We Are the World

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Last week, we began to study the song "We Are the World." This song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. USA for Africa is called a "supergroup" because it was made up of people who were already famous. The song soon became an international hit and money from record sales went to help the victims of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia.

I think that the main idea of the song is that when there is a problem or people are in trouble we should do something about it ourselves and not wait for someone else. For example, the following lyrics tell us not to wait for others:

We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change.

The chorus of the song (the part that is repeated many times) says that "we are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving."

Sometimes we may wait for other people to solve problems because we don't feel that we have enough power to change things ourselves. It's true that the power of a single individual is limited. On the other hand, the lyrics remind us that when many individuals "stand together as one" great things can happen:

Let us realize
That a change can only come
When we stand together as one

Click here to see a YouTube video of this song with English subtitles. To read the lyrics to this song, click here.

How to Study English

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Last week, we talked about how to study English. Many of you are interested in English conversation or improving your scores on tests like TOEIC and TOEFL but are having trouble achieving your goals. Today, I'd like to review some of the points that I made last week.

1. First, don't be too dependent on teachers.
   
   Teachers like me can help you. However, if you wait for teachers to give you what you need you will never go far. This is particularly true at this university because we do not have an intensive English program. You only have English classes for a few hours each week. This is not enough time to make good progress. If you want to improve you must take the initiative. Read books. Use the internet to read and listen to English. Ask questions. Take charge of your own study.
   
   
2. Second, get lots of good "input."
   
   Speaking is a kind of "output." If you want to be a good speaker you need lots of "input." When you are studying English, "input" is listening and reading. You will never become a good speaker of English by trying to translate from Japanese. You must imitate the English you hear or read. This is just like breathing. You can't breath out if you don't have any air in your lungs. To breath out, you must first breath in.
   
   
3. Third, study living English.
   
   By "living English," I mean English that is used for communication. A book that tells a story is living English. A podcast that explains something (even this one!) is living English. A practice test in which you try to learn how to choose the right answer is not living English. A list of words and Japanese translations is not living English. This point about living English is closely related to my second point about input. You should be reading and listening to living English because living English will show you how English really works and give you good models to imitate. Even if your primary goal is to improve your scores on tests like TOEIC and TOEFL, the best long-term strategy is to get lots of good "living English" input.
   
   
4. Fourth, use your imagination.
   
   I showed you a video about a young man who became an excellent gymnast. One secret to his success was "image training." He didn't just go to a gym and do what his teachers told him to do. He imagined what he wanted to do even when he could not practice gymnastics. He drew pictures in a notebook that showed what he wanted to do. He made his stuffed animal do what he wanted to do. I'm sure that this image training was a major factor in his success. This point is also closely related to my second point about input. You should take what you read and hear and imagine how you can use it when you speak. If you do this a lot, your "input" will help you become a better speaker.