Essay for TOEFL 20150106 I try to improve my writing skills for TOEFL. -- (Q) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In this quickly changing world, people are less happy than they were in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. (A) I disagree with the idea that people are less happy than they were in the past. I will discuss the reasons to support my opinion as follow. First, people can talk with their family anytime and anywhere they want. New technologies such as internet enable communications around the globe. For example, I speak to my friends on skype every weekends. Although there are great distances between houses which my friends and I live in, we are able to have good time with not only voice but also web camera. In addition, no matter how long time we talk, the communication charge is free through skype. On the other hand, it was unthinkable to make communication between family members who live in far place like Japan and the United state in the past. This example demonstrates that people can spend happy time through chat with their family by advanced technologies even if they live in far each other. Second, people have more chance to do what they want to do. Compared a hundred years ago, average length of life is double with progress in medical technology, so people can enjoy leisure hours after career. For instance, my father engages in hobbies after retirement. When he worked as an elementary school teacher, he did not have enough time for his hobbies. But now, he enjoys rabbit farming, blowing dart, and sightseeing volunteer guides for foreign tourists as hobbies. Moreover, he tries to learn new language every year. It was beyond imagination a hundred years ago. This illustrates that people can spend fun time, thanks to the increased average life expectancy. Some people may say that present generation is less happy, because people need to work harder and longer. Certainly some business people work day and night. They sometimes sacrifice their weekends for work. However, I think it is optional not mandatory. When they think the work style is tough, they can change to a new career. It is favored to have vocational selection itself in our own day. To sum up, for the above reasons, I disagree with the view that people are unhappier than they used to be.

Why do Japanese people bow so often? Because Japanese show their appreciation and respect for others with not only words also actions. It is believed that real feelings are communicated through words and actions in Japan. Bowing is one of actions to express feelings. For example, sales clerk give a low bow with words to you after shopping. That means "Thank you for your purchase" and "Please come again". On the other hand, you can exhibit different feeling by not bowing in a situation. If you apologize without bowing, it might be considered provocation in some cases. But please don't worry. Nobody expects non-Japanese master the proper way of bowing here, although Japanese bow even on the telephone. Come and see for yourself whether Japanese really love bowing!! -- なぜ、日本人はお辞儀をよくするのでしょうか？ なぜなら、日本人は感謝や敬意を言葉だけでなく行動でも示すからです。気持ちは、言葉と行動で伝わると日本では信じられています。おじぎは、気持ちを表現する行動の1つです。例えば、買い物の後、店員さんはあなたに深いおじぎをします。これは、「お越しいただきありがとうございます。」や「またお越しください。」という意味です。一方、おじぎをしないことで、別の気持ちを表すこともできます。もし、おじぎなしで謝罪すると、場合によっては挑発とみなされます。でも、心配しなでください。日本人ではない方に正しいおじぎの仕方を期待する日本人はいません。日本人は電話でさえおじぎするとしても。 ぜひ、あなたの目で、本当に日本人がおじぎを心から好んでいるか確かめに来てください！！ -- naze, nihonjin wa ojigi wo yoku suru no deshouka? nazenara, nihonjin wa kansha ya keii wo kotoba dake denaku koudou demo shimesu kara desu. kimochi wa, kotoba to koudou de tutawaru to nihon dewa shinji rarete imasu. ojigi wa kimochi wo hyougen suru koudou no hitotu desu. tatoeba, kaimono no ato, ten-in-san wa anata ni hukai ojigi wo shimasu. korewa, 「okoshi itadaki arigatou gozaimasu」ya「mata okoshi kudasai」toiu imi desu. ippou, ojigi wo shinai kotode, betuno kimochi wo arawasu kotomo dekimasu. moshi, ojigi nashide shazai suruto, baai ni yotte wa chouhatu to minasare masu. demo,shinpai shinaide kudasai. nihonjin dewa nai kata ni tadashii ojigi no shikata wo kitai suru nihonjin wa imasen. nihonjin wa denwa de sae ojigi surru to shitemo. zehi, anata no me de , hontou ni nihonjin ga ojigi wo kokoro kara konondeiruka tashikame ni kite kudasai!!