Japan with its extremely limited natural resources is totally dependent on other countries to purchase almost all raw materials and fossil fuels. Despite this it is the second largest economy in the world and its people, who work more hours than anyone else in the world, are very resourceful and intelligent. They design and create excellent products and services and need English to interact with their key trading partners. On top of this they really love the United States and enjoy American movies, TV, music and pop culture. They enjoy traveling to Hawaii, Guam and Saipan which are extremely close to Japan and also to Australia and New Zealand, which involves nearly no jet lag. So if you add to this need to speak English for business and trading and the love of English and American culture the fact that everyone has studied written English and grammar for at least six years in secondary school and many have studied two more years at the university level while never really learning to or being required to speak, you have the best possible opportunity to teach English conversation that can be found anywhere in the world.
Recently more and more Japanese companies are requiring their employees to take the TOEIC on a regular basis and to achieve higher scores especially if they are dealing with international business. The word “ENGLISH” comes up at least once a day in almost everyone’s conversation and the topic of “being able to speak English” comes up in many many TV programs in Japan. It is a very important skill that is sought out by hundreds of thousands of Japanese every year. There are several programs on TV which deal with the topic of English conversation. Add to all this, the fact that the largest English school, which had 60% of the market recently, went out of business and you have the makings of the best market for private English education in the world.
In my opinion, there is absolutely no better place to start a school and to teach English. Japanese are excellent students with an excellent foundation to learn and a strong desire to become excellent English speakers. All that they need are good coaches and there are absolutely no better coaches than those who own and operate their own schools. We have a vested interest in their success because our success depends on theirs. Their destiny and ours are inseparable. So could they find a teacher with a better reason to help them succeed? I really doubt it.
The time is now and the place is here in Japan.
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