Newspaper Article Discussion 01

“Study abroad agent apologizes to clients, says it won’t pay them.”
Japan Times Monday, Oct. 6, 2008

Written Summary:
According to this article, Gateway21 Co. which had helped Japanese study abroad apologized to its clients that it went bankrupt on Wednesday, but can’t pay them back. The clients were anger, demanding to pay back and accusing it of fraud. Gateway21’s lower said that about 950,000,000 yen in tuition and boarding fees were paid by 1,300 people who wanted to study abroad, but they won’t be recovered. In addition, there are about 1,000 clients now abroad, but they might have to interrupt their studies because Gateway21 can’t continue paying its overseas business partners.

Opinion Statement:
I think it is natural that clients should be angry because they can’t not only study abroad but also recover their large amount of money. If Gateway21 can’t pay them back, they should take responsibility in other ways.

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever been to overseas to study?
Yes→Where and how was it? No→Do you want to study abroad? Why or why not?
2. Do you think the agency like Gateway21 is necessary for us to study abroad? Why or why not?
3. What do you think are good and bad points to study abroad?

New Words:
1. declare: to say officially or publicly
2. fraud: the crime of chaeting in order to get money illegally
3. bankruptcy: without enough money to pay what you owe
4. incur: situation in which you have to deal with it
5. debt: a sum of money that someone owes