皆さん、長谷川です。
新しい英語の会からメールを受信しておられる方には間もなくお知らせいたしますが、本日（５月１２日）から２４日（日）まで、WEB英語リーディング大会を開催します。
今回は、新型コロナウィルスによる学校の臨時休校の長期化に伴って、いま話題になっている日本における９月入学制度の導入について取り上げます。
諸外国では標準の９月入学制度については、日本でもこれまでにも何度か検討されながら見送られてきた経緯がありますが、今回はコロナウィルスの感染拡大が長引く中、これまで以上に導入の可能性が高まっているように思われます。
【課題】
The Japan Times ５月５日号の
Government to consider September start of school year amid coronavirus closure
という記事を読んで、次の６つの質問のなかから３つ以上を選んで、それらについて皆さんのお考えをフォーラムに投稿してください。
1. Why did Prime Minister Abe suddenly float the idea of starting the academic year in September?
2. How are Japanese children being affected as the school closure continues due to coronavirus?
3. How should children spend time during this prolonged period of school closure?
4. What benefits can children expect to gain from the start of the academic year in September?
5. What problems can be anticipated if the academic year starts in September in Japan?
6. What are your thoughts on the start of the academic year in September in Japan?
お答えの投稿は、英語でこのリーディング大会（第２回）のページの最後にお願いします。
それでは皆さん、このリーディング大会（第２回）にぜひご参加ください！
I am sorry to post after the deadline. You don't need to respond, thank you.
2. Children cannot go to school, so they cannot study or play with their friends.
3.They should study at their home, and move in parks.
4.They can study abroad easier.
5.The fiscal term may become different from official entering.
皆さん、長谷川です。
英語リーディング大会（第２回）は５月２４日（日）に無事終了しました。
今回は英語の記事を読んで英語で自分の意見を書くというちょっと難度の高い内容でしたが、MEさん、HIさん、MKさん、FYさんの４名の方にご参加いただきました。
こちらに参加状況の一覧表を載せました。
この9月入学制度ですが、当初は期待する意見が多く伝えられましたが、コロナウィルスの流行が一段落した現在は慎重な意見も多く見られるようです。
9月入学、与党に慎重論拡大 学校再開で機運しぼむ 5/27(水) 7:22配信 JIJI.COM
また、Yahoo!Japanの「みんなの意見」では次のような結果になっています。（2020年5月27日午前10時17分現在）
今回ご参加くださった方々には、近日中に記事（英語と日本語訳）と語句の説明を載せたファイルをお送りします。
ご参加ありがとうございました。
追記（2020年5月29日）
９月入学制度については、政治的にはコロナが一段落するまでは見送る方向で決着しそうですね。
21年度からの「9月入学」は見送り 政府・与党方針 教育現場混乱を回避 5/27(水) 21:04配信 毎日新聞
ともあれ、私たち英語を勉強する者にとっては、日本の国際化について考えるよい機会になったと思います。
I was't understand closely to report and question.
Ummm, difficult for me.
q1.
Japanese School was closed by the coronavirus.
but someday restart.
many countries academic year start is september.
Abe was it considered.
q2.
Children(students) can enough study for graduation.
q3.
Children will homework, enjoyed online, help housekeeping.
But They can't play a sports, music, etc by groop.
q4.
Canceled events by coronavirus will doing held possibility.
q5.
Climate is defferent to contries.
Specially affect to primary industry employee's family do think.
q6.
surely Teacher's boss does order.
"do makes great volume homeworks of students!"
teacher and students say boooo!!
That's all.
Thank you for this study opportunity.
Because schools have been forced to shut by coronavirus outbreak.
They are obliged to stay at home. So they can't have enough education,
they can't join club activities, they can't meet friends and so on.
Moreover the school year is going to finish in March next year.
It means they have to do what they are expected to do in 10 months .
On the other hand, some school events such as shool trip, athletic meet,
cultural festival might be cut off .
6. My thoughts might be peculiar, but I dare say now is the time to change
the start of school year to September. There are two reasons.
At first, it's too hard for students to perform in 10 months what they are expected to do in 12 months. Secondly. September start of school year is the global standard.
Japan is a member of the global home. We should keep pace with other countries
in the field of education as we do in other fields.
Something drastic can't be made under the normal situation.
Look at Meiji Restoration, great change after the World War Ⅱ.
Now is the chance of big change!
石川さん、ご回答ありがとうございます。海外からのご参加は初めてで光栄です！！
レスを英語で書くか日本語にするか迷いましたが、英語で踏み込んだコメントをすると、これから回答される方の話題を取ってしまうことになってもいけないと思い、日本語にさせていただきました。
そうですか、オンライン飲み会のトピックになりましたか？ 先生方はいま大変ですよね。この時期、長期の休校で生徒さんや学生さんのフォローだけでも手が回らない状況ですのに、いきなり９月入学の話が飛び出してきて、現場には戸惑い感があるでしょうね。外部の人は言うだけで済みますけど、実際に実行する側は大変ですよね。９月入学はまだら模様というか、明るい面だけではなさそうですね。
2. How are Japanese children being affected as the school closure continues due to coronavirus?
・Studying at home would lead the educational gap.
・The risk of child abuse would be enhanced.
・Children’s health in the poor families would get worse without school meals.
4. What benefits can children expect to gain from the start of the academic year in September?
・It will stimulate Japanese students to study abroad and foreign students to study in Japan more easily.
・It will stimulate academicians’ international exchange.
5. What problems can be anticipated if the academic year starts in September in Japan?
・The difference between the academic year and the economic year will bring problems to the students in job hunting.
・The professors, teachers and staffs cannot afford to change the system now because of the shortage of manpower.
6. What are your thoughts on the start of the academic year in September in Japan?
I disagree with it under the circumstances. Because all schools and universities are struggling with many problems against COVID-19. Now they don’t have enough manpower, time and budget at all. Even before COVID-19, overwork in educational industry has been a serious problem. However if the situation surrounding the education will be improved, Japan should change the academic year.
ついこの間所謂「オンライン飲み会」で、日本の大学で教員をしている友人（と言っても助教ですが）とこのトピックについて話し合ったところでしたので、大変興味深く回答いたしました。
I'll speak my mind about these subjects.
2. They are concerned that they may be left behind academically. Furthermore, they can't study, have lunch, play in the schoolyard and talk... with their friends! They can't make wonderful spring memories with their friends.
3.They should read many books. They can broaden their horizens by doing it. They should talk to their family. I want them to talk about their interests, future, thoughts on society. In addition, they should study independently!
6.I agree with the idea of starting the academic year in Sptember. I have been an examinee's mother. Most mothers are always worried if their children may catch cold. Because almost all entrance examinations are done in winter. They have to take special care in meals, sleep, room's temperature and humidity. If the academic year starts in September, the entrance examinations will be done in summer. So they don't have to fear of catching cold!
I'll be busy in June. So I'm writing while I have time!