Theme 5: International and Global Dimension — Environmental Issues
Welcome to your study notes for Environmental Issues: Being 'Green' and Access to Natural Resources. In the Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Japanese course (1JA0), Theme 5 asks you to think about global challenges and how people in both the UK and Japan protect our planet. Whether you are aiming for a Foundation pass or a top Higher grade, mastering the vocabulary and grammar in this topic will give you powerful tools for your Speaking (Paper 2) and Writing (Paper 4) exams!
Don't worry if talking about the environment sounds daunting. We will break down every keyword, grammar structure, and exam skill step-by-step so you can express your opinions, give advice, and describe eco-friendly habits with confidence.
---1. Essential Thematic Vocabulary
To score high marks, you need to use specific topic lexis rather than just relying on simple words like いい (ii - good) or わるい (warui - bad). Here is the core vocabulary prescribed by the Edexcel specification:
General & Nature
• かんきょう (環境) — kankyou — environment
• しぜん (自然) — shizen — nature
• ちきゅう (地球) — chikyuu — the earth / globe
• もんだい (問題) — mondai — problem / issue
• せかい (世界) — sekai — the world
Resources & Energy
• 水 / お水 — mizu / omizu — water
• 電気 (でんき) — denki — electricity
• エネルギー — enerugii — energy
• ガソリン — gasorin — petrol / gas
Actions & Habits (Being Green)
• リサイクル (する) — risaikuru (suru) — recycle / to recycle
• ごみ / ゴミ — gomi — rubbish / waste
• ごみをすてる (捨てる) — gomi o suteru — to throw away rubbish / to litter
• ごみをわける (分ける) — gomi o wakeru — to separate rubbish
• （でんき・水を）とめる (止める) — (denki/mizu o) tomeru — to turn off / stop (electricity/water)
• つかう (使う) — tsukau — to use
• まもる (守る) — mamoru — to protect / look after
• へらす (減らす) — herasu — to reduce
• のこす (残す) — nokosu — to leave behind / spare
• もったいない — mottainai — wasteful / what a waste
• エコバッグ / マイバッグ — ekobaggu / maibaggu — reusable shopping bag
Did you know? The Japanese concept of もったいない (mottainai) reflects a deep cultural value of not wasting resources. When food is left over or lights are left on, Japanese speakers often say "Mottainai!" to express that a valuable resource is being squandered.
Key Takeaway: Practice pairing nouns with their specific verbs (e.g., ごみをわける = separate rubbish; しぜんをまもる = protect nature) so they flow naturally during your speaking test.
---2. Grammar Toolkit: Talking About the Environment
Examiners look for a range of grammatical structures when you discuss global issues. Here are the four key grammar patterns you need for this topic:
Pattern A: Obligation & Rules (What We Must and Must Not Do)
Use these patterns to discuss rules for saving the planet:
1. Must do: Verb (ない-form without い) + なければなりません (nakereba narimasen)
Example: ごみを分別しなければなりません。 (Gomi o bunbetsu shinakereba narimasen. — We must separate rubbish.)
Example: 水をとめなければなりません。 (Mizu o tomenakereba narimasen. — We must turn off the water.)
2. Must not do: Verb (て-form) + はいけません (wa ikemasen)
Example: ごみをすててはいけません。 (Gomi o sutete wa ikemasen. — You must not litter.)
Example: エネルギーをたくさんつかってはいけません。 (Enerugii o takusan tsukatte wa ikemasen. — You must not use a lot of energy.)
Pattern B: Giving Advice & Recommendations
When suggesting how individuals can be greener:
1. Should do / It is better to: Verb (た-form) + ほうがいいです (hou ga ii desu)
Example: 電気をとめたほうがいいです。 (Denki o tometa hou ga ii desu. — You should turn off the electricity/lights.)
Example: マイバッグをつかったほうがいいです。 (Maibaggu o tsukatta hou ga ii desu. — It is better to use your own bag.)
2. Polite requests: Verb (て-form) + ください (kudasai)
Example: リサイクルしてください。 (Risaikuru shite kudasai. — Please recycle.)
Pattern C: Expressing Purpose (In Order to...)
This is a high-yield pattern to explain why you take eco-friendly actions:
• Verb (Plain dictionary form) + ために (tame ni) = In order to [do verb]
• Noun + のために (no tame ni) = For the sake of [noun]
Example: かんきょうをまもるために、車をつかいません。
(Kankyou o mamoru tame ni, kuruma o tsukaimasen. — In order to protect the environment, I do not use a car.)
Example: 地球のために、ごみをへらします。
(Chikyuu no tame ni, gomi o herashimasu. — For the sake of the earth, I reduce rubbish.)
Pattern D: Giving Opinions and Reasons
• I think that...: [Plain form sentence] + と思います (to omoimasu)
Example: かんきょう問題は大切だと思います。 (Kankyou mondai wa taisetsu da to omoimasu. — I think environmental issues are important.)
• Giving reasons (because / as): Reason clause + から (kara) / ので (node)
Example: もったいないですから、電気をとめます。 (Mottainai desu kara, denki o tomemasu. — Because it is wasteful, I turn off the electricity.)
Key Takeaway: Linking a purpose (〜ために) with an obligation (〜なければなりません) or an opinion (〜と思います) creates complex sentences that push your writing into the highest mark bands.
---3. Context: Comparing the UK and Japan
The Edexcel syllabus requires you to understand environmental actions within both the UK and Japanese contexts. Here are typical cultural comparisons you can write or speak about:
• Rubbish Separation: In Japan, separating rubbish (ごみをわける) is very strict, dividing items into burnable, non-burnable, plastics, and recyclable cans/bottles. You can compare this with recycling systems in the UK.
• Shopping Bags: Both countries encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags (エコバッグ / マイバッグ) instead of using single-use plastic bags.
• Saving Utilities: Turning off water taps and switching off lights (電気・水をとめる) are universal habits practiced at home and school in both countries.
4. Common Pitfalls & Examiner Tips
Learn from past examiner reports to avoid losing marks on common student mistakes:
1. Particle Choice with Actions:
Direct actions on objects (throwing away rubbish, turning off electricity) take the object particle を (o), NOT に (ni).
Correct: ごみをすてる (gomi o suteru) | Incorrect: ごみにすてる
2. Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs:
Be careful when talking about turning off resources. Use the transitive verb とめる (tomeru - to stop/turn off something), not the intransitive verb とまる (tomaru - something stops on its own).
Correct: 水をとめます。 (Mizu o tomemasu. — I turn off the water.)
3. Noun vs Verb with 〜ために (tame ni):
Remember to add の (no) when attaching tame ni to a noun!
• Verb: まもるために (mamoru tame ni — in order to protect)
• Noun: 地球のために (chikyuu no tame ni — for the sake of the earth)
4. Addressing Past, Present, and Future Tenses:
Examiners frequently report that candidates lose marks in writing tasks by failing to cover all time frames. If a bullet point asks what you recently did, use past tense (e.g., リサイクルしました). If it asks what people should do in the future, use advice forms (e.g., 〜たほうがいいです).
5. Quick Review & Practice Exercises
Quick Check: Translate the Following Ideas into Japanese
1. "In order to protect nature, we must recycle."
Answer: しぜんをまもるために、リサイクルしなければなりません。
(Shizen o mamoru tame ni, risaikuru shinakereba narimasen.)
2. "You should turn off the electricity."
Answer: 電気をとめたほうがいいです。
(Denki o tometa hou ga ii desu.)
3. "You must not litter (throw away rubbish) here."
Answer: ここでごみをすててはいけません。
(Koko de gomi o sutete wa ikemasen.)
4. "I use an eco-bag because it is wasteful."
Answer: もったいないですから、エコバッグをつかいます。
(Mottainai desu kara, ekobaggu o tsukaimasu.)
Final Tip: When preparing for Paper 2 (Speaking) and Paper 4 (Writing), make sure you have at least two set phrases memorised about your own daily eco-habits (like using an エコバッグ and turning off 電気) so you can answer environmental prompts smoothly and accurately!