language education

Kohei Yoshida (yoshida@PHYSED1.SC.NIIGATA-U.AC.JP)
Wed, 20 Dec 1995 18:30:40 JST

Since the English has become the global lingua franca, most of the
countries I've known are now trying to make thier people able to speak
English, and Japan is included. But the result isn't always what they
wanted it to be. Even though some of the people succeed in mastering
the language, this isn't because the education system is good enough
but they make necessary efforts to do so, or it is at least the case
here in Japan.

There seems to be, however, some countries I know that have succeeded
in establishing a good education system on which people successfully
get to speak English. I can think of Sweden as a good example. As far
as I know, people from Sweden usually speak high level of English, and
even 17-year-old high school exchange students speak it quite fluently
whereas the English level of Japanese students at the same age is
terribly low.

We hear quite often that the language education in Sweden is highly
sophisticated, but how sophisticated? and what is the key to success in
language education? I'd appreciate it if some of you could be of some
help on this matter.

************** Kohei Yoshida <koheiyos@msn.com> **************