Lesson 9: Last Names
I really want to keep my maiden name.

I can talk about the use of surnames in Japan.

INTRODUCE

In recent years, Japan’s law requiring married couples to share the same last name has come under fire from critics who claim it’s unconstitutional.

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. To take someone’s name means to adopt a person’s name as your own (especially after marriage).

     

    Miki chose to take her husband’s name when she got married.

     

    Q: If you could take anyone’s name (including a celebrity’s name), whose name would you take?

     

     

    2. To go by something means to use a name for yourself that is not your real name.

     

    Even though Miki’s new last name is Koba, she still goes by Miki Yajima at work.

     

    Q: Do you go by any special name?

     

     

    3.                                                                .

     

    Yajima is Miki’s maiden name.

     

    Q: What do you think one’s maiden name means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to show that you can see two sides of an issue.

    What do you think about this apartment?

    Well, on one hand, I like the overall look, but on the other hand, the rent seems a little high.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Ami and Monica are officemates in Tokyo. They’re chatting at lunch.

Monica:

Hey, I just heard the news! Congratulations!

Ami:

Thanks.

Monica:

I’m so excited for you! When’s the wedding?

Ami:

It’s on the 6th of July.

Monica:

Whoa, that’s only a few months away! You must be so excited!

Ami:

On one hand, yes, I’m really excited, but on the other hand, I’m not looking forward to all the paperwork we’re going to have to do.

Monica:

Paperwork? How many papers do you have to sign for a marriage license here?

Ami:

Oh, not for the marriage license. I mean all the paperwork to change one of our last names.

Monica:

Well, if it’s that big of a hassle, why don’t you both just keep your last names? I mean, your fiancé wouldn’t care, would he?

Ami:

It’s not a matter of him caring or not – in Japan, married couples are required by law to have the same name. That means that either I take my fiancé’s name or he takes mine.

Monica:

Whoa, seriously? In Spain we usually don’t change our last names at all when we get married! I can’t imagine being forced to change my name on my license, my bank account, my business cards, and everything else all because I got married. What a pain!

Ami:

It really is. We’re still trying to decide whose name to use. My fiancé really wants to keep his name because the kanji in his name are the perfect number of strokes right now. He knows it’s silly, but if he takes my name, it won’t be perfect anymore.

Monica:

Okay, so you should take your fiancé’s name!

Ami:

It’s not so simple, though. I’m worried that if I suddenly change my last name, my clients will be confused. I’ve built up a good reputation at work with my maiden name, you know?

Monica:

Could you change your official name but still go by your maiden name at work? Or, wait, I have a better idea: You should move to Spain and get married there! (laughs)

TRIVIA

In Spain, people do not change their names when they get married. Everyone has two last names, one from their father’s side and one from their mother’s side, that they keep for their whole lives. When children are born, they receive the paternal last name from their father and the paternal last name from their mother.

 

Father: Fernando Lopez Alvarez

Mother: Veronica Blanco Sanchez

Child: Pedro Lopez Blanco

PRACTICE

Complete the dialogue using the instructions in parentheses and the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

take someone’s name
go by something
one’s maiden name
Student:

Excuse me, I’m looking for Emily Brash.

Tutor:

Emily Brash? Sorry, I don’t know an Emily Brash…

Student:

I’m pretty sure she works here. She has short blonde hair and green eyes. She’s about your height.

Tutor:

Oh, you must be talking about Emily Dunham!

Student:

Whoops, sorry! (Say that you keep forgetting that she decided to switch to her husband’s last name when she got married last year.)

Tutor:

Sorry, I didn’t know that either. I just started here a few weeks ago.

Student:

Yeah. (Explain that Brash was Emily’s last name before she got married.) We’ve been friends since we were 10, so it’s hard for me to think of her as Emily Dunham!

Tutor:

Oh, okay. Well, she usually sits over there, but I think she’s with a customer now. Would you like to leave a message for her?

Student:

Yes, please. Can you tell her that Bug dropped by?

Tutor:

Bug?

Student:

Yup! (Explain that your real name is Sam, but you use the name Bug.)

Tutor:

Okay. I’ll pass the message to her.

Student:

Thanks!

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend just got engaged to a Japanese person. Congratulate your friend and talk about what he/she plans to do regarding his/her last name.

Today's Expressions

  • take someone’s name
  • go by something
  • one’s maiden name

Speak Your Mind

  • On one hand, …, but on the other hand, …

Challenge 2

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

If Time
Allows
1

YOUR NAME
2

NAMING CHILDREN
1

YOUR NAME

  1. Do you like your name?
  2. How did your parents come up with your name?
  3. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?

2NAMING CHILDREN

  1. How do you feel about parents who choose strange names for their children (ex. Apple, Pilot Inspektor)?
  2. Should children be able to choose their own names instead of having their parents decide for them?
  3. If you could easily change the name your parents gave you, would you?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about the use of surnames in Japan.

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