Japan's English Ability Falls Again
Added 2023-12-05 23:49:38 +0000 UTChttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YuCrhqz_c
Comments
All reasonable points, Brian
TheJapanChannel.com
2023-12-07 01:33:27 +0000 UTCHm... I have a different take on this. I'm frankly very impressed if someone from Japan can even put a simple sentence together on my behalf. When I visit, I don't expect any of it, however. I do my bit by trying to speak their language, and accommodating them in their country. I guess it's because I can relate to some degree. Canada is ostensibly a "bilingual" country, with "two official languages": English and French. I can speak French, because as an English 1st language speaker, I live in Montreal, Quebec, a French-speaking city in Canada's largest French-speaking province. But don't be fooled, the cultural divide is as wide as a canyon. There is resentment on both sides (Anglo and Franco) at being forced to speak one language or another. It's very real, for many. Canadian high schoolers way out west in cowboy country -the province of Alberta- are required to learn French. That language is as far removed from their reality as a trip to Mars. May as well be teaching them Latin, as students had to learn years ago. Almost no one speaks French, out there. I can't even begin to imagine how bored, and disinterested those kids would be at having to learn a language they'll never use -and frankly- resent the hell out of. Oh, we've got big problems in this country along linguistic/historic/cultural lines. It ain't all maple syrup and rainbows, up here. I imagine that it would be the same for some Japanese, fueled by resentment for what they see as the loss of their culture due to the slow "westernization" of the country. It's a tough nut, and English is a bizarre language with no familiar linguistic roots. Those who embrace the language and enjoy the challenge will do well. Others... not. But in understanding the difficulties, I'll never fault them.
Brian Mack
2023-12-06 13:54:38 +0000 UTC
