レッスンを予約する
Step 1
Read the Article
Read the article to understand the main idea.
記事を読んで、おおよその内容をつかみましょう。
Blind Lego fans use special instructions to build on their own
Like a lot of young children, Matthew Shifrin loved building Lego sets, but because he was blind, he had to rely on friends and family to complete his creations. That changed when he was 13. A family friend gave him braille instructions for a Lego set.
“It was truly an amazing experience because I was completely in control of the whole building process. I knew where the pieces went and I was able to learn about the world around me.” Shifrin said, surrounded by sets he has built including a Statue of Liberty figurine and NASA's Apollo Saturn V rocket.
In 2023, he started a nonprofit group, Bricks for the Blind, to share instructions with other blind builders. So far, the group has made instructions for more than 540 Lego sets, and about 3,000 people have used them worldwide.
Shifrin also contacted the Lego Group in 2017 about accessibility. That helped inspire the company to begin offering audio and braille instructions in 2019.
Shifrin says the instructions give blind people more freedom. They also help blind parents, children, and grandparents build Lego together and enjoy an activity many people know from childhood.
(AP)
Step 2
Check the Vocabulary and Phrases
Check the following vocabulary and phrases.
以下の単語やフレーズの発音、意味、使い方を確認しましょう。
braille
点字
a system of printing for blind people, in which patterns of raised dots represent letters and numbers
She read the museum guide in braille.
彼女は博物館の案内を点字で読みました。
in control
主導権を持って
having the power to make decisions and direct a situation
When I plan my own trip, I feel in control.
自分で旅行を計画すると、主導権を持っていると感じます。
surround
囲む
to be all around somebody or something on every side
Tall trees surround the small house.
高い木々がその小さな家を囲んでいます。
contact
連絡を取る
to write to, phone or visit somebody in order to tell them about something or to ask them something
I contacted my teacher after class to ask a question.
私は授業のあと、質問するために先生に連絡を取りました。
accessibility
利用しやすさ
the quality of being able to be reached or used by everyone, including people who have a disability
Good website accessibility helps more people use online services.
良いウェブサイトの利用しやすさは、より多くの人がオンラインサービスを使う助けになります。
Step 3
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions based on the article.
理解度問題に挑戦しましょう。
What did Matthew Shifrin receive at age 13 that changed how he built Lego sets?
Why did Shifrin start the nonprofit group Bricks for the Blind in 2023?
Step 4
Discussion
Share your opinions on the following questions.
以下の質問について、自分の考えを述べてみましょう。
Have you ever played with Lego or built something by yourself? What did you make?
Do you think it is important to make products easier for people with disabilities? Why or why not?
Have you ever needed help to do something? How did you feel?
How can technology or new ideas help people in their daily lives? Can you give an example?
Do you think companies should do more to make their products accessible? Why?