There was an interesting article in the Mainichi Newspaper (Jan. 4th) that caught my eye. The newspaper sent a survey to 122 major companies in Japan. Around 23% of the responses said that they want to increase foreign employees by spring of next year. 50.8% of all responses show plans to increase foreigners in the work place in ten years. Though a reason for many people coming to Japan would be to take advantage of the strong yen, there is a strong movement to employ individuals from advancing nations and incorporate their practices.
I spoke with a teacher about what this means for students in Japan. To make a long conversation short, there needs to be a revision on how English is taught to students. In a work place that is bound to have more workers for Asia, English is likely to be come a more common tool for the work place. However, kids that come out of school (and took English even a little seriously) in Japan have what you could call a "firm base in reading and writing English." This of course doesn't mean that they can speak and communicate said target language. There are students that do their best and learn the language as a language rather than a subject, but as a whole there is something lacking.
As an ALT, it is my job to help improve this reality... but it doesn't seem to be enough. I wonder what can be done more to give students more practice and confidence in English?
Hmm.. group chats in English? Penpals in english?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the time I get with my students is very short. Penpals sounds like a great idea actually. However, there is little way to set this kind of thing up. I would do it with myself, but exchanging mail with my students -heavily- discouraged.
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