The English language is big business in Japan. Countless conversation schools smear the cartoonish landscape; little examples of the alphabet, like NOVA, GEOS and GABA abound. The government also weighs in with the former JET program, now, I guess, the ALT program, and long pointless discussions about English in the elementary schools and how English should be taught and tested in Junior and Senior High schools. Apparently, none of this really works, and in many regards it's obvious why that's the case.
In 2003, Japan ranked last in TOEFL scores, but ranked third in TOEFL examinees, and from living here, it is quite obvious that the level of English proficiency is quite low. Now, though I am an English "teacher" in Japan, I'm not a big advocate of the English explosion, and all the culture effects, but it does seem that it's a valuable resource on the international scene (indeed in business or in travel). Which brings me to my point: Japan ought to give up on the English thing, despite it's current popularity. If people are learning a language for the benefits it brings out in the world, then considering how behind Japan already is, it may as well start a new band-wagon: Chinese.
Here's my reasoning:
1) Though pronunciation is very different, the characters are the same; a whole new alphabet is not required.
2) China is thrusting upward as a fierce Economy and Superpower.
3) Asia is it's own entity and will only become more so in the near future.
4) Japan ought to align itself more with Asia anyway and reduce it's weird and unnecessary buddy relationship with America. Learning Chinese will be an edge few other nations will have. Really, how soon are American business people going to start speaking Mandarin?
This doesn't mean that Japan should align itself with China politically or anything, just that learning Mandarin will be an important asset in the near future, perhaps more so than English.
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6 comments:
Right, I agree with this but Japan follows trends and fads and skips the more rational path to National improvement. Salah -k
I agree too, but from what i find regarding many Asian countries, is that many of their decisions are purely symbolic. Japanese learn English as it is symbolic of American brotherhood (may explain poor student results). A shift to learning Mandarin would be symbolically huge for Japan. It may not be a political alignment, but it'd be a spiritual change. Yes? No? Chris
From a strictly business standpoint, it is perfectly obvious that Japan should create a whole new language, all their own. They could then copyright this new language - Japanish - and sit back and watch the profits roll on in.
J.D.H.
Indeed, the choice to embrace Chinese as a world language could involve a certain symbolism in the early stages, but soon it will simply be a world language and adopting it will be mostly practical, and then the easy follow-the-fad part will start. It is the notion of being the first do so which is always accompanied by justification; once everyone is on board, fewer questions are asked.
Japan could be a great mediator; and of course, keep it's more-or-less original language - Japanese - intact. ;)
Interesting. The Internet is a vague kind of divining tool; and thereyougo, Chinese is big and getting bigger. But as far as China internet usage goes, how much of that isn't just Communist pizza-party sites and censored Disney propaganda fan sites?
I'm not sure I agree with you here, Otto. Yes, China is on the rise and only to going o get bigger. However, they have stripped their environment beyond the breaking point and I sense that will severely limit their growth as both an economic and political power. This is becuase they will be too overwhelmed by problems at home and of their own making to really be able to afford to dance on the international stage. In many respects, this is the future of the U.S. as well, though there are of course many other factors limiting continued American hegemoney. Again, almost entirely of their own making. It's about sustainability people!!
-Pierce
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