[Today's Lisa Zate Topic] How to improve your English in Japan

 Twenty or thirty years ago, many people graduated from school in Japan, became members of society, and were enthusiastic about their next hopes and challenges when it came time to start a new life. Some have believed that what is taught at that school is all about world, and that we are surely taught to be useful in adulthood. However, except for English education.

I was already feeling uncomfortable with English education in junior high school, and when I entered high school, there were so many Japanese people graduate without understanding English to use. As if they had just left school and started working for a company and then spends their days saying, "If you live in Japan, you don't need English in your daily life." But this is neither their responsibility nor lack of study. At that time, the Japanese curriculum was mandatory for 6 years in junior and high school, and despite the fact that there were only few people who could speak rarely. Even the English teacher at that time couldn't even talk to foreign teachers. Why are those who can't talk teaching English to children? ??

The English process and program decided by Japanese government was not set on the assumption that we would actually "speak" and "use" in society in the future. why? This is because it was decided by a Japanese who cannot speak. This is because inexperienced officers decided "on their own." So this is a common question for Japanese people, "Why can't you speak even though you learned at school?" After such a curriculum, we go out into society and are ashamed of people all over the world.

Let's take a look at recent related articles. Is there any change in 20 or 30 years now?

It seems that the curriculum has not been revised to "use" it yet. Fortunately, it was barely incorporated into the elementary school level, but as stated on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website (the following is an excerpt from that site).

In order to enhance English education at the elementary school stage, we are considering the content of education when it is assumed that all schools will teach in common. At that time, since there are a considerable number of cautious opinions, it is necessary to thoroughly consider how to set educational goals and contents, their position in the curriculum, and the establishment of conditions.

 The Foreign Language Specialization Subcommittee summarizes the ideas about the goals and contents of English education at the elementary school stage, and cites cautious opinions as the reasons for this, the relationship with the development of national language skills, and the relationship between junior high school and high school. We will show the direction of future studies on issues such as the relationship with English education and the establishment of conditions for instructors.

Unfortunately, it's been 20 years, but the result isn't very good. Now, it seems that Japanese people have to do something about themselves if they want to be "really English-speaking people" rather than waiting silently for the reaction and improvement of these institutions.

Now, whether you're a student or left school already, there are probably many people who want to be able to speak English somehow. Foreign languages ​​do not develop in notebooks. Even if I was taught and wrote it in a notebook and reviewed it later, it would not improve.

Entering that environment and living a daily life　

environment? ?? Are you going abroad now?

Words improve with "ears". It depends on how you listen to English in your daily life. Listen to English programs on the radio or in the video. You don't have to understand the contents. When watching foreign movies and dramas, lidtening to the original language, not dubbed. If Japanese subtitles are added, or English one it will be a learning better experience. It's about creating an environment that makes you feel like you're abroad while you're in Japan .

And never write the words you care about or the pronunciations that are difficult to understand in katakana. I hope there are no English teachers in Japan who don't use Katakana for pronunciation any more!! If you think you can read it in katakana, you are just ridiculous. Use phonetic symbols for pronunciation.

(Example)

objectivity/ ὰbdʒektí vəṭi｜`ɔb－ /

Now you can check how each symbol is pronounced on SNS, youtube as well.

Provide an opportunity to talk with foreigners

Of course, there is also an English conversation school, but you can also participate in the community of foreigners from overseas, and sometimes we are looking for volunteers from schools and groups with foreigners. Finding such an opportunity is to show your face. And let's communicate as much as possible. It may be embarrassing at first. That's ok, no one cares.

And after all let's go abroad

Practice and dive into reality.

I want many Japanese to be able to speak a second foreign language. We must escape from the "Isolated island country" and "the country who doesn't know about the real world". I want you to meet a lot of people and talk to a lot of people. There are many things that are still unknown in this world. What is reported on TV and sites is not always correct. I want you to see the facts with your own eyes and hear the facts with your ears. It doesn't matter if you're 30 or 60 years old.