If you can't speak English, it won't start !? January 29, 19:46

Now that we hear and hear the words “globalization” and “global human resources” on a daily basis, there is a growing movement to learn children's English skills early. From April this year, English has become a “subject” in the upper grades of elementary school, and there has been a great deal of debate over the introduction of private exams that measure four skills, such as “speaking” and “writing,” in English at university entrance examinations. What is “English proficiency”?
(Rep. Ito, International Affairs Reporter)

“English complex”

I and I were quiet and moved to the English-language department, and began to use English on a daily basis. I often interview foreign dignitaries in Japan and exchange opinions in English with embassies from around the world. I often think, "Oh, if I can speak more English." If I had been studying English early, could I speak fluently?

In the meantime, English education at elementary schools has been progressing from a certain source, so recently I heard that there is an interest in studying abroad with parents and children and young people, so I started interested in it.

English education from the age of 0

How do I learn English? In recent years, as children became more familiar with English from a young age, they learned that English-only nursery schools were popular and visited a nursery school in Osaka.

In my younger classes, I sang and played games in English and touched the English sounds. At first, children who are just listening will gradually recognize and imitate the sound.

When I was older, I answered my teacher's questions in English, and all my classmates spoke English.

This is Hino's family who has two children in this nursery. 6-year-old Sodai-kun and 4-year-old Daiharu-kun have been using English only during the day since their sixth month.

Mother Noriko Hino "I myself had a longing for English. When my children were small, there were many words that I knew only in English. I knew what it was "animal" and taught me, "In Japanese, it's an animal."

Studying abroad “new era”

By living abroad, it is said that more and more children are going out of Japan to learn English and studying abroad.

When I visited the study abroad fair and other events, I was surprised that many elementary and junior high school students were accompanied by parents. Parents and children studying abroad are also increasing in one of the popular study destinations, New Zealand.

Study abroad agent kiki Communications Yuko Okumura "Inquiries have been increasing in the past two years. Studying abroad has become more common in some of the current generations of parents. Some want to experience it with their children. ''

The life of young international students ...

So, what kind of life do young international students live?

Aozora-chan, a second grader who has been studying in New Zealand since last October. My motivation for studying abroad was "mushrooms", which I was interested in from an early age. He wanted to study English because he wanted to be able to read special books on mushrooms written in English.

At first, he spoke very little English, but he says he is used to listening. At the local elementary school, it was said that the only Japanese exchange student, Aozora-chan, gave classes to learn Japanese culture together so that they could adjust to the school.

Aozora-chan "I was anxious, but I thought it would be fun if I worked hard. All the girls in the class were friends. But when I was told difficult things in English, I was tired and tired."

Aozora is studying with her mother. In New Zealand, if you are 10 years old or older, you can study alone if you find a substitute for parents, but in the case of Aozora-chan, parents are required to be accompanied.

His father remains in Japan to support his life abroad. This time, he has been studying abroad for half a year, but he has come to see the goal of studying English abroad again and moving on to the path of mushroom research.

Study "in English"

Until now, I thought that studying abroad means learning English. However, as I went through the interviews, I came to feel that studying abroad means "to learn various subjects in English" and how I can live an independent life.

One of the reasons that led me to think so was interviewing Moe Nagano, a high school student at a girls' school in the capital city of Wellington.

Mr. Nagano who studied abroad when he was a third grader in junior high school. In the class, there are many occasions where the group discusses and presents their opinions, and he said that he lost his confidence in English.

Moe Nagano "It was difficult to express my opinion in a language that was not my first language, and I sometimes cried if I couldn't say what I wanted to say. I had a hard time making friends and I didn't want to go to school. There were times. "

Mr. Nagano always studied English on a voluntary basis, kept a diary in English and had his host family correct it. I also actively consulted about classes and life.

Moe Nagano: "I have a lot of opportunities to learn English when I'm there, but I don't think I'll improve unless I want to study on my own. Not only can I speak English, but I also need to be actively involved with friends. I don't think it's fun. "

Native and English balance

There are various ways of thinking about studying abroad at a young age.

Studying abroad can foster a variety of values ​​and independence, and there are experiences gained beyond learning English.

On the other hand, it is pointed out that, unlike living in Japan and receiving English education, studying abroad for a long time and becoming English in everyday life will affect the formation of your native language.

Many Yamaguchi who teach at Japanese language schools in New Zealand also teach international students who are worried about maintaining Japanese and studying in Japan after returning to Japan.

Mr. Yamaguchi is concerned that studying English without establishing a native language could result in both the native language and English becoming "semi-lingual", which are not age-appropriate.

Terra International Education Services.JNZ Yamaguchi Lots "Pronunciation may be better, but it may not be accompanied by what you are talking about. If you return to Japan and live as a Japanese, keep your native language of Japanese firmly. I think it's better to learn English while doing it. ''

Professor Hideyuki Taura of Ritsumeikan University Graduate School, Graduate School of Language Education and Information, said that if a Japanese child was educated in English at a local school in an English-speaking country, it would take two years to learn English at a daily conversation level and study at school. Research has shown that it takes seven to nine years to acquire the necessary English language skills, and it is pointed out that only a few Japanese and English bilinguals can be acquired.

The reasons for teaching English are ...

As I asked parents several times, "Why do you teach children English?", I began to wonder why English is so high in Japan.

Parents who regret not being able to speak English, think that it would be advantageous to take an exam or find a job ... The parents who are worried that early English education was correct are also impressive and think about the future of the child The parent's compelling thought was at the root.

On the other hand, the words "globalization" and "global human resources" are being actively talked about, and I feel that there is an atmosphere where we need to speak English.

I asked an expert in English education what was behind this.

"Knowledge, such as English grammar, is given too much importance over the use of English," says Kensaku Yoshida, director of Kensaku Yoshida, Sophia University. There are times when it isn't. "

Keio University Professor Emeritus Yukio Otsu "In addition to the feeling that I do not want my child to dance myself, the message of" I have to speak English! "

Rikkyo University, Professor Emeritus Kumiko Torikai "The English complex unique to Japanese people has a strong desire for children to become fluent. Also, I did not speak English when I was a small child, so I could teach children if I could learn early. But given the distance between Japanese and English, it's not easy to use English and I can't think that my child's English won't work for me. "

When I speak with people who speak dignifiedly, even if my native language is not English and it is not fluent, I sometimes think, "What is communication like?" I felt it was necessary for parents and children to consider carefully why they were learning English and what they were aiming for.

International Department Reporter Rei Ito