Forum - View topicINTEREST: Tokyo Metropolitan Area to Establish "English Village"
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Juno016
 Posts: 2439 |
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Nothing as big as the Shinkansen, but for Japan, it's still really huge. Combine this with the boost in tourism expected after the exchange rate reversal and Japan's economy may actually have a small boost to it. At least, I hope so. I'll be earning a Japanese salary, but paying American student loans very soon. This exchange rate reversal will be the death of me and it's already too late to back out. :/
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Kadmos1
 Posts: 13626 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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I wonder if there will be an uprising of Engrish with this.
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Saturn
 Posts: 513 |
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I hope they hire actual English speakers unlike the Engrish teachers they have in most schools
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mdo7
 Posts: 6574 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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That comes with the territory. But then again, Japan and China has more Engrish then other Asian countries.
Yeah that's my concern. I heard it on NHK World News (I think last week or 2 week ago, I don't remember, and NHK don't archive their audio news) that majority of Japanese have said on the poll they don't take English seriously. |
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Hameyadea
 Posts: 3679 |
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It is the official language of the country that nuked them... twice. Their opinion on the subject is understandable 
Last edited by Hameyadea on Sat Dec 27, 2014 1:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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walw6pK4Alo
 Posts: 9322 |
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They treat English as a hobby than can be picked up and dropped at will, like tennis, and not some kind of necessity. I guess it makes more sense for Europeans, since how else would Finn and an Italian properly communicate? Any kind of guidance to get them better at the international language will be a benefit, and they also need to reform their outlook towards English-speaking English teachers, who usually don't get to teach as much as they should.
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Mr. Oshawott
 Posts: 6773 |
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I wonder what keeps English teachers (that speak English) from teaching the full course of the language? |
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samuelp
Industry Insider
Posts: 2252 Location: San Antonio, USA |
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Because to be a full teacher at a Japanese school means you have to do a whole lot more than JUST teach english. You have to be in charge of a homeroom, file reports and other paperwork in Japanese, and be in charge of extra curricular clubs, not to mention parent teacher conferences, interfacing with the PTA, eta... Teachers in Japanese schools are much more "active" with the families and kids than in US schools in my opinion. Frankly a lot of the things they do (like visit homes without an appointment) would be considered serious violations of privacy in the US... All of this requires not just fluency in Japanese but also the TRUST of the families, and as a foreigner that would be a very long and difficult bridge to build. Impossible? No, but it's certainly very very rare. So you can't just bring in a native English speaker unless they are also nearly fluent in Japanese, Japanese business practices, and also has the appropriate VISA to even work in Japan... This would be a lot easier if there were a larger "permanent" english speaking community of immigrants here in Japan, but there isn't. Almost all the english teachers are short-term stays so they don't have the Japanese skills to be real teachers. |
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walw6pK4Alo
Posts: 9322 |
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Yeah, my friend who taught English for a while told me he was used more as a reference device, but he did get to at least come up with some lessons and activities. Otherwise it was mostly the main teacher who would do a plan and then just have an acknowledgement from my friend that it was correct. That's no way to get a language into someone's head.
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mdo7
Posts: 6574 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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walw6pK4Alo, in Europe (majority of them), English is a 2nd language and probably also mandatory, it's been acknowledged according to UK's Daily Telegraph. So yeah that's why you have a lot of non-UK/Irish Europeans that can speak good English, I believe: -In the Netherlands, 87% of the population can speak fluent English (also 70% of the same population can speak fluent German). -In Belgium and Switzerland, English is also mandatory (alongside knowing other language like French, German, etc...) because the 2 countries have to do business with countries in and out of Europe so it make sense both Belgium and Switzerland have to know English. I had couple of friends from Belgium and Switzerland that told me that learning multiple languages is mandatory in those 2 countries. There is a drawback of the whole European continent learning English, it caused people in the UK and Ireland to not learn multiple languages other then French. But back on topic: Samuelp's post pretty much pointed out the problem, thanks for the info, Sam. 
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Kadmos1
Posts: 13626 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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I wonder if they would favor American or British English.
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EricJ2
 Posts: 4016 |
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And ironically, "ghetto" is a German word. 
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mdo7
Posts: 6574 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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Probably a combination of both. |
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TsukasaElkKite
 Posts: 4035 |
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Did you even read the article? They're hiring English speakers from countries other than Japan. |
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Mohawk52
 Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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Why does this read English Speaking Ghetto to me?
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