Welcome to the World of Natural Science in English!

Welcome! In this chapter, we explore Natural Science. You might think science is only for your biology or chemistry classes, but science is a huge part of the English curriculum too. Why? Because English is the "global language" of science. Scientists from all over the world use English to share their discoveries about the environment, space, technology, and the human body.

Don't worry if science feels difficult. In English class, our goal isn't to memorize complex formulas. Instead, we focus on understanding the main ideas (the gist) and expressing our own opinions about scientific topics using logical reasons. Let's dive in!

1. What is "Natural Science" in English Class?

In your English textbooks (English Communication I, II, and III), "Natural Science" refers to topics that help us understand the physical world. Common themes include:

  • The Environment: Global warming, recycling, and protecting endangered animals.
  • Space and the Universe: Mars exploration, stars, and the history of the moon.
  • Life Sciences: How plants grow, how our brains work, or how animals communicate.
  • Technology: AI (Artificial Intelligence), robots, and new inventions.

Note: For topics about "Ideas about people and society," please see the separate chapter in this section.

2. Key Skills for Scientific Topics

The official syllabus focuses on different goals depending on your level (I, II, or III). Here is how you can approach science materials:

A. Listening and Reading (Input)

When you listen to a news report about a new planet or read an article about plastic in the ocean, focus on these three things:

  1. The Gist (Summary): What is the big picture? (e.g., "This article is about a new way to clean the ocean.")
  2. Main Points: What are the 2 or 3 most important facts?
  3. Details: Look for specific numbers, names, or dates.

Quick Tip: In scientific English, the "Topic Sentence" (usually the first sentence of a paragraph) often tells you exactly what the paragraph is about. Read that first!

B. Speaking and Writing (Output)

In the Logic and Expression courses, you are asked to give your opinion on scientific issues. To do this well, you need to use Logic. A simple way to do this is the OREO method:

  • O (Opinion): "I think electric cars are better for the earth."
  • R (Reason): "Because they do not produce CO2 gas."
  • E (Evidence/Example): "For example, many cities are seeing less air pollution as more people use them."
  • O (Opinion): "Therefore, we should use electric cars more."

3. Essential Grammar for Science

To talk about science clearly, certain grammar points from the syllabus are especially helpful:

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs (b & c)

These help you define specific things.
Example: "A telescope is a tool which helps us see distant stars."
Example: "This is the laboratory where the medicine was created."

Conjunctions (d)

Science is all about "Cause and Effect." Use conjunctions to show how things are connected.
Example: "Because the temperature rose, the ice melted."
Example: "The experiment failed, but the scientists learned a lot."

The Subjunctive (h)

Scientists often imagine "What if?" scenarios.
Example: "If we lived on the moon, we would see the Earth in the sky every day." (This is a hypothetical situation!)

4. Scientific Vocabulary Tips

The syllabus requires you to learn between 1,800 and 2,500 new words during High School. Many of these will be related to science. Here is how to handle "hard" science words:

  • Look for "Loan Words" (Gairaigo): Many English science words are used in Japanese too, like Energy (エネルギー), Robot (ロボット), or Plastic (プラスチック).
  • Identify "Action Verbs": Focus on verbs that describe changes, like increase (up), decrease (down), produce (make), or discover (find).
  • Don't Panic: If you see a very long scientific word you don't know, look at the words around it. The sentence will usually give you a hint about its meaning!

5. Step-by-Step: Understanding a Science Text

Don't worry if a text seems tricky at first. Try these steps:

Step 1: Look at the title and pictures. What branch of science is this? (Space? Animals? Health?)

Step 2: Scan for numbers. \(50\%\), \(2027\), \(100^{\circ}C\). These often mark important data points.

Step 3: Find the "Conclusion." This is usually at the end of the text. It tells you the scientist's final thought or discovery.

Quick Review: Key Takeaways

1. Logic is Key: Always support your scientific opinions with reasons and evidence.
2. Focus on the Gist: You don't need to understand every single technical word to understand the main story.
3. Use Grammar to Connect Ideas: Use relative pronouns to describe things and conjunctions to show cause and effect.

Did you know? In English, we use the word "Science" from the Latin word scientia, which simply means "knowledge." So, when you study natural science in English, you are simply gaining knowledge about the world around you!