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LDP Looks To Double JET Program’s Ranks In Three Years (Japan Times)

4/24/2013

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The number of teachers hired for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program would be doubled in three years under a proposal drafted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to boost Japan’s global competitiveness and nurture international talent.

According to the draft of a midterm report by the LDP’s economic revitalization headquarters obtained Monday, the number of JET teachers would be increased to 10,000 from about 4,360 in 2012. The teachers also would be dispatched to all elementary, junior high and high schools within 10 years.

The JET Program was targeted for wasteful spending by the Democratic Party of Japan’s “shiwake” government revitalization unit before the young party was kicked out of power in the Lower House election in December.

The LDP views the use of native English speakers as vital to improving English-speaking ability at a time when it is moving toward making a passing score on the Test of English as Foreign Language mandatory for entering and graduating from college.

The proposal is in line with the growth strategies Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mapped out last Friday ahead of the July Upper House election. The strategies include globalizing the Japanese workforce and increasing the number of women in it by extending the length of maternity leave to three years from 18 months.

The proposal will be part of Abe’s real basic economic policies, which are being compiled by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy for release in June — just a month before the House of Councilors election in July.
MORE: LDP LOOKS TO DOUBLE JET PROGRAM'S RANKS
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Rakuten's "English Only" Policy Has Managers Tongue-Tied (Video Reuters)

4/22/2013

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Hiroshi Mikitani, the CEO of Rakuten, says mandating that his employees speak English at work was tougher than expected; it slowed meetings and embarrassed senior managers. But Mikitani says he's sticking with it.
WATCH VIDEO: RAKUTEN'S "ENGLISH ONLY" POLICY
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Japanese Language: You Don’t Have A Foreign Language Problem, You Have An Adult Literacy Problem

3/17/2013

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By khatzumoto

This article is super long, so here’s a Cliff’s Notes. There’s a total of 3 parts.

Part 1 is a brief history of why people still talk smack about Sinoxenic (kanji-using) languages, leading to

Part 2 where we realize that when dealing with any language, Sinoxenic or otherwise, what we are dealing with is not a foreign language problem, but an adult illiteracy problem; finally, in

Part 3, we find that Pedro will make all your dreams come true, and also solve your adult illiteracy issues…

Pedro?

Part 1: Pens, Swords and Missionaries
Back in the day, the various nations of the western peninsula of the Eurasian landmass had just gotten done recovering from a massive thousand-year hangover after a drunken party in which they had destroyed their only stable nation-state, along with all its accumulated knowledge and human expertise, and proceeded to brutally brawl amongst themselves using weapons inspired by S&M movies.

Finally able to stand on their own feet, they set about sharing their extensive experience in violence with the world, with anyone and everyone they met. Theirs was a three-pronged approach, perhaps the most comprehensive offensive in human history, making use of the pen, the sword, and a cadre of highly trained psychologists called “missionaries”.
READ MORE: JAPANESE LANGUAGE LEARNING
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Japanese Firms See Importance Of Speaking English

1/26/2013

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With the domestic market stagnant, Japanese firms are increasingly looking to raise their profiles abroad. To help achieve that, proactive corporations have realized the importance of employees who have mastered English.

SoftBank, one of Japan's largest mobile phone companies, knows the importance of being able to communicate.

The company has purchased a 70-percent stake in the US cellular phone firm Sprint Nextel as part of its strategy of embedding itself more deeply in overseas markets, but management in Tokyo has decided the firm needs to bridge the language divide if the new venture is to prosper.
READ MORE: jAPANESE FIRMS SEE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH
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Fast Retailing Co's Yanai-san: Non-English speakers cannot do business in 10 years

1/26/2013

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English is an indispensable business tool for Japanese, who must compete globally as the domestic markets shrink. This especially applies to young people.

So says Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain.

"Just think about Japan in 10 years' time. People who can do their jobs only in Japan will not be able to survive," Yanai, 62, speaking in Japanese, told The Asahi Shimbun in an interview. "Japanese students must think that they are competing with students from other Asian countries."

Fast Retailing will make English its official language for business from 2012.

READ MORE: nON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS IN JAPAN
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