English
What English Education Is Needed in an Era Where Speaking English Is Taken for Granted
Related terms: 英語教育 異文化理解 4技能 グローバル
Key points (reviewing AI explanation)
[What Happened] In an interview with a school principal, the topic of 'what English education is needed in an era where speaking English is taken for granted' was discussed. The theme is the shift from an era when simply being able to speak English was the goal, to one where what you think and communicate in English is what matters.
[Why It Matters] Japanese English education has tended to focus heavily on reading and writing, but in recent years greater emphasis has been placed on the four skills—adding listening and speaking—along with the ability to understand different cultures and collaborate. As English spreads as a tool, differences in the content carried by that tool—one's own opinions and knowledge—increasingly determine a person's value.
[Going Deeper] The CEFR, an international standard for language ability, measures proficiency not just by vocabulary and grammar but by 'what you can do' (can-do statements). In other words, the standard is not 'knowing English' but 'being able to accomplish something in English.' The ability to think deeply in one's native language, Japanese, ultimately becomes the foundation for enriching the substance one can express in English.
[Think About It] How much has the 'substance of yourself' that you want to convey to someone in the world in English developed so far?
Explanation
[What Happened] In an interview with a school principal, the topic of 'what English education is needed in an era where speaking English is taken for granted' was discussed. The theme is the shift from an era when simply being able to speak English was the goal, to one where what you think and communicate in English is what matters.
[Why It Matters] Japanese English education has tended to focus heavily on reading and writing, but in recent years greater emphasis has been placed on the four skills—adding listening and speaking—along with the ability to understand different cultures and collaborate. As English spreads as a tool, differences in the content carried by that tool—one's own opinions and knowledge—increasingly determine a person's value.
[Going Deeper] The CEFR, an international standard for language ability, measures proficiency not just by vocabulary and grammar but by 'what you can do' (can-do statements). In other words, the standard is not 'knowing English' but 'being able to accomplish something in English.' The ability to think deeply in one's native language, Japanese, ultimately becomes the foundation for enriching the substance one can express in English.
[Think About It] How much has the 'substance of yourself' that you want to convey to someone in the world in English developed so far?
Source: news.google.com
