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{{Short description|Overview of English-language education in Japan}}
{{Distinguish|Engrish}}
'''English-language education in Japan''' began as early as 1600 with the [[Nanban trade|initial contacts between the Japanese and
▲{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
▲'''English-language education in Japan''' began as early as 1600 with the initial contacts between the Japanese and [[Nanban trade|Europeans]]. Almost all students graduating from high school in Japan have had several years of English language education; however, many still do not have fluent English conversation abilities.
==History==
{{See also|Dejima}}
The earliest record of the initial contact between the Japanese and a native English speaker took place around 1600 when it is believed that [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], founder of the Tokugawa Feudal Government, met with Englishman [[William Adams (sailor, born 1564)|William Adams]]. Although it is reported that the only interpreter between the two men was only well-versed in the [[Portuguese language]], it did not stop Tokugawa Ieyasu from having a very positive relation with William Adams who remained in Japan for the remainder of his life.
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==Difficulties==
{{Further|Engrish}}
Japanese students experience great difficulty in studying English, due to fundamental differences in [[grammar]] and [[syntax]], as well as important differences in pronunciation. [[Japanese language#Sentence structure|Japanese word order]], the frequent omission of [[subject (grammar)|subjects]] in Japanese, the absence of [[article (grammar)|articles]], the functional absence of [[Plural|plural forms]], as well as [[Japanese speakers learning r and l|difficulties in distinguishing l and r]] all contribute to substantial problems using English effectively.<ref name="Dougill1">{{cite journal|last=Dougill|first=John|title=Japan and English as an alien language|journal=English Today|year=2008|volume=24|issue=1|pages=18–22|doi=10.1017/s0266078408000059|s2cid=145471291 }}</ref> Indeed, the Japanese have tended to score comparatively poorly on international tests of English.<ref name="Kowner1">{{cite journal|last=Kowner|first=Rotem|author-link=Rotem Kowner|title=Japanese Miscommunication with Foreigners: In Search for Valid Accounts and Effective Remedies|journal=Jahrbuch des Deutschen Instituts für Japanstudien|year=2003|volume=15|pages=117–151}}</ref>
An additional factor has been the use of English in daily life for "decorative" or "design" rather than functional purposes.<ref name="Ikeshima1">{{cite journal|last=Ikeshima|first=Jayne Hildebrand|title=Some perspectives on the phenomenon of "Engrish"|journal=Keio Journal of International Studies|date=July 2005|volume=15|pages=185–198}}</ref><ref name=blair /> That is, for Japanese consumption, not for [[Gaijin|English speakers]] per se, and as a way of appearing "smart, sophisticated and modern".<ref name=blair /><ref name="Dougill2">{{cite journal|last=Dougill|first=John|title=English as a decorative language|journal=English Today|year=1987|volume=3|issue=4|pages=33–35|doi=10.1017/S0266078400003126|s2cid=145079203 }}</ref> Indeed, it is claimed that in such decorative English "there is often no attempt to try to get it right, nor do the vast majority of the Japanese population
Another difficulty is the potential fear that allowing the English language to assimilate into Japan will take away its distinctiveness and force them to comply with Western culture. They see English language as an extension of Western civilization. The English language is seen as an aggressive and individualistic language which is the opposite of the Japanese language and culture. For a more reserved Japanese citizen to force themself to be more 'outgoing' and 'outspoken' when they speak English, it is a direct conflict of how they should talk in the Japanese
==School system==
{{
According to the [[Ministry of Finance (Japan)]], in the 2004 [[fiscal year]] (FY) the General Account expenditures<ref>"Understanding the Japanese Budget 2004." Budget: Ministry of Finance. 22 July 2008. Ministry of Finance Japan. 28 Nov. 2009. <http://www.mof.go.jp/english/budget/brief/2004/2004e_03.htm#4></ref> for measures related to education and science were ¥6,133.0 billion (or roughly $70.8 billion). Japan is ranked 22nd in the world in the UN [[Education Index]], but scores highly in science according to [[PISA]].▼
▲According to the [[Ministry of Finance (Japan)]], in the 2004 [[fiscal year]] (FY) the General Account expenditures<ref>"Understanding the Japanese Budget 2004." Budget: Ministry of Finance. 22 July 2008. Ministry of Finance Japan. 28 Nov. 2009. <http://www.mof.go.jp/english/budget/brief/2004/2004e_03.htm#4 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324033237/https://www.mof.go.jp/english/budget/brief/2004/2004e_03.htm#4 |date=24 March 2011 }}></ref> for measures related to education and science were ¥6,133.0 billion (or roughly $70.8 billion). Japan is ranked 22nd in the world in the UN [[Education Index]], but scores highly in science according to [[PISA]].
[[MEXT]] took steps beginning in 1998 for a select number of public primary schools to have mandatory English classes;<ref>Honna, Nobuyuki, and Yuko Takeshita "English Language Teaching in Japan: Policy Plans and their Implementations." RELC Journal 36.3 (2005) 363-383. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 November 2009.</ref> many Japanese parents send their children to [[Eikaiwa school]]s starting even before elementary school. According to 2003 statistics provided by MEXT [http://search.mext.go.jp/search?q=school+education&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&ud=1&client=en_frontend&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=en_frontend&site=english]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} children from ages 12 to 14 spend roughly 90 hours annually in a school classroom setting.▼
▲[[MEXT]] took steps beginning in 1998 for a select number of public primary schools to have mandatory English classes;<ref>Honna, Nobuyuki, and Yuko Takeshita "English Language Teaching in Japan: Policy Plans and their Implementations." RELC Journal 36.3 (2005)
Traditionally, the Japanese have used the [[Grammar-translation method]], thanks in part to [[Nakahama Manjirō]]'s ''[[kanbun]]'' system, to teach their students how to learn the English language. However, there are innovative ways that have been adapted into and outside the classroom setting where [[mobile phone]]s<ref>Thornton, Patricia, and Chris Houser "Using mobile phones in English education in Japan." Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 21.3 (2005) 217-228. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 November 2009.</ref> and [[popular culture|pop culture]] have been used to teach Japanese students.▼
▲Traditionally, the Japanese have used the [[
In April 2011 English instruction became compulsory starting in the 5th grade of elementary school (age 10).<ref>{{cite news | title= Japan launches primary push to teach English |work= [[The Guardian|Guardian]]|url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/08/japan-launches-primary-english-push|access-date=2011-03-13 |location=London |first=Justin |last=McCurry |date=8 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Elementary schools to get English |work= [[The Japan Times]]|url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100629i1.html|access-date=2011-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Are schools ready for English? |work= [[The Japan Times]]|url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110226f1.html|access-date=2011-03-13}}</ref>▼
▲In April 2011 English instruction became compulsory starting in the 5th grade of elementary school (age 10).<ref>{{cite news | title= Japan launches primary push to teach English
It is planned to make English activity classes mandatory for third- and fourth-graders, and turn them into full-fledged lessons for fifth- and sixth-graders by 2020.<ref>[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/05/reference/english-heads-elementary-school-2020-hurdles-abound/#.V86FgpiLTcc English heads for elementary school in 2020 but hurdles abound] [[The Japan Times]]</ref>▼
▲It is planned to make English activity classes mandatory for third- and fourth-graders, and turn them into full-fledged lessons for fifth- and sixth-graders by 2020.<ref>[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/05/reference/english-heads-elementary-school-2020-hurdles-abound/
==Private sector==
{{
Private language schools for English are known as [[eikaiwa school|eikaiwa]]. The largest of these chains were Aeon, GEOS, and [[ECC (eikaiwa)|ECC]]; only ECC and AEON have not yet filed for [[bankruptcy]]. The industry is not well regulated. Nova, originally by far the largest chain with over 900 branches in Japan, collapsed in October 2007, leaving thousands of foreign teachers without money or a place to live. Other teachers work in universities, although most university positions now require a graduate degree or higher.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hendrickx|first1=Chelsea|title=What Are The Basic Requirements To Teach English in Japan? |url=https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/what-are-the-basic-requirements-to-teach-english-in-japan |website=International TEFL Academy |date=2023 |accessdate=18 December 2023}}</ref>
Agencies, known in Japan as ''haken'', or dispatch companies, are increasingly used to send English speakers into [[kindergarten]]s, [[primary school]]s, and private companies whose employees need to improve their English for business. Agencies have recently been competing fiercely to get contracts from various
Average wages for teachers in Japan are now under ¥250,000
==JET Programme==
Employees of
==Cultural differences==
{{
When it comes to communicating in English, many Japanese students tend to become anxious about possibly stumbling over their words or not making themselves clear; therefore, they shy away from speaking English altogether.<ref>Aiga, Yoshie. "Is Japanese English education changing?
==See also==
* [[Wasei-eigo]]
*[[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]▼
* [[Gairaigo]]
*[[Teaching English as a foreign language]]▼
* [[Glossary of language teaching terms and ideas]]
▲* [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]
▲* [[Teaching English as a foreign language]]
==External links==▼
*[http://www.jetprogramme.org/ JET - The Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme]▼
*[http://jetsetterjobs.com/ Jetsetter Jobs - English Speaking programme in Japan]▼
==References==
{{Reflist
<ref name=blair>{{cite journal|title=The Role of English and Other Foreign Languages in Japanese Society|url=http://iteslj.org/Articles/Blair-EngJpn.html|last=Blair|first=R. Jeffrey|
}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|last=Inoue|first=Nobue|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/199443886.pdf|title=Literature Review of the World Englishes: Japanese English|journal=[[Journal of Niigata University of Management]]|publisher=[[Niigata University of Management]]|volume=25|date=March 2019|pages=79–88}} - [https://numcjc.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=pages_view_main&active_action=repository_view_main_item_detail&item_id=31&item_no=1&page_id=13&block_id=21 Profile]. Available on [[core.ac.uk]]. [https://numcjc.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=31&file_id=21&file_no=1 Alternate PDF link]
▲==External links==
{{Eikaiwa}}
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[[Category:English-language education]]
[[Category:Language education in Japan]]
[[Category:Dialects of English|Japan]]
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