Category Archives: japan

(Poor) use of English stirs fear of job loss for Japanese

Tokyo: In the cafeteria at the headquarters of Japan’s top online retailer Rakuten, employees with furrowed brows can often be seen trying to comprehend the company’s strictly English language menus. The online giant, notes Asia One Business website, is swapping … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, Japan, News, japan | Tagged | 3 Comments

Japan: Why do English teachers have to be native speakers?

In Japan, non-native English-language instructors from South Asian countries are challenging cultural stereotypes and putting a new face on the industry, exclaims the Japan Times. It hasn’t been any easy task, but is this a good thing? Read the full … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, Japan, News, japan | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Japan & United States: Multicultural Awareness in Okinawa

The AmerAsian School in Okinawa (AASO) is unique in that it enrolls almost exclusively biracial American-Japanese students, and has developed an original bilingual, bicultural “double” curriculum. Founded in 1998 by five Okinawan mothers, the privately run, K-9 school of 80 … Continue reading

Posted in Americas, Asia, japan, north america, united states | Tagged | Leave a comment

Japan: Schools cancelling overseas trips because of swine flu

Japan: According to a report in the Daily Yomiuri, many schools may cancel or postpone summer trips aborad because of swine flu. Some schools may make trips inside Japan instead of going overseas. Both parents and teachers are becoming increasingly … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

English for Career Development: Japan and the English Language

Japan: Yomiuri notes that with the rapid progress of globalization, the English language is playing a growing role in people’s lives. This special section takes an overview of how Japanese interact with English, by featuring several individuals who utilize their … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

What would happen if there was a major earthquake in Japan?

Guest piece from David Paul, editor of eltnews. The British Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate in Osaka have been making a concerted effort to get British nationals in Japan to register with them. They are worried about what will … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

English classes face cash crisis in Japan

Some local governments can’t afford native speakers for primary schools Japan: Yomiuri.com notes that, though many municipalities plan to employ native English speakers or bilingual people to teach public primary schools’ fifth- and sixth-grade students’ English classes in April, a … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

Raising bilingual children in Japan takes time, effort and money

Japan: Notes the Japan Times – ‘An American friend recently asked me a difficult question: How do you bring up a bilingual child?’ Asks Roger Pulvers. ‘She and her Japanese husband now have a 2-year-old son, and they are keen … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged | Leave a comment

NIC opens doors to curious teachers in Japan

Japan: December’s unexpected announcement from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry that high schools would be required to teach in English as much as possible also acted as an impetus for Ochi, notes the Daily Yomiuri. The ministry’s proposal was … Continue reading

Posted in Asia, japan | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Talking the ‘right language’ to beat the recession

Scotland and Japan: Trainee architect Michael Gilchrist had one year to go before qualifying in his chosen profession… then recession struck and the former Charleston Academy pupil found himself redundant from the Glasgow firm for which he was working. With … Continue reading

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Posted in Asia, Europe, japan, united kingdom | Tagged , | 1 Comment