A survival skill in shrinking Japan: Learn English

Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani decided two years ago that the employees at his company, Rakuten Inc., should work almost entirely in English. The idea, he said, was a daring and drastic attempt to counter Japan's shrinking place in the world. "Japanese people think it's so difficult to speak English," Mikitani said. "But we need to break the shell."

The Worldwide Triumph of English

By GWYNNE DYER LONDON — The second president of the United States, John Adams, predicted in 1780 that "English will be the most respectable language in the world and the most universally read and spoken in the next century, if not before the end of this one." It is destined "in the next and succeeding centuries to be more generally the language of the world than Latin was in the last or French is in the present age." It was a bold prediction, for at that time there were only about 13 million English-speakers in the world, almost all of them living in Britain or on the eastern seaboard of North America. They were barely 1 percent of the world's population, and almost nobody except the Welsh and the Irish bothered to learn English as a second language. So how is Adams' prediction doing now?

Southampton remembers the Titanic

A southern port city in Britain has commemorated those who died in the sinking of the Titanic with a series of events. The events were held in Southampton on Tuesday, the 100th anniversary of the ship's departure from the city for New York. About 500 children took part. The luxury liner sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. More than 1,500 people died. Southampton was home to most of the ship's crew. Children paraded through the city center carrying placards bearing the names and images of the deceased.

TOEIC's popularity on the rise

The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) is becoming popular as English is an essential skill for employees as companies expand overseas. The number of applicants in Japan for the TOEIC test, which measures English language skills necessary for international business, in fiscal 2011 increased by about 30 percent to 2.27 million from the previous fiscal year. The figure is close to the 2.3 million who applied to take the Test in Practical English Proficiency (Eiken) in fiscal 2011. Eiken is the most popular English proficiency test in Japan, and its Japanese name literally translates to "English skill test." It is possible that TOEIC will replace Eiken as Japan's most popular English language test. TOEIC has become popular partly because companies have increased their international activities and students face difficult job markets.

Subsidy eyed to promote study abroad

40 universities could receive 5-year grants

The Yomiuri Shimbun - The education ministry plans to establish a new financial support system for universities encouraging students to study abroad, it has been learned. The ministry aims to promote the idea of studying abroad to Japanese students, who are often regarded as being introverted, to foster human resources who will be motivated to actively participate in the nation's domestic and international affairs. The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is targeting about 40 universities and plans to grant from 100 million yen to 200 million yen in annual subsidies to each institution.

IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE 8

PART 1

                The examiner asks the candidate about him/herself, his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.

Colour ·         What’s your favourite colour? Why? ·         Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were younger? Why? Why not? ·         What can you learn about a person from the colours they like? ·         Do any colours have a special meaning in your culture?

YouTube Ferrari driver in Japan faces speeding charges

A doctor in Japan has landed himself in trouble with the police after posting footage of his drive in a Ferrari sports car on YouTube. He is facing charges of exceeding the speed limit after the footage showed him driving at 124km/h (77mph) in a 40km/h (25mph) zone, police say. The 50-year-old doctor, from Okawa in Fukuoka Prefecture, was reported to police by angry YouTube users. He reportedly said he "wanted people to understand the beauty of a Ferrari". The six-minute video is titled "Ferrari 458 Italia Drive in Japan 2011" in Japanese, and was filmed using a camera positioned behind the driver. It shows the car leaving an underground car park and driving along highways and coastal roads in Fukuoka, southern Japan, on the morning of 24 April 2011.

Subsidy eyed to promote study abroad

  40 universities could receive 5-year grants

The Yomiuri Shimbun - The education ministry plans to establish a new financial support system for universities encouraging students to study abroad, it has been learned. The ministry aims to promote the idea of studying abroad to Japanese students, who are often regarded as being introverted, to foster human resources who will be motivated to actively participate in the nation's domestic and international affairs. The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is targeting about 40 universities and plans to grant from 100 million yen to 200 million yen in annual subsidies to each institution.

IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE 1

Travel and Tourism
PART 1

                The examiner asks the candidate about him/herself, his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.

Travel ·         Have you ever travelled outside your country? ·         What do you think is the best way to travel? ·         If you were going on a long trip, who would you prefer to go with? ·         What are some of the benefits of travelling?

Students' retreat from English

Recent education ministry survey of third-year middle school students nationwide found most students have an ambivalent and contradictory attitude toward English. Of the 3,225 students surveyed, most felt English was important to study, but few wanted a job requiring English. The disjuncture between what they consider important and what they want for themselves is puzzling and disappointing. In the survey, 85 percent agreed English was important and 70 percent — up from 47 percent in 2003 — agreed that knowing English would give them an edge in finding a job in the future. Clearly, English is perceived as integral to internationalizing Japan and the world. However, despite students' increasing awareness of the importance of English, the percentage of students who said they did not want to get a job requiring English increased six percentage points to a whopping 43 percent. Only 11 percent said they strongly hope to get a job requiring English, a six-point downturn from the previous survey. Even more worrisome, only 30 percent of students said they like English, if they had to choose between "like" or "dislike." This level of aversion to English does not make one hopeful about the future. Perhaps the resurgence of pride in Japan after the Tohoku tragedy can account for some of the turn away from English, but students are retreating from something that they distinctly say is important. Most of the explanation, though, can be found in the way English is still being taught in Japan. Despite recent changes in English education, most English lessons remain focused on the most meaningless English — entrance-exam English. English teachers, administrators and the education ministry should take these results as a wake-up call. The current approach is clearly de-motivating students. Stressing grammatical rules as well as memorization of vocabulary and correct answers dulls young people's interest and leaves little time for communicating and understanding. Shifting the focus of English study from passing narrow multiple-choice exams to a broader view of using English in a globalizing world would be a good first step. Less pressure and more inspiration would be another. It is long past time to make English interesting and exciting for students. That does not mean making class all fun and games but rather helping students build bridges between their current studies and what is important for their future. Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120205a2.html?

VOCABULARY

1.      Ambivalent (adj.) - not sure whether you want or like something or not

2.      Disjuncture (n) - a lack of connection between things that are related or should be connected 

3.      Downturn (n) - a period or process in which business activity, production etc is reduced and conditions become worse

4.      Aversion (n) - a strong dislike of something or someone [= hatred]

5.      Resurgence (n) - the reappearance and growth of something that was common in the past

6.      Stressing (v) – emphasizing a statement, fact, or idea

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      Do you like English language? Why?

2.      How do you study English now? How would you like to study English?

3.      Discuss about the importance of English in your country.

4.      Have you taken any English proficiency test? Share your experience.

5.      What skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking) is the most difficult for you? Why?