Why Japan needs English

Abstract

This paper argues that Japan needs English, and better English than just knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. English is the main language of globalisation, and there are clear advantages to being proficient in it. For a long time, English has been taught through the grammar-translation method at Japanese schools and universities, which is inadequate to say the least. This has resulted in the inability to work in the English language at the workplace. With a rapidly aging and declining population, the Japanese need to be able to work with foreign co-workers. Being proficient in English would also help the Japanese form alliances and partnerships with foreign establishments in business, research, higher education, and science and technology. This paper also argues that stronger English language skills would help improve attitudes towards foreigners, since recent research has shown that Japanese individuals with stronger English conversation ability have more positive attitudes towards immigration. It would also mitigate discrimination against foreigners if the Japanese could communicate, interact and empathise with them.

Keywords:

• Japan
• English
• globalisation
• immigration
• discrimination

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Erratum

Public Interest Statement

With globalisation, more and more people are brought into contact with Japan. Whether English is widely used is a question that concerns many because it directly impacts the issue of how foreigner-friendly Japan is. Since Japanese is a language little spoken outside Japan, the Japanese need English to harness the benefits of globalisation.

Notes

1. A reviewer pointed out that because communication is an essential part of nursing, the ability to speak the language would be essential to be considered for full duties in most countries. While I agree that communication is important, it is also true that countries such as Singapore have successfully employed the services of English-speaking nurses from the Philippines for many years. Local Singaporean nurses step in when elderly patients speak only Chinese or Malay.

2. There have been efforts to make Japan more foreigner-friendly in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bilingual road signs have been put up and public symbols have been brought in line with international standards. Organisers and volunteers are also being taught conversational English.

3. There are many who believe that mass-immigration will bring as many troubles as it solves. The most common counter-argument to mass-immigration is Japanese homogeneity. The Japanese are homogeneous (this has been refuted) and foreigners will not fit in. According to the argument, the presence of foreigners will significantly alter Japan, along with its shared values and harmonious consensus.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liang Morita

Liang Morita trained in sociolinguistics in Britain. Upon graduation, she taught in Thailand for two years and studied the Thai Chinese community. She has been living in Japan for 14 years and teaches in Nagoya University. Her research interests include immigration, discrimination, multiculturalism, and English language education.