Lesson 6: Hikikomori
They’re more than just loners.

I can listen to and understand someone talking about hikikomori.

INTRODUCE

Although every country has people who hide away from society, Japan is especially famous for its hikikomori, often young and middle-aged men who go to extreme lengths to avoid personal or social contact.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.

    1. If you withdraw from something/someone, you stop participating in that thing or try to avoid that person.

    Amanda was being bullied by her classmates, so she decided to withdraw from school.

    That’s really sad.

    Q: If someone said they would pay you $10 million to withdraw from society and live deep in the woods, would you do it?

    Of course!

    No way!

     

     

    2. Someone who snaps has reached his/her limit and breaks down from emotional stress.

    Did you hear? Adam screamed at his boss and quit in the middle of the day!

    I’m not surprised that he snapped. His boss put a lot of pressure on him.

    Q: Which situation is more likely to make you snap?

    having a baby that won’t stop crying

    having a boss who won’t stop criticizing your work

     

     

    3.                                                                .

    Mike’s a loner. Most kids walk home from school in groups, but he always walks home alone.

    Well, not everyone is a people person.

    Q: What do you think a loner means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to disagree with someone’s entire assessment of a situation.

    The project was a disaster. We totally failed.

    That’s not the way I see it. You guys didn’t make the deadline, but you got a lot done!

UNDERSTAND

LISTENING

Maki and Megan are hanging out at a café in Hiroshima.

TRIVIA

Do you know how to express happiness for someone in situations where the phrase congratulations doesn’t work? You can use the phrase good for [person] instead!

 

    A: I just got married.

O B: Congratulations! / O B: Good for you!

 

    A: Angela got married last week.    

X B: Congratulations! / O B: Good for her!

PRACTICE

Rephrase the sentences using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

snap
a loner
withdraw from something/someone
  1. After graduation, Tammy slowly stopped seeing her friends.
  2. Aaron doesn’t like to be around other people much.
  3. I wonder what made him pass his breaking point.
  4. Hiro decided to quit school and help with his family’s farm.
  5. Their dog is usually quite gentle, but she reached her limit when the children kept pulling her tail.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend is living with a host family whose son, Shota, is starting to withdraw from the family. Listen to a news report about hikikomori. Then, talk about the report with your friend.

Today's Expressions

  • withdraw from something/someone
  • snap
  • a loner

Speak Your Mind

  • That’s not the way I see it.

Challenge 2

What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.

If Time
Allows
1

LONERS

2

SOCIALIZATION

1

LONERS

  1. Do you consider yourself to be a loner?
  2. Where is the line between being a loner and being antisocial?
  3. Do you think someone who avoids contact in real life but is active on internet forums can be called a loner?

2SOCIALIZATION

  1. Is it easy for you to socialize with other people?
  2. Do you prefer to hang out with people in a group or one-on-one?
  3. Do you think socialization is important?

FEEDBACK

I can listen to and understand someone talking about hikikomori.

LESSON GOAL 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