Japan has: a stressful education system.
Japan has: a bad English education system.
A weird combination.
Japan has: a stressful education system.
Japan has: a bad English education system.
A weird combination.
What percentage of people in English speaking countries have learnt another language at school and become good enough to get by in most everyday situations? Now compare that to Japan and people who can do the same in english. There was one second language class in my final year at school which had 20 students in it out of 400 students in my grade. Where as at least Japan makes English compulsory across the board, so even though the methods may not be ideal they are still way a head of English speaking countries when it comes to learning a second language at school.
Here is where personal experiences come into play. I took Japanese for two years in college and learned it thoroughly enough to survive basic conversation. Two years of French in high school and I can read French almost fluently, even though I can't speak it anymore.
English education is compulsory, but not always beneficial to the learner. Part of the reason I retained these languages so well is because I am interested in it. Compulsory English education benefits me (a paycheck) much more than I believe it benefits my students.
Besides, the modern education system is created to churn out drones, not to truly make people learn. At this it succeeds very well, regardless of what country you are in.
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Perhaps the problem is about setting the wrong goals for learning a second language. If vocabulary is a measure... i.e. the volume of words learned is a measure of success, then that could be a factor.
The average native speaking person uses only about 400 words or so a day to get by. English as an example has a vocabulary of around one million words, trying to achieve that knowledge is fruitless endevour. It is probably a better strategy to focus on the common everyday words and becoming extremely fluent with those. Later, specialized words can be added to complement a specific field of endevour.
Just a thought.
frustrateddave saidA little knowledge can be dangerous, and it can also save your life sometimes.A little knowledge is dangerous.
frustrateddave saidIt would depend on the school. As Godemperorleto said, some people do actually learn foreign languages and are able to use them. Unfortunately in Japan, the percentage is small and some of it has to do with the methods used to teach the languages and the way the users of those languages (foreginers) are portrayed in Japan.What percentage of people in English speaking countries have learnt another language at school and become good enough to get by in most everyday situations? Now compare that to Japan and people who can do the same in english. There was one second language class in my final year at school which had 20 students in it out of 400 students in my grade. Where as at least Japan makes English compulsory across the board, so even though the methods may not be ideal they are still way a head of English speaking countries when it comes to learning a second language at school.
I wonder if someone would care to expand upon this observation?Unfortunately in Japan, the percentage is small and some of it has to do with the methods used to teach the languages and the way the users of those languages (foreigners) are portrayed in Japan.
Generalizations are made everywhere I know, still, I am very interested in learning how foreigners are regarded in Japan. Of course there are varieties of "foreigners" so I am wondering if distinctions are made.
Often in other countries "foreigners" tend to be categorized by leading perceived traits (Usually based on fallacy).
For instance, a generalization about Japanese people in some countries use words such as "Inscrutable", "Unemotional", "Honorable". I know these are stereotypical, but are they warranted? If so - Why?
If not - Why?
Is this phenomena an impact on educational quality in Japan?
(As intimated by the previous poster)
Last edited by DougLewis; Oct 13, 2009 at 04:02. Reason: Clarify intent of question.
Sorry if I am in the wrong topic.
My reply was to a quote within a reply in this thread?
Even so your suggestion is noted and appreciated. It helps me to understand the logic of the forum topic flow. My intent was to see if stereo typing has impacts upon either the approaches or successes of the educational system by way of bias.
Thank you.
D.
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