日本の教育と英語
久しぶりのBlog更新となります。
Education and English in Japan.
下書きに保存している記事は幾つかあるのですが、暫く更新が停滞していました。
理由は色々とありますが、仕事とその他活動を優先していたと理解頂ければと思います。
理由は色々とありますが、仕事とその他活動を優先していたと理解頂ければと思います。
1年以上更新していなかった間に知り合いも増え、考えさせられる事や、考えも変わった事も多くあると思いますが、Blogを通じてその辺りが伝われば・・・と思います。
前置きはこの位にしておいて、最近ちょっと考えされられる事がありました。前々から自分でも気になっていた事なので、記事にしたいと思います。タイトルの「日本の教育と英語」という部分です。
お断りしておきますが、私は教育に従事する者でもなく、英語を教える事に従事する者でもなく、単に英語を使って物事を進める機会が多い者であって、また、現状の日本の教育制度に対して問題を提起している者でもありません。
こう言う意見もあるのだなと強く思える機会があったので、それを記事にしているだけです。
そう思わせてくれた人に約束した記事なので、その人が読めるように英語で書いてみようと思います。文法やスペルに多少のミスがあるかと思いますが、その人とその人の知り合いに伝わって欲しいので、半強引に英語でいきます。
そう思わせてくれた人に約束した記事なので、その人が読めるように英語で書いてみようと思います。文法やスペルに多少のミスがあるかと思いますが、その人とその人の知り合いに伝わって欲しいので、半強引に英語でいきます。
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Education and English in Japan.
Disclaimer:
I am not involved in any English "education" or "teaching" practices, I am just a person happened to have many opportunities to use English in many things. I have no objection or anything against current education structure in Japan. This is written just to express my "thought" on "education and English in Japan" for someone who encouraged me to do so.
That being said, you know who you are and why I am writing this in English.
I know many people who speak more than one languages, and I consider myself to be very fortunate to understand English besides my native tongue, Japanese.
Either it was fortunate or not, my personal experience in learning English in compulsory and higher education in Japan wasn't focused or toward practical use. It was heavily focused on grammar, mostly just to score higher in these entrance exams for higher education which leads a better reputation for the schools I attended. This doesn't mean any better reputation to my English.
But I had no way of knowing it lacks any practical usage.
When I spent my days in the states, I felt that the "English" I had learned in Japan wasn't very practical or I did not have enough experience in using practical English. Then, I realized that I didn't learn practical English in schools in Japan.
Now I am back in Japan and I see English education in Japan has changed a little, less intensity on grammar, more towards practical use.
I have acquainted with someone who is from overseas and very enthusiastically trying to let her pupils and students know the joy of learning another language. Well, I wish I had a teacher like this person, I would have had a very different experience in leaning English, probably with so much enjoyment in learning.
I have acquainted with someone who is from overseas and very enthusiastically trying to let her pupils and students know the joy of learning another language. Well, I wish I had a teacher like this person, I would have had a very different experience in leaning English, probably with so much enjoyment in learning.
"Foreign teachers" are becoming very popular educational practice in many parts of Japan, I personally think that this is great for pupils and students for learning "live" English, and for foreign teachers to have experience and involvement in Japan and its culture, including its education.
However, these "foreign teachers" and "pupils/students" are rather newer generation than people who have been in traditional education, often refusing to accept changes or having difficulty in understanding the change they are in.
This is somewhat stressful and can be very frustrating for foreign teachers. This bothers me a lot.
This is somewhat stressful and can be very frustrating for foreign teachers. This bothers me a lot.
These foreign teachers are in Japan, enthusiastically trying to teach "live" English to their pupils and students in the way that "traditional" English education often did not focus on, not to mention their "live" English would benefit the pupils and students the most.
Not greatly appreciating these foreign teachers and their effort is somewhat shameful when the final and ultimate goal is to let pupils and students to learn practical, "live" English besides grammar-oriented English.
I DO know a few good traditional teachers who I enjoy doing a few activities with, they are the ones truly understanding and pursuing their ultimate educational goals for their practices.
- 2012.05.03 Thursday
- その他
- 23:39
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- by 通りすがりの通訳翻訳者