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What are the 'essential skills' for Japanese people to acquire English?
English scholar Kazuma Kitamura has sounded the alarm about the recent trend suggesting that 'the inability of Japanese people to speak English is due to an education system overly focused on reading comprehension.' What are the truly essential skills for Japanese people to acquire English?
Here, we present excerpts and a restructured introduction to Kitamura's new book, Learning to Read English through Great Writing.
How can we make 'extensive input' at the study-abroad level possible?
Some of you may feel that despite studying English throughout junior high, high school, and university, you have not developed satisfactory English skills, and that this is due to Japan's reading-centered English education. You might be thinking, 'Is it too late to focus on reading now?'
As you are all aware, there has been a growing emphasis on 'speaking' among the four English skills, with traditional English education in Japan often criticized for its focus on grammar and reading comprehension. In this context, it is not surprising that English reading comprehension is frequently targeted for criticism.
However, in today's world, reading can be considered the most effective approach to strengthening the other three skills. This is because developing accurate reading comprehension is an extremely powerful asset for achieving a substantial amount of input—through reading and listening—necessary for improving English proficiency, even while remaining in Japan.
For those who possess the ability to read in English, the modern internet is a treasure trove of input. From news and gossip to classic literary works, there is an abundance of engaging texts available for free access. The higher your reading comprehension skills, the easier it will be to find English reading materials that align with your interests.
Additionally, streaming video platforms offer countless news broadcasts and programs from English-speaking countries. Many of these come with English subtitles or scripts, allowing those with strong reading skills to utilize these audio-visual materials for self-study.
In summary, in today's internet-driven society, the presence or absence of reading skills significantly influences the feasibility of meaningful 'extensive input learning.' Therefore, now is the time to refocus our attention on reading.
The Value of English Novels as Reading Materials
While it is generally advisable to choose reading materials that align with your personal interests from the wealth of English texts available online, a strong recommendation is to explore literary works originally written in English, particularly well-known stories of which most people have at least heard the plot.
You might wonder if there are English novels available online, but for instance, the website Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks offers a wide array of public domain works, similar to Japan’s Aozora Bunko, where you can read many renowned works—from short stories to full-length novels—free of charge.
It is often noted that casual writing feels more challenging in English (or any foreign language) than abstract essays or academic texts. This is not particularly surprising, as the language's unique expressions tend to emerge frequently in descriptions of everyday scenes.
To find meaning in seemingly casual English expressions and to enjoy them, one key is to become familiar with these idiomatic phrases and expressions and to develop sensitivity toward them.
Literary works are replete with exactly these types of expressions, making them ideal materials for intermediate learners seeking to advance to the next level. Naturally, this also means there will be some challenges; however, even if you struggle a bit, you can continue reading with the aid of background knowledge about the story or the work itself.
In the end, if learning English isn't enjoyable, it won't be sustained
One significant advantage of choosing English-speaking literary works as reading materials is that they allow for 'continuous engagement without boredom.' For example, take a look at the following excerpt from the original text of Daddy-Long-Legs, which can also be found on Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks, as mentioned earlier.
Although there are no difficult grammar or vocabulary elements used, it may initially seem approachable. However, if you try to fully appreciate the playful description in the second sentence, including its tone, you might find it unexpectedly challenging.
There are two key points that make this sentence interesting. The first is that, instead of using a literal expression like 'secret' to convey the idea of 'revealing or not revealing a secret,' it employs the idiomatic phrase 'let the cat out of the bag,' which means 'to inadvertently reveal a secret.'
The second point is the use of the expression 'almost…when,' which describes a sudden change in action or judgment. When these two elements combine, it evokes the imagery of a cat's tail almost leaping out but being caught and pulled back into the bag (as a metaphor).
The vividness of the moment, where one is on the verge of revealing everything but suddenly hesitates, is humorously conveyed. It’s the kind of expression that makes you smile and think, 'That's a clever way to put it.'
As your knowledge increases, you can appreciate English-speaking literature more deeply without relying on the interpretations of translators. This transforms the experience from one of 'studying' into a more enjoyable 'indulging' feeling, akin to reading for pleasure or watching movies.
Through reading English novels, immersing oneself in this 'realm' may serve as a key to significantly advancing English proficiency for Japanese learners.
What are the 'essential skills' for Japanese people to acquire English?
English scholar Kazuma Kitamura has sounded the alarm about the recent trend suggesting that 'the inability of Japanese people to speak English is due to an education system overly focused on reading comprehension.' What are the truly essential skills for Japanese people to acquire English?
Here, we present excerpts and a restructured introduction to Kitamura's new book, Learning to Read English through Great Writing.
How can we make 'extensive input' at the study-abroad level possible?
Some of you may feel that despite studying English throughout junior high, high school, and university, you have not developed satisfactory English skills, and that this is due to Japan's reading-centered English education. You might be thinking, 'Is it too late to focus on reading now?'
As you are all aware, there has been a growing emphasis on 'speaking' among the four English skills, with traditional English education in Japan often criticized for its focus on grammar and reading comprehension. In this context, it is not surprising that English reading comprehension is frequently targeted for criticism.
However, in today's world, reading can be considered the most effective approach to strengthening the other three skills. This is because developing accurate reading comprehension is an extremely powerful asset for achieving a substantial amount of input—through reading and listening—necessary for improving English proficiency, even while remaining in Japan.
For those who possess the ability to read in English, the modern internet is a treasure trove of input. From news and gossip to classic literary works, there is an abundance of engaging texts available for free access. The higher your reading comprehension skills, the easier it will be to find English reading materials that align with your interests.
Additionally, streaming video platforms offer countless news broadcasts and programs from English-speaking countries. Many of these come with English subtitles or scripts, allowing those with strong reading skills to utilize these audio-visual materials for self-study.
In summary, in today's internet-driven society, the presence or absence of reading skills significantly influences the feasibility of meaningful 'extensive input learning.' Therefore, now is the time to refocus our attention on reading.
The Value of English Novels as Reading Materials
While it is generally advisable to choose reading materials that align with your personal interests from the wealth of English texts available online, a strong recommendation is to explore literary works originally written in English, particularly well-known stories of which most people have at least heard the plot.
You might wonder if there are English novels available online, but for instance, the website Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks offers a wide array of public domain works, similar to Japan’s Aozora Bunko, where you can read many renowned works—from short stories to full-length novels—free of charge.
It is often noted that casual writing feels more challenging in English (or any foreign language) than abstract essays or academic texts. This is not particularly surprising, as the language's unique expressions tend to emerge frequently in descriptions of everyday scenes.
To find meaning in seemingly casual English expressions and to enjoy them, one key is to become familiar with these idiomatic phrases and expressions and to develop sensitivity toward them.
Literary works are replete with exactly these types of expressions, making them ideal materials for intermediate learners seeking to advance to the next level. Naturally, this also means there will be some challenges; however, even if you struggle a bit, you can continue reading with the aid of background knowledge about the story or the work itself.
In the end, if learning English isn't enjoyable, it won't be sustained
One significant advantage of choosing English-speaking literary works as reading materials is that they allow for 'continuous engagement without boredom.' For example, take a look at the following excerpt from the original text of Daddy-Long-Legs, which can also be found on Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks, as mentioned earlier.
Although there are no difficult grammar or vocabulary elements used, it may initially seem approachable. However, if you try to fully appreciate the playful description in the second sentence, including its tone, you might find it unexpectedly challenging.
There are two key points that make this sentence interesting. The first is that, instead of using a literal expression like 'secret' to convey the idea of 'revealing or not revealing a secret,' it employs the idiomatic phrase 'let the cat out of the bag,' which means 'to inadvertently reveal a secret.'
The second point is the use of the expression 'almost…when,' which describes a sudden change in action or judgment. When these two elements combine, it evokes the imagery of a cat's tail almost leaping out but being caught and pulled back into the bag (as a metaphor).
The vividness of the moment, where one is on the verge of revealing everything but suddenly hesitates, is humorously conveyed. It’s the kind of expression that makes you smile and think, 'That's a clever way to put it.'
As your knowledge increases, you can appreciate English-speaking literature more deeply without relying on the interpretations of translators. This transforms the experience from one of 'studying' into a more enjoyable 'indulging' feeling, akin to reading for pleasure or watching movies.
Through reading English novels, immersing oneself in this 'realm' may serve as a key to significantly advancing English proficiency for Japanese learners.
