English Education in Japan

By Ian Sutherland

日本の概要(Overview of Japan)

Population: 127,368,088 13.5% aged 0-14, 62.6% aged 15-64, 23.9% over 65 Expanding Circle Democratic Official language: None, Unofficially 日本語 Major Religions: Shinto and Buddhism

Religions in Japan

Shinto: Originated in Japan, and is followed by 83.9% of the populace.

Buddhism: Originated in India, and is followed by 71.4% of Japanese.

Christianity: Originated in the middle east, followed by 2% of Japanese.

Other: 7.8% of Japanese are listed as other.

Early English Education

The first recorded teacher of English in Japan was Ranald MacDonald, who ship-wrecked himself in order to gain more knowledge about Japan at the time.

Nakahama Manjirou wrote the first English language textbook in Japanese in 1859, his book the Ei-Bei Taiwa Shokei shaped much of Japanese English education to come.

Modern English Education Currently English is a required subject from

the fifth grade onwards for Japanese students, this means a minimum of four years, but typically seven years of English education.

English is traditionally taught via the Grammar-translation method, due in part to Nakahama Manjirou's textbook, but cell phones and popular culture are using innovative ways to teach students English, such as having menus only be in English.

Issues with English Education

There are several differences between English and Japanese that hinder Japanese acquisition of English, such as differing word order, the absence of articles and plurals in Japanese, or a lack of distinction between L and R in Japanese.

Another issue is the use ofEnglish as a more decorative language. Phrases such as“Brilliant Hexagram This Nation”are not all that uncommonly seen.

Bibliography Population and religion figures from the CIA

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html

Language info from the Legislative bureau house of councilors at http://houseikyoku.sangiin.go.jp/column/column068.htm

Ranald MacDonald info from http://www.sos.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=95

Nakahama Manjirou - Ike, Minoru. "A historical review of English in Japan (1600-1880)." World Englishes. 14.1 (1995) 3-11.

New English Education requirements in Japan http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20110218f2.html

Issues with English Education info from personal experience.