"Let's Help Each Other, Let's Protect the Earth" - A Reading Guide for Extensive English Reading [Non-Fiction]

Non-Fiction Edition - June 2024 Issue -

Written by: Akiko Ito (Member of the Japan Extensive Reading Association, Certified Public Accountant)

Let's Help Each Other, Let's Protect the Earth

This time, I will introduce two books that allow you to read about various world issues in simple English.

Both are books from a non-fiction series for children called Oxford Read and Discover.

This series is characterized by the use of many vivid photographs and includes trivia corners, making it designed so you can keep reading without getting bored.

The first book is Helping around the World.

This book explains various world issues through the lens of "helping each other."

It starts with explanations of professions familiar to children, such as doctors and nurses, and expands to concrete examples of "helping each other," including education, food security, water supply, refugee aid, response to natural disasters, protection of animals and plants, and global environmental protection.

It clearly explains that there are problems in the world that need to be solved by everyone working together, and that various initiatives are being taken.

The second book is Caring for Our Planet.

It focuses on the global environment, and you could say it is a book that explains the chapter on the global environment from the first book, Helping..., in more detail.

It covers topics such as the mechanisms of global warming, resource issues, energy issues, waste problems, and the protection of animals and plants.

It explains in easy-to-read English what the problems are and what we should do to protect our Earth.

Although it was published in 2010, the explanations of each environmental issue and the responses to them are still mostly relevant even if read today.

It is perfect for those who want to read about major environmental issues in simple English.

(1) "Helping around the World" (Oxford Read and Discover Level 6)

From introductions to professions that directly help people, such as doctors, nurses, and teachers, to securing food and water, refugee aid, disaster response, wildlife conservation, and environmental protection, this book explains various issues that require people to help one another and the efforts being made to address them.

(2) "Caring for Our Planet" (Oxford Read and Discover Level 6)

There are many beautiful places on Earth.

However, our activities are damaging the global environment.

What should we do to protect the Earth?

This book explains the mechanisms of global warming, resource issues, energy problems, waste issues, and the protection of animals and plants.

"Tacho Tadoku Magazine June Issue" is now on sale!

The feature is "Evolutionary Shadowing for Speaking".
Shadowing is a high-intensity training method that is highly effective for improving listening skills. It is important to proceed with your studies by paying attention to the steps and the choice of materials. In this feature, we introduce a route that leads directly to improved speaking skills by adding "role-play reading aloud," which reproduces even the finest nuances, and "retelling," where you summarize and speak about the points in your own words, to the conventional shadowing steps.

The interview is with director Christopher Nolan of the movie "Oppenheimer".

→You can read a sample here