The Minami Ashigaran

Why are Japanese so bad at English?

by Ken Seeroi

Everyone knows Japanese people aren’t exactly Masters of the Universe when it comes to speaking English, despite receiving six years of English education. Six years? Are you kidding? You could build yourself a Great Pyramid in less time. I’m pretty sure. Just chop up some limestone and stack it up. Probably take you a couple of years at best.

But okay, there are clearly some good reasons why Japanese folks can’t speak English. And if you study Japanese, you also need to avoid the same traps.

Ask any foreign English teacher, and they’ll tell you, “The grammar-translation method doesn’t work.” Sure, but people also say that we swallow spiders in our sleep and the Apollo moon landings were merely elaborate hoaxes. Foreigners tend to all say the same thing about Japan because, well, everybody else says the same thing, so it must be true. But the grammar-translation method actually does work. Maybe it’s not the fastest method, but hey, it gets the job done. Well, mostly. Read More

子供英会話

ビデオゲーム（テレビゲーム）は創造性と関係がある

神奈川県南足柄市にあるケビンズイングリッシュスクールでは、授業で時々ゲームを使用します。ゲームの中にはコンピューターゲームもあり、授業で使用することで学習の強化になります。ボードゲームやカードゲームもまた、英語学習を強化できます。 私たちが時々授業でゲームを使用することに不満があるというご両親も、たまにいらっしゃいます。私も、私の子供たちがあまりにも多くコンピューターやゲームをしていたら心配になります。ですが、恐らく私たち親は間違っているのです。 南足柄子供英会話-ビデオゲーム（テレビゲーム）は創造性と関係がある

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Posted by a friend at Facebook.

Ｔhoughts on University of Tsukuba professor, Yukio Tsuda and his thoughts on English Study in Japan

Yukio Tsuda is a professor at the University of Tsukuba. He earned a doctorate in speech communication at Southern Illinois University.

In his ESL Discussions, Tsuda argues:

“English has its dark side that represents ruthless power.”

Tsuda doesn`t feel that having English skills is important for Japanese, (even though, he himself went to a lot of trouble to get them.)

Though I am an English teacher, I have always felt that Esperanto the international language designed to bridge the gap between peoples, was the fairest way to go. It hasn`t been widely used, accepted, nor studied however.

What have people like Tsuda done to promote it?

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How can I improve my English? Part 1:英会話の学習方法について
by Kevin Burns
英会話の学習方法について by Kevin Burns, owner of Kevin`s 英会話スクール日本に居ながらにして英語が話せるようになるのはなかなか難しいことです。だけど、できないというわけではありません。英語を習うに当っては「ローマは一日にしてならず」という諺があてはまるのを忘れないでください。 Kevin & Friends 英語が流暢に話せるようになるには時間がかかります。英会話を習うのはちょうどクラシックピアノを習うようなもので、自転車の乗り方を覚えたり水泳を習ったりするのとは訳が違います。例えば水泳を習う場合はその成果が短期間に分かります。 Read More

Pictured: My Canadian family
and I in Hawaii

W.M. is rare in Japan.     

He is a very good English speaker!
 I wish I could take credit!

But he was a good speaker before he started
studying English
with Kevin`s English Schools.

W.M writes:

Hi, Kevin.
How are you doing ?
I'll tell you how to improve your Engilsh:

For Listening

I listen to NHK Radio English Program every day.
For instance, "実践ビジネス英語", "ラジオ英会話" and so on.
When I listen to the radio, I concentrate on listening.
Just listening is bad. Concentration is a good way to
 improve your English.
And I confirm the sentence, which I didn't get
 on the radio, by the text for
that Radio Program.

Confirmation is also important.

For Speaking

I read out and remember the sentences by using
 NHK text until understanding
them without translation in my head.
And I note that I speak English with the
 right pronunciation.

Record your English and Listen to it.
It's a good way to improve your Speaking.

For Reading

I read TIME, pick up words which I didn't
 know and remember them.

And "To keep studying", it's the most
 important thing.
If you stop studying, your English is
 never improved.
So, Never stop!, No break!

For More Free Advice on Improving your
English visit Eikaiwa1.com

That's all.
Bye.

Best Regards

W.M.