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Advertising exec loses debate to teacher over advertising

TOKYO, Japan (GTA) - Marketing planner Masao Watanabe may have 20 years of experience in the world of advertising, however he was no match in an intellectual debate for Gaba teacher Johnathon McKnight.

"He told me his company was handling the new Budweiser campaign. We started talking about how American products are exported all over the world," Mcknight stated.

"I took the position that exportation of American culture is not necessarily a good thing, and I wanted to challenge my student to argue the opposite side."

Watanabe, who was made solid progress to lesson 7 of GTS2, reportedly likes "soccer and driving".

McKnight took no prisoners from the start.

"From the very first point, I hit him hard. I told him that the problem I see is that we tend to export many of the superficial and bad things (materialism, adolescent sexual obsession, glorification of violence) about our culture most aggressively, while many of the deeper or good things (freedom, equality, self-reliance) are scarcely exhibited abroad,"

"I was waiting for him to hit me back, but he just said 'Do you like Japanese beer?' ", McKnight stated.

"At first I wasn't sure if Masao was all going to get all Socratic Method on me. But then he said 'I want to drink Asahi everyday' which didn't make any sense at all. At least refute one of my points. Put up a fight, at least."

The debate got even more one-sided.

"Keeping in mind he is the ad exec. I gotta stay on my guard. So I told him that that the enourmous amount of American products is helping to sustain a sort of U.S. corporate-hegemony over other cultures", Mcknight added. "...he just looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights. That's when I knew I had won. It was pretty much anti-clamatic from that point. Game, set, match."

This was not the first debate victory for McKnight. He scored several victories on topics ranging from education to imports of American beef.

The Gaba Teachers Association: Serving teachers at Gaba Japan, Nova Japan, Geos Japan, Aeon Japan, ECC Japan, and Berlitz Japan since 2005. The Gaba Teachers Association is dedicated to reporting the latest news from the English school industry. This is a site for that covers all news that impacts those who teach English in Japan. If you are teaching English at NOVA, GEOS, Berlitz, ECC or any other Eikaiwa school, check us out.
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