Teach English in Miramichi - TEFL Courses

The problems for learners in japan. As we hear all the time and the fact that language different between english and japanese make tough for learners to acquire language. english and japanese has big differences in alphabet, phonology, grammar structure, the usage of language. In this paper, I would not go over this problem. The language differences seems as though the big problem but I think there are serious hindrance beside that. I would like to go over the problems of english speaking and listening for learners in japan. One of the problems the learners in japan face is classroom and learning structure problem. Though japanese students learn english for at least six years, middle school and high school, many people don't speak english well or think they cannot speak english at all (1). That is because english class in japanese school concentrates on grammar . The exam is same as well. Of course they have speaking lesson but it is not taking as important as reading and speaking lesson. Students try hard to pass the exam, which is heavily concentrate on grammar and reading, so for them, speaking is not a number one pressing problem to study. Therefore, speaking practice is not often taking serious as it should (1). Also, by studying english mainly for passing the paper test, students tend to think english is not fun and that negative feeling affects many japanese even after they graduated. I do not think emphasizing on grammar is necessarily bad. However, to neglect the speaking does not help improving speaking. Another big problem for the learners is the environment. Not all the japanese learners neglect english speaking. Now days, there are many private english lesson in japan where many people study english, especially the speaking. Not only from the middles school but english lesson has started in elementary school as well. Even then, many learners who are trying hard to improve english speaking struggle to get the result. This problem is caused by less opportunity to use english in daily life. Even they learn english speaking, they cannot practice speaking unless they have english speaking friends, or use english daily at work, or go to international school. Most of the conversations they have with are japanese so it is hard for them to practice daily conversation outside the classroom (1). As we all know, japan is a monolingual country, so things they see, read, write, listen are dominate by japanese language. Some people try hard to surround themself in english by trying to watch english programs, go to places and events where they can use english, and use english at home. However, not everyone can continue making that kind of environment. Many people had told me it is hard to change the life style to make english more close to them. Then why people can't change their life style? I believe the greatest part of the reason is because english is not essential in their life (2). They can live by using japanese and not to be able to speak much english. Another reason is negative mentality toward english after learning for six years and a little progress in english speaking. It seems as though many adults think they cannot be fluent in english. As a result, parents are trying to let their children have more opportunity to learn english by taking them to international schools, private english institutes, and bilingual babysitter to help them learn english. However, many parents gave up to learn english so children do not have opportunity to use daily english conversation as they need. I believe international schools will help students to learn daily conversation as well but not all the school only use english but use japanese as well. Many parents take children to private institute once a week and think that would be enough to be fluent in english. After spending money for english classes, parents push children to use more english but children refuse because they do not have many practice so do not remember or do not feel comfortable using english. As a result some children become frustrated and have negative feeling toward english. I think the solution for japanese to overcome the problems of english speaking is to explain the better ways of improving english speaking by showing them the power of using english in daily life. It doesn't have to be full conversations in english from the beginning but to use english little by little every day. Also, to let them have a fun class to take out the negative image of english learning.