Job Discussion Forums

[That one guy]

I will soon be applying to teach in Japan, and one of the motivations behind this move is that my current job contributes almost nothing to society. Teaching, when done right, is one of the best ways to contribute to society.

But how will English benefit my Japanese students?

If one of the answers is that it allows for cross-cultural/international communication and understanding, should I be concerned that English allows improved access to the more idiotic aspects of our culture? To phrase that in a different way, am I sullying the peaceful, respectful, �we�re in this together� aspects of Japanese culture by helping kids learn the language of Kim Kardashian, Jersey Shore, and the other paragons of stupidity and shallowness that we inexplicably reward?

I just hope that my presence will enrich the lives of my students through something that is actually beneficial, rather than be a modern-day missionary exercising linguistic imperialism.

[fluffyhamster]

The flip side however is that you (or the JTE or whoever) could be helping at least a few of the students to e.g. read a larger proportion of the science literature, if they become scientists. Jersey Shore is simply a bonus.

[dove]

No need to be an apologist. Doesn't your worry that teaching English will taint the pureness of Japanese culture presuppose that Japanese learners are weak, vulnerable, unable to discern trash and shallowness? Let's turn the tables: I am in Brazil now learning Portuguese. I watch the most vapid melodramatic soap operas on the planet to pick up Portuguese phrases and slang. Am I becoming vapid? I hope not. But I am hoping just to pick up some phrases to communicate better. I think most Japanese learners of English likewise view English as a tool to communicate, to get a better job, to pass the time as a hobby. They aren't worrying about cultural imperialism. You don't need to either.

[That one guy]

[kathrynoh]

OMG you are worried about bringing shallowness and stupidity to a country where a significant portion of the population list shopping as their hobby?

I'd suggest googling AKB48 before you worry about sullying Japan.

[That one guy]

And I'm not under any assumptions that Japanese culture does not have elements of brainless entertainment or that there aren't problems inherent in the culture (uncritical of authority, muted press, overfishing, culture of shame, etc.). I'm just asking for opinions on how English is beneficial to the people of Japan.

[Kionon]

English is also the language of Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is the language of John Locke, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. It is the language of science, it is the language of finances, it is the language underpinning many computer programming languages--including html and the BBCode on these forums.

Yeah, if your students ever get to the point where they can understand anything Snooki says (and I still can't!), I think their English will be high enough to interface with our literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, etc.

[That one guy]

[Glenski]

[Cool Teacher]