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。
A country can change its name, but making the world use it is hard
In September 2026, leaders from around the world met at the United Nations, a group of almost every country on Earth. There, a small island country called Naoero, once known as Nauru, asked the world to use its new name. But getting everyone to use it is not always easy.
Take Turkey as an example. In English, "turkey" is also a large bird that people often eat at Christmas. The word can even mean something that fails. Turkey's leaders did not like these meanings, and they did not want people to confuse their country with the bird. So, in 2021, they said the country should be called Türkiye, its name in the Turkish language. Turkey told the United Nations in 2022, and the change was accepted quickly.
Today, the United Nations and many governments use "Türkiye." But many news companies and ordinary people still say "Turkey." Making an official change is one thing. Getting the whole world to follow is much harder.
Other nations have changed their names, too. In 1939, Siam became Thailand. In 2018, Swaziland, in Africa, became Eswatini, and that name spread fast. Now Naoero is trying to do the same for its new name.
(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。
turkey
七面鳥
a large bird that people often cook and eat, especially on holidays
My uncle cooked a whole turkey for our family dinner.
おじは家族の夕食のために、七面鳥を丸ごと一羽料理してくれました。
confuse
混同する
to think wrongly that one person or thing is another
Many tourists confuse the two train stations because their names are similar.
名前が似ているので、多くの観光客がその2つの駅を間違えます。
accept
受け入れる
to agree to a plan, an offer, or a change
The manager accepted my idea for the new schedule.
マネージャーは、私のあたらしいスケジュール案を受け入れました。
follow
追随する
to do the same thing that other people do
One store lowered its prices, and soon other shops followed.
ある店が値下げをすると、すぐに他の店もそれに続きました。
spread（過去形：spread)
広まる
to become known or used by more and more people
The new dance became popular, and it spread quickly among young people.
その新しいダンスは人気になり、若者の間で急速に広まりました。
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 Naoero ask the rest of the world to do?
Why did Turkey ask the world to use the name Türkiye?
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。
Is there a foreign place or country whose name you like the sound of? Which one, and why?
Why do you think some countries want to change their names?
Many people still say "Turkey" rather than "Türkiye." What might be the reasons for this?
If a country changes its name, what could it do to help people around the world start using the new name?
Do you think the world will soon start to use the name Naoero? Why or why not?