Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to go abroad or learn a language. In order to supplement Japan's labor force, which is facing an extremely low birthrate and aging population, the government has begun to take drastic steps to improve the working environment for foreigners. However, the fact remains that the home environments in which these people find themselves are creating young carers. This is where Japanese language education becomes essential. From here on, I would like to share my experiences with English language education.

 

When I was 20 years old, I traveled to Italy and saw ruins that were over 2,000 years old, and my life changed completely. I think that was the first time I became aware of myself as a Japanese person. Japan is an island nation, rare in the world in that most people are of the same ethnicity. I became interested in learning foreign languages, and from there I began to seriously study English. Being in an English-speaking environment every day brings in news from all over the world, so before I knew it, I had adopted that way of thinking.

 

I studied English in the UK and have been teaching English for entrance exams for 10 years. Once students pass the critical age at which language ability is determined, they must learn logically. Japanese people are thoroughly trained in reading and writing English during compulsory education, so all they need to do is acquire the ability to speak. Recently, we have become more convenient, with AI-generated software that can identify your weaknesses through conversation.

 

Personally, I recommend British English. American English is a language unique to North Americans, and is not spoken by many people around the world. We have always used Cambridge University Press textbooks because they have a very solid series and are high-quality teaching materials. I have recently been appointed head of English at a certain educational institution. As it is a Japanese language school, there are no full-time English instructors, and in this position, I am solely responsible for everything from selecting teaching materials to creating the syllabus and curriculum.