Your foreign friend is frustrated because he/she still hasn’t found anyone special in Japan.

Help your friend find a good match and later prepare for a date.

IN THIS LESSON, YOU WILL

1. Read dating profiles.
2. Decide who is a good match for your friend.
3. Give your friend advice about what to do during a date.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Replace the underlined parts with expressions from the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

bad-mouth someone
have a thing for someone/something
out of someone’s league
break the ice
  1. Asking too many personal questions is not a good way to make someone comfortable with you.
  2. I’m into guys who can play lots of musical instruments.
  3. Don’t criticize your ex during a date.
  4. I have no chance with her – she’s too talented for me.

STEP B EXERCISE

Choose the correct expressions in the parentheses.

  1. (A personal achievement / Out of courtesy), you should avoid looking at your phone during a date.
  2. I (have a thing for / take pride in) how far I’ve come in my medical career.
  3. I (managed to / took pride in) become a bestselling author while working a full-time job.
  4. It’s (an unwritten rule / a personal achievement) to at least offer to pay your share during a date.

MISSION

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend has been in Japan for a year. He/She hasn’t dated anyone yet but really wants to find someone special. Read some dating profiles of people you think your friend would like.

Remember?

  • take pride in something
  • a personal achievement
  • manage to do something

Yuki Sakamoto, 28
10 km away

Occupation: personal fitness trainer
Status: single
Height: 180 cm
Interests: photography and nature

A little more about me…
I have many interests, but I enjoy being in nature most of all. I take pride in my photography skills and have a large collection of nature photographs. I especially love taking pictures of forests, rare animals, and flowers. I’ve joined photography contests before, and I’ve managed to win some of them. If you’re interested, I can show you my photos sometime.

Kaoru Takeda, 31
30 km away

Occupation: nurse
Status: single
Height: 165 cm
Interests: food and movies

A little more about me…
I spend a lot of my time working, but that’s because I love my job and my patients. I consider it a personal achievement to be able to care for other people. When I’m not at work, I like to spoil myself with the best food out there. I also like staying indoors to watch the latest movies and read mystery books.

Challenge 2

After reading their profiles, you think that Yuki and Kaoru might be good matches for your friend. Discuss their profiles with your friend and decide who would be the best match.

Remember?

  • out of someone’s league
  • have a thing for someone/something
  • break the ice

Challenge 3

Your friend messaged his/her choice on the dating site, and they arranged a date for tomorrow! It’s your friend’s first time to go on a date in Japan. Give him/her some advice.

Remember?

  • bad-mouth someone
  • out of courtesy
  • an unwritten rule
  • break the ice

FEEDBACK

Help your friend find a good match and later prepare for a date.

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK