EY Y01 L23 English

  1. How old were you when you had your first English lesson? Did you enjoy it? Why?
  2. You are studying English now. Do you see this as a hobby, as a necessity or as both? If you answered “as a hobby”, why do you enjoy studying English? If you answered “as a necessity”, why is it necessary in your life? If you answered “both” please explain.
  3. There are many approaches to learning English available to learners in Japan. These include cram school courses, vocational training courses, Eikawa courses, undergraduate courses, self-study (podcasts, tv, radio and books) and compulsory education courses at high school. Which experiences have helped you the most?
  4. What has been your worst experience (losing time or money and getting no-where)?
  5. Japan spends over $40 billon dollars a year learning English yet only 3% of the population could give directions to the station. Why is the system so inefficient?
  6. Do you think there is a generation of learners who are young now who will do better than your generation at learning English? Why?

Question 1

I didn't really learn English from having lessons. From when I was a child, I could speak both Tagalog and English because my parents spoke to me in both languages. I first started studying Japanese in my university. I enjoyed it, but I was really bad at memorizing.

Question 2

I used to study Japanese as a hobby because I enjoyed traveling to Japan, but now I'm studying it as a necessity because I live here now and no one can help me with understanding Japanese.

Question 3

I used to study Japanese by going to classes. But now I mostly just do self-study, I have many books at home. I think living in Japan really helped me a lot.

Question 4

Nothing really. All the Japanese lessons I took were worth it. But in my old school, from gradsechool to highschool we were taught Spanish and I remember only 5% of it.

Question 5

I think it's because Japan doesn't use English in daily life. I was taught Spanish once a week for 12 years and I can't speak the language at all because we don't regularly speak Spanish in the Philippines, but we do have some Spanish words mixed with Tagalog and those are what I remember.

Question 6

I don't think people will improve speaking a certain language unless it is integrated in their culture and daily life. In the Philippines, movies, tv shows, commercials, print media, almost everything is in English. English is used in congress and in the senate. English is used in business and in school.

Tough Vocabulary