English education in Japan

From IkataWiki

English education in Japan has been mandatory, starting in junior high, for a long time. Unfortunately, the national curriculum focuses almost entirely on rote memorization of grammar and vocabulary, and therefore leaves students with poor speaking ability.

Part of the problem is the system of entrance exams required to enter high school and university. English in school is taught with the sole purpose of preparing students for these written exams. Since there is no effort put into teaching speaking or listening, there is no need for Japanese teachers of English to have good speaking skills. This creates a chicken-and-the-egg problem: For Japanese children to learn to speak well, they must have teachers who can speak well. But the system does not create good speakers of English.

In part to help break this cycle, the Japanese government began the JET Programme in the 1980s. JET recruits young people, mostly from English-speaking countries, to help teach English in rural Japanese schools. Ikata has 4 JETs: 3 teachers, and 1 desk jockey.