pink.  I was having the two, so maybe I should give up one for her.  But I wanted the two, so I didn't do that.

* * * * *

(Tutor's revised sentences)After buying the two notebooks, I immediately went home but I felt guilty for what I did.  It then led me to feel so nervous. And since I have two kinds of Chinese medicine (singular form), I decided to take them and slept for about two hours and that from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

(My original sentences)
After buying the two notebooks, I returned home feeling depressed for what I did and didn't.  In other way, I was becoming so nervous for such a little thing, and had two kinds of Chinese medicine, and slept for two hours, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  

The picture is the Chinese medines.

My doctor's advice was to take each pack for two times in a day

between the meals.

I missed the chance to cook supper last night again, but I bought some food in the grocery, so my husband and I ate it at 7:30 p.m.

Last Saturday, I had lunch at 12:00 pm. I took the Chinese medicine at 2 pm and fell sleep from 3 pm to 7 pm.  After that, I went to bed at 12:00 am but couldn't sleep until 2:00 am.
The next morning, I took a lesson with a good tutor who has a license as nurse.  I asked her for her opinion, and she suggested to me that if I become sleepy, why not give up taking the Chinese medicine in daytime?  Then, it might allow me to finish my duties as a housewife and do personal stuff.  She also said, "Take them just before going to bed."

I thought it was a good idea, and my other Japanese friend who has experienced working as nurse, said so.  I decided not the Chinese medicine after lunch last Sunday and Monday but I noticed some differences for my condition yesterday's afternoon.     

That's the reason why I went to the doctor last Monday to ask for his advice.   He advised me that the light green pack which helps me to relax my nerves, may cause me to feel sleepy, so I have to take them before going to bed.  Meanwhile, I should take the two orange packs which give energy between meals during daytime.

In general, there are three ways to take medicines except before going to sleep.  Doctors and pharmacists advise to their patients to take medicines through the following ways:

1.  Take the medicine within 30 minutes before meals.
2.  Take the medicine within 30 minutes after meals.
3.  Take the medicine between meals.

In my case, the doctor advised me to take two orange packs between 2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Before sleeping, at around 9 to 10 p.m., I need to take the two green packs.

I was born in 1966 and I will turn 48 years old this March.  My friends in the same generation say that they get tired easily compared with their younger days.  I feel that, too.
------

When I was in my 20's, I studied English in Nebraska, which is located in the Midwest, for one year.

Living in a countryside in Hyogo, I noticed that I am living in a place surrounded by nature such as trees, ponds, and sea.  I like watching wildbirds during my walks in the neiborhood.  I never get bored with it.  It also gives me a lot of chances to exercise.  Winter season is the best season to watch wildbirds because some trees have less or no leaves.  Small birds are cute but they are hard to be found in other seasons as they always try to hide in trees. 

My doctor says that the cold temperature these days is not very good for my body.  He also suggested that I should walk for 5,000 or 6,000 steps daily for just about 30 minutes.  He says that it is enough for me and I should give up fried foods. 

As I enjoy walking and watching wildbirds, it takes me to walk more than 10,000 steps for two hours.  I spend more than one hour in a forest to stop for a while to find birds and take pictures of them.  I am engrossed in taking good pictures of them, but I always find myself totally tired when I arrive at home.

-----

When it comes to my English lessons, many tutors suggest to me that I should read English articles more.  I think I have to.  For reading materials, I am very interested in the article Kyoko wrote "Alone in the Garden", in the Washington Post.

Kyoko Mori was born in 1957.  She grew up in Hyogo.   She was born to Japanese parents, and her  mother liked planting flowers and vegetables, and feeding sparrows in the veranda of their house for some time.   She moved to the Midwest in her 20s to study English.  

I found something in common with Kyoko for Hyogo, gardening, birdwatching, Midwest.  But we are very different because of her unique life story.  She wrote several novels from her experience.  Kyoko was only 12 when her mother committed suicide.  Her mother might have been so much depressed because her husband had seldom returned their newly bought home.  Even worse, his different girlfriends called him every night, and so on.  Kyoko's father married his girlfriend within one year after his first wife's death.  Her stepmother treated badly to her, so Kyoko left Japan to start making a new life living in the United States.  She is now teaching Creative Writing in a college in Washington DC.  She even once studied at Harvard.