A Class Project

Although I am a member of the English Department in my college, I also teach in the other departments as well. I always try to have my English lessons tie in with my students’ majors. So of course, for the Environment Department I recently assigned a project dealing with that theme.

For an October submission we Bloggers have been invited to write a blurb concerning that timely topic. Previously I sent in one that I wrote myself, but I would like to add another. It is a report done by a group of my students. When you read this, please keep in mind that these eager individuals are first year students and also are not English majors. Also their “conversation class” had about eighty students in it :( (So please be lenient when assessing their teacher!)

We Found Rubbish

Student One:
I found garbage dropped in the vacant lot near the my house. There was a bag with an empty can, an empty bottle, a cake, and the box of cigarette. ¹ This vacant lot is wide land, and becomes children’s playglound and parking lot. ² Therefore, I think the box of cigarette was thrown by the person who packed the cake for the child. The child ate the cake and drank a can of juice. Then the bog of cake and can of juice were thrown away.

Why is the cigarette thrown on the ground? It is because the person is without a pocket ashtray.
Why is the bag thrown on the ground? It is because it is troublesome to look for the garbage box.

¹ Japanese language does not have a distinction between singular and plural forms of nouns.

² Japanese language does not distinguish between ”l” and ”r”

Student Two:
I examined about the garbage which fell by the sea. I thought the seaside was clean, but garbage was scattered unexpectedly. My eyes caught sight of the garbage immediately.

An umbrella, a plastic bottle, fireworks were outstanding. There was much garbage of fireworks in particular. And I think that the garbage of fireworks will increase in this summer season.

The second conspicuous garbage was a cigarette. I dislike smokers, and people throwing away a cigarette in particular. The clean sea is stained steadily by cigarette. If even small cigarette ends gather a lot, there becomes a terrible quantity (of them). I suffered when I saw the considerable quantity.

I think that the dumping of the garage will not disappear if selfish people only think that they want to be happy and comfortable. The garbage decreases by the intention of the each of us.

Student Three:
I found rubbish in the street of summer festival. There were spoon, plastic bottle, and plastic rubbish etc. I saw a lot of rubbishes.

I think we should set up trash boxes in the road. During the summer festival especially we should set them up.

Student Four:
I found garbage in the park near the house. Young people were many last night, and sake was drunk, and perhaps, fireworks were done. It is dirty, and smells very much. And the fly likes garbage. It is a very serious problem.

To decrease garbage {3R}
This is English initial of
“Reduce”
“Reuse”
“Recycle”

I think that it is really good to recycle garbage. We have a big problem of the disposal of rubbish up to now. Of course, it is hard to change alone. However, everyone can take out the trash.

Student Five:
Near the house where I live I understand that garbage overflows from the dump. I work hard not to increase garbage if possible. For example, when I clean, I do not use the tissue. I use the dust cloth. In addition, I reuse containers. And I don’t throw away leftovers. I use them again later.

Now when global warming advances rapidly, it is important that everyone is conscious of words called “3R”. The usable things we should employ until they are not usable.