Genres of English in Japan
Genres of English in Japan
01/11/02
Senmon Enshu 1 Judy Yoneoka
Introduction
I have studied English since I was a junior high school student. As I
study English, more and more I feel there is much kind of English in Japan.
I learn English almost at school, but I think English is used variety of
people and case in Japan.
For example, it’s in used by English conversation, writing, and
reading at school and variety of company in Japan. School English and other
cases English is totally different about the contents. That’s why the
difference happened according to the each situation. So I want to study
about it.
1.What genres are needed in Japan?
1.1 Genre of English at elementary school.
At elementary school, some students learn English. When I was an
elementary school for a year. A genre of English at the elementary school
was only writing, for example, alphabet, easy words, and easy sentences.
But elementary school teacher just checked the student’s wrong spell or
grammar. These days, the genre of English at elementary school is looked
over. I think not only writing English but also speaking English is necessary
for the elementary school students, because most elementary
students learn English for the first time.
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Genres of English in Japan
I think they are not so interested in English if they learn only
writing. So, learning English conversation is needed for the elementary
school students to be interested in English.
1.2 Genres of English at junior high school
At junior high school, most students learn English.
When we were junior high school students, we had learned English
at junior high school for three years. Genres of English at junior high school
were writing, short conversation, and reading. Junior high school English
teachers not only checked but also taught grammar, and pronunciation of
new words. The teachers additionally let listen to us English famous music.
General speaking, the genres of English at junior high school are
enough for the students to learn English.
1.3 Genres of English at high school
At high school, most students learn English, too.
When we were high school students, we’d learned English at high
school for three years. Genres of English at high school were almost two
things, reading and writing. The two genres of English are to be grown the
English whom we learned at the junior high school, and to take an entrance
examination for a university. Some students who aren’t going to take the
examination for a university learn communication English, but almost all
the high school students can’t afford to learn the communication English.
We hope to introduce the English into the high school English class
more and more, but the two genres of English at the high school can’t be
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Genres of English in Japan
omitted from the class of high school.
1.4 Genres of English at university
At university, only students who take English class learn English for
years of university. Genres of English at university are variety.
Of course, as so far, the university students learn Basic English of
reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Genres of reading are newspaper,
magazine, and publication. Genres of writing are letter, manual, contract,
and also e-mail. Genres of listening are radio, TV, and American English
and British English. Genres of speaking are to discuss, everyday
conversation, and field.
That is to say, at the university, the genres of English are practical
and total English, and they are needed for the university students.
2.What is Japanese “eikaiwa”?
2.1“eikaiwa”
on TV.
On TV, we have many “eikaiwa” programs.
Most programs are from 30minuits to 1 hour a week. The contents of
the program are trendy dramas, youth dramas, melodrama, and soap operas.
The last one is for beginners. Other programs are ordinary, simple phrases,
and have much humor. These programs have a kind of laughing sound
which is fun.
The good things of the TV “eikaiwa” are that it’s best to get an image
of the situation, and we can learn living phrase while having a fun.
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Genres of English in Japan
2.2
“eikaiwa” on radio.
On the radio, there are also many kinds of “eikaiwa” program. Most
radio “eikaiwa” programs are only 20minuites long. The contents of radio
programs are NHK radio eikaiwa nyumon, eikaiwa, yasasii business Eigo,
yasasii eikaiwa, eigo de asobou, and so on.
The purposes of the radio “eikaiwa” programs are to extend our
English vocabulary, to remember grammar, and to practice pronunciations
repeatedly.
2.3 At “eikaiwa” school.
At, “eikaiwa” school, what kind of teachers and environment there
are, and are needed for.
They have various kinds of teachers at the school. At “eikaiwa” school, the
teachers of the school are native stuffs, American, Canadian, English person,
and Australian or Europe people who are Swiss, German, and Netherlands.
As ideal, teacher is a person who has a passion for teaching English and be
well acquainted with a way of teaching English.
A person who works as a part-time job just finishes a textbook of
“eikaiwa” school, so that kind of person isn’t so ideal.
The genres of “eikaiwa” school are different by teacher, environment
of classroom, and the number of students a class.
3.Why are their schools or test English?
3.1What kind of tests English are there?
We have many kinds of test English in Japan. These tests are as
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Genres of English in Japan
license examinations.
For example,
①JTF (Japan Translation Federation): Honyaku-Kentei
②child English examination: Jidou-Eiken
③practical use English examination: Jituyou Eigo-Kentei
④United Nations English examination: Kokuren-Eiken
⑤interpretation guide: Tuyaku-Gaido
⑥industry English examination: Kougyou-Eiken
⑦TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
⑧TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
⑨TEP TEST
⑩English communication ability test: Eigo Comyunikeition Nouryoku Test
⑪sightseeing English examination: Kankou-Eiken
⑫translation skill judgment: Honyaku Ginou Shinsa
etc…
Most Japanese student takes exam these three kinds of tests,
Jituyou Eigo-Kentei, and TOEIC.
Jituyou Eigo-Kentei has levels, 5 level, 4 level, 3 level, associate 2
level 2 level, associate 1 level and 1level.
TOEIC has no level, but it has scores. The total score is from 10 to
990 points. It’s said that more than about 450 points are needed for
graduates.
.
.
Conclusion
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Genres of English in Japan
I’ve studied about genres of English in Japan. I could find these
genres of English, English at school, eikaiwa, and test of English. What
genres of English should be chosen is problem for Japanese people. I think
Japanese people had better study English agreeable to their tastes.
For the future, other genres of English and eikaiwa might be
appeared in Japan. I’m looking forward to being done like it.
Bibliography
・“Syougakkouno eigo kyouiku” available
http://www.sanseido-publ.co.jp/booklet/booklet136_21eigokyoiku.html.
・“Syougakkouno eigo” (1999) Oyako net, Mainichi shinbun available
http://www.mainichi.co.jp/eye/shasetsu/199911/04-2.html
・“NHK radio English conversation program homepage” (2000) available
http://www.top.or.jp/~english/
・“Shikaku of English” (2001) Shikaku, All about Japan, available
http://allabout.co.jp/education/qualification/subject/msubsub_EigoKoushiki.htm
・Asahina Umi (1997) Motto kirakuni! Eikaiwa: Koudansha
・ Kenkyusha shuppan henshubu (1999) Daigakusei no eigo gakusyu
handbook: Kensyusha
・Shimura Fumio (1995) Rikakei no eigo: Maruzen Library
・Suzuki Susumu (1991) Syakaijin no eigo: Maruzen Library
・Yasui Minoru (1988) Eigogaku to eigo kyouiku: Kaitakusha
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