Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: NYTimes article on Japanese with Western exposure
The NYTimes recently ran a story on Japanese students who have gone overseas for part of their education. To summarize, these students find it difficult to secure employment once they return to Japan because Japanese companies value domestic education over any Western university (even Oxford or Harvard).
One graduate even felt the need to downplay his English skills: "Norihiro Yonezawa, who studied for a year at the University of Maryland, said he did not emphasize overseas experience or English skills when he interviewed � successfully � for a coveted job at Panasonic."
Since English and Western exposure are apparently seen as a hindrances, how can we encourage students to take their English classes seriously?
Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:31 pm Post subject:
Such attitudes will disappear in a few years when the the Japanese economy starts contracting sharply - as it must - because the population starts falling and greying.
When a company can only turn a profit if it diversifies overseas, it will diversify overseas or die.
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:01 pm Post subject:
Teaching the language is one thing. Teaching culture is another. And, living abroad is also a bit different.
I agree with Mr Monkey that in essence, it is the employers who must value the simple fact that English itself is necessary, and right now, not just in the future, for the sake of business dealings. Even the smallest company in Japan might find itself dealing with foreign entities and have to use English.
If we don't focus too much on the point of the actual exposure abroad (learning business skills and strategies, that is), but communication skills alone, perhaps that will help. More than half of Japanese companies nowadays use TOEIC for a variety of reasons, too: hiring, promotions, overseas transfers. So, that is a bargaining chip in our favor.
Such attitudes will disappear in a few years when the the Japanese economy starts contracting sharply - as it must - because the population starts falling and greying.
When a company can only turn a profit if it diversifies overseas, it will diversify overseas or die.
I'm not sure I share your optimism. The Japanese economy has gone through 20 years of recession and much of the society still retains an insular mentality. (Over 20 years of the JET has exposed Japanese to foreigners and they still seem surprised we can use chopsticks, etc.)
Oversea returnee students faced an educational system that didn't know what to do with them. Now we see it at the professional level.
The painful irony is that many companies are trying to expand their overseas business to make up for reduced domestic spending. They would appear to be shooting themselves in the foot on this one.
Since English and Western exposure are apparently seen as a hindrances, how can we encourage students to take their English classes seriously?
Exactly! I'm doing my thesis on Culturally Responsive Classroom Management in the Foreign Language Classroom with Japanese Students - and my research keeps bringing to this point! Using Engaging activities with fuzzy dice doesn't stand a chance against something like this. This message is being sent to my students I fear. My instincts are ringing loud and clear here.
How can I conduct a worthy thesis - if this is why the kids don't really care about English - if this is why we can't achieve culturally responsive classroom management?
Is this it? Is there any possible way I can redesign the direction of my thesis? Even if I continue with my thesis in this new direction - I might get fired for designing a study that just simply reveals anti-western/anti-English sentiments at the root of our current shortcomings in establishing culturally responsive classroom management.
It's like Japan wants to learn English - but they have to pretend they don't know English? Oh boy ... what have we got ourselves into here.[/b]
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:58 am Post subject:
Japanology wrote:
It's like Japan wants to learn English - but they have to pretend they don't know English? Oh boy ... what have we got ourselves into here.
Japan wants English but, like with everything else foreign that makes its presence felt here, Japan can't accept it raw. Japan wants to transmute it into a culturally digestible version -- just like a sham Christian-style wedding ceremony.
Maybe it's because I have Japanese friends who studied abroad (exchange and full time) and work for various large companies in various industries, but that article is full of spin. For better or worse, there's a recruiting system in place and if people looking for work don't go with the flow of things, they're not getting hired. Studying abroad is moot. That 30 year old would have been shot down even if he only studied in Japan. Come on, he's 30. More than likely Koga interned at Dentsu. A notoriously strict company with an intense senior-junior corporate culture. Any junior that runs his/her mouth off isn't going to get far. That Sato guy was asked to go to Tokyo for further interviewing. How is that being penalized for studying abroad?
Such attitudes will disappear in a few years when the the Japanese economy starts contracting sharply - as it must - because the population starts falling and greying.
When a company can only turn a profit if it diversifies overseas, it will diversify overseas or die.
With automation, I can see Japan's productivity remaining about the same. In fact, things will get better for most people, as there will be the same money, with less people. Thereby less imports will be needed to keep Japan fed/clothed/electrified.
The smarter companies are already expanding overseas. The best example would be the beer companies. The next would be the car companies, which are already established world wide.
The domestic companies, like grocery stores, hotels, food mnfgers. Well they are boned, and only the best will make it to the pop stabilization level.
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