Column Discussion (Expert)｜コラムディスカッション（上級）Lesson62 : Smallest Rubik's Cube Ever Goes on Sale in Japan

PART A_1

Let’s learn vocabulary. Listen and repeat the words and the sentences with your tutor.

PART A_2

1.　sensation	/sen-SEY-shuhn/
	-something that causes great excitement or interest
	Cosplay became a sensation in the Philippines.
2.　immediate	/ih-MEE-dee-it/
	-happening or done without delay or very soon after something else
	He received an immediate feedback from his boss.
3.　hit	/hit /
	-a thing or person that is very popular or successful
	“Hey Jude” was The Beatles’ number one hit.
4.　profit	/PROF-it/
	-money that is earned in business after paying the costs of producing and selling goods
	Making a million dollars in profit is difficult.
5.　mirror	/MIR-er/
	-to be a copy of something; be similar to something
	The movie mirrors the character of the nation.

PART B_1

Let’s read the article. Please read it aloud, and I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

PART B_2

Smallest Rubik’s Cube Ever Goes on Sale in Japan

In Japan, the tiniest Rubik’s Cube has gone on sale for ¥198,000 or about $1,900. It was designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the box-shaped puzzle. Erno Rubik of Hungary created the Rubik’s Cube in the 1970s. A toy company from America turned the puzzle into a global sensation in the 1980s. It was an instant hit in Japan, where it made more than 4 million in profit during its first eight months on sale in July 1980. The cube is just 9.9 millimeters by 9.9 millimeters in size and weighs just 2 grams. According to MegaHouse Corporation, a branch of Japan’s Bandai Company, the puzzle is made of metal and comes with a display box. The Rubik’s Cube is tiny but absolutely playable. People can pre-order it now, with arrival scheduled in December. The tiny cube was on view this week at a Hungarian Embassy exhibit in Tokyo. An artwork created with Rubik’s Cubes is also on display. The Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, Norbert Palanovics, said it mirrors the country’s small, simple, yet intelligent qualities.

PART C_1

Let’s answer comprehension questions. Please answer them based on the article.

PART C_2

1.	Why was the smallest Rubik’s Cube created?
2.	From which country was the Rubik’s Cube originally?
3.	What can buyers expect from their purchase?

PART D_1

Let’s discuss the article. Please answer the questions below and express your opinions.

PART D_2

1.	How do you think people from all over the world would react to this article?
2.	What makes the smallest Rubik’s Cube interesting for you?
3.	Do you think the smallest Rubik’s Cube is worth buying? Why or why not?
4.	Do you enjoy playing puzzle games? Why or why not?
5.	Do you think play is beneficial to adults? Why or why not?

REVIEW AND FEEDBACK

Now, let us review the things that you learned in this lesson.

ではこのレッスンで学んだことを振り返りましょう。

(Please give a short feedback on how your student did on your class.)

	Grammar 文法	Pronunciation 発音	Vocabulary 単語	Comprehension 理解
GOOD	文法の誤りはほとんどなく、完全な文章で話すことができる	ほとんどの単語をはっきりと正しく発音することができる	習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を理解し、質問に正しく答えることができる
FAIR	文法の誤りはあるが、完全な文章で話すことができる	発音の練習が必要な言葉がいくつかある	たまにミスはあるが、習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を完全に理解するのは難しく、質問に正しく答えられないときもある
POOR	文章で話すのは難しく、単語だけで話すことができる	発音の練習が必要である	習った単語と表現を少しだけ使うことができる	文章を理解するのは難しく、質問に答えるのは難しい

TUTOR FEEDBACK

GRAMMAR
Good:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with minimal grammatical errors.
Fair:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with evident grammatical errors.
Poor:	Was able to speak using words only.
PRONUNCIATION
Good:	Was able to pronounce most of the words clearly and correctly.
Fair:	Mispronounced a few words.
Poor:	Mispronounced most of the words.
VOCABULARY
Good:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class.
Fair:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class and made a few errors in word choice.
Poor:	Used only a few words and expressions.
COMPREHENSION
Good:	Was able to understand the passages and answer the questions correctly.
Fair:	Had a little difficulty in understanding passages and answering questions.
Poor:	Had a hard time understanding passages and answering questions.

Parts of this lesson material are based on:
An article by Voice of America