Why Japan needs English
This paper argues that Japan needs English, and better English than just knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. English is the main language of globalisation, and there are clear advantages to being proficient in it. For a long time, English has been taught through the grammar-translation method at Ja...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1399783 |
| _version_ | 1818615080826175488 |
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| author | Liang Morita |
| author_facet | Liang Morita |
| author_sort | Liang Morita |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper argues that Japan needs English, and better English than just knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. English is the main language of globalisation, and there are clear advantages to being proficient in it. For a long time, English has been taught through the grammar-translation method at Japanese schools and universities, which is inadequate to say the least. This has resulted in the inability to work in the English language at the workplace. With a rapidly aging and declining population, the Japanese need to be able to work with foreign co-workers. Being proficient in English would also help the Japanese form alliances and partnerships with foreign establishments in business, research, higher education, and science and technology. This paper also argues that stronger English language skills would help improve attitudes towards foreigners, since recent research has shown that Japanese individuals with stronger English conversation ability have more positive attitudes towards immigration. It would also mitigate discrimination against foreigners if the Japanese could communicate, interact and empathise with them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:28:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed15c28863a74588b52dd2d3fd32f618 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:28:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed15c28863a74588b52dd2d3fd32f6182022-12-21T22:24:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862017-01-013110.1080/23311886.2017.13997831399783Why Japan needs EnglishLiang Morita0Nagoya UniversityThis paper argues that Japan needs English, and better English than just knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. English is the main language of globalisation, and there are clear advantages to being proficient in it. For a long time, English has been taught through the grammar-translation method at Japanese schools and universities, which is inadequate to say the least. This has resulted in the inability to work in the English language at the workplace. With a rapidly aging and declining population, the Japanese need to be able to work with foreign co-workers. Being proficient in English would also help the Japanese form alliances and partnerships with foreign establishments in business, research, higher education, and science and technology. This paper also argues that stronger English language skills would help improve attitudes towards foreigners, since recent research has shown that Japanese individuals with stronger English conversation ability have more positive attitudes towards immigration. It would also mitigate discrimination against foreigners if the Japanese could communicate, interact and empathise with them.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1399783japanenglishglobalisationimmigrationdiscrimination |
| spellingShingle | Liang Morita Why Japan needs English Cogent Social Sciences japan english globalisation immigration discrimination |
| title | Why Japan needs English |
| title_full | Why Japan needs English |
| title_fullStr | Why Japan needs English |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Japan needs English |
| title_short | Why Japan needs English |
| title_sort | why japan needs english |
| topic | japan english globalisation immigration discrimination |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1399783 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liangmorita whyjapanneedsenglish |