Of course this is Japan so, Japanese university students looking for jobs need excellent Japanese ability, but it seems that Japanese companies are expecting fairly good English ability also. This became apparent earlier this year when I was looking through the SHUUKAN ST, a students’ weekly newspaper that I subscribe to for my students. There was a long article in that particular week’s edition that explained that Japanese companies are expecting certain TOEIC scores upon entering the company. This article included a graph showing that well over 50% of companies require a TOEIC score of 500 or higher to be considered for a job.
In the current economic environment, such requirements are bound to be raised and become even more important, so I wonder why so few Japanese university students are working hard to attain higher English ability. Although some have attained a good level through there studies at private English schools and great effort, the great majority have not done so. After studying English for 6 years, they seem to have become tired of English, even before they have actually even begun to really learn to use it. Excuse me for being frank, but “What a waste!”
It seems to me that once they have successfully entered the university, they have the best possible chance to really work on their English skills since, as almost everyone tells me, Japanese students need not study very hard to graduate from the university. But instead many spend a lot of time enjoying themselves and, in general, waste a lot of valuable time that could be spent really preparing for their future job and future in general.
Most seem to be overlooking the reality that now more than ever they need to acquire the ability to speak, understand and really use English. Japanese is a wonderful and rich language and I am so happy that during my university days, I took the trouble to learn it. It has served me well since I worked for 26 years for large Japan-based companies in Japan and the U.S. But what really stands out to me during this experience is that my Japanese colleagues who worked in Germany and the U.S. really could use English well because they had all realized the true value of mastering it. It was always interesting to listen to Japanese colleagues discussing company matters with German colleagues in English. So you see, English is not only for talking with English, Americans, Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders. It is a global language and it is essential to master it for all young people who hope to have a successful future.
To not master it, Japanese University students are really putting themselves at a big disadvantage in the world of business. They are only speeding up the pace at which Japan will slip from being a major economic power. Yes, China will inevitably surpass Japan (est. 2010) and even the U.S. one day (est. 2020) but English will continue to be the global language of business. Hopefully, many of these students will realize this and get started soon. The decision to do so, may very well be the most important thing they ever do in their lives.
I am certain of it. Now is the time! Start by clicking here.
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