Question 1

I dread to think. I use a computer for work, for a sizeable chunk of the day. When I'm not working, I play video games, I watch movies and YouTube, I listen to podcasts, I read online, and I do a bit of programming. That means most of my leisure time is also spent in front of a screen, be it a computer, a smartphone, or a television. I'd say the vast majority of my waking hours is screentime.

Question 2

Everyone, except my daughter. My mother and father have worn glasses for all of my life, I think. These days, they need them all the time as their eyesight has become poor over the years. My sister has only recently started using them though she only needs them when she is reading. My wife alternates between glasses and contact lenses, and has needed prescription eyewear since before we were dating. She is blind as a bat without them.

Question 3

Technically, yes I need corrective eyewear. I was first prescribed them because I was getting headaches as my eyes were working too hard in school. I haven't worn my glasses in over twenty years though. I just don't feel like I need them anymore. So it doesn't really impact my daily life at all!

Question 4

I often wear sunglasses when I am outdoors. My eyes are very sensitive to bright light.

Question 5

I have bought glasses from an optician in the past. As I said above though, it has been quite some time since I last wore my glasses, meaning it has been a very long time since I bought glasses. I went to an outlet store in ATC in Osaka to buy my sunglasses.

Question 6

I don't think so. I'm sure it hasn't helped to situation. However, if you look at any random movie from the 1980s that features a stock Japanese character, they are wearing glasses. It is such a strong image I would consider it a stereotype and one that has been around for a while. There is an element of truth to it though, I guess, given all of the people I have met over the years who wear glasses.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
I dread to think	私は考えるのが怖い
a sizeable chunk	大部分
my waking hours	私の起きている時間
blind as a bat	物が見えない
stock character	ストックキャラクター
stereotype	固定観念
an element of truth to it	少なくとも部分的に正しい

Question 1

I spend around 5 hours a day using technology with a screen. The most common device I use is a PC or tablet.

Question 2

My wife wears glasses or contact lenses all the time.

Question 3

No, I do not, my eye sight is fairly good.

Question 4

I sometimes wear sunglasses in summer. But the sun feels a little weaker in Japan than in New Zealand.

Question 5

I would buy them as a gift for my wife or children.

Question 6

I am not sure about that. I would need to see the data, both current and historical.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
fairly good	かなり良い
current data	カレントデータ
historical data	ヒストリカルデータ

Question 1

I probably spend over 8 hours a day looking at screens. I spend most of it looking at my phone and some of it working on a desktop computer at English-Please. The rest of the time is when I'm watching Netflix on TV, but I haven't had much time to do that recently.

Question 2

My entire family wears glasses. But, I think I wore glasses the latest. I only started wearing glasses when I got to college.

Question 3

I wear glasses most of the time and contact lenses on special occasions, like on a date or when I go swimming or to the onsen. I only started needing glasses when I reached my second year in college. I was a graphic design student so I spent a lot of time in front of the computer doing my design assignments for school. If I don't have my glasses, I basically can't see people's faces, which would be pretty bad when I have to watch my students in class carefully every day!

Question 4

I think sunglasses are important when you're at the beach or in the snow. I have a lovely pair of turquoise sunglasses that I love bringing with me when I go on vacation to the beach.

Question 5

I don't like spending too much money on my glasses. As long as they look good and work well is enough for me, I don't care about designer brands. I usually buy my glasses from a glasses store in the mall, currently I go to Owndays to get my glasses. I think wearing glasses does suit me, I think it helps me look more serious and more like a teacher, haha!

Question 6

Maybe but maybe it's also because getting access to glasses is even easier now so more people are able to get them. Optometrists used to take a long time to properly measure your eyesight but now a machine can do that within minutes. I think it's also possible that being in front of a screen all the time can deteriorate your eyesight but I'd rather refer to a conclusive study regarding that before believing it.

Tough Vocabulary