MAT'S EYE ON THE WORLD 「MATの目」
日英バイリンガル通信 No. 33 Hiroshi Matsuoka 松 岡 博
The following English and Japanese passages have been published in The Japan Times and The Asahi Newspaper.
以下の英語の投書はThe Japan Timesに、また日本語の方は「朝日新聞」の投書欄に掲載されたものです。
Dedicate a TV channel to English
I would like to propose that the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) add an English channel to its current general and education channels. The channel would no doubt contribute to improving the English ability of Japanese people, young and old.
I have doubts about the effectiveness of English lessons due to be introduced in the fifth and sixth grade of elementary school in April 2011 under revised new teaching guidelines. Furthermore, it will be a disaster for Japan if English becomes a required subject in the third grade as an education panel proposed to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on May 26.
Don't Japanese children already have enough things to learn about Japan and the Japanese language? Elementary school teachers are not trained in methods of teaching English. Some may not have good English pronunciation. It is difficult to unlearn wrong pronunciation acquired at 9 or 10.
Last summer I went sightseeing in the Scandinavian countries. To my surprise, everybody I talked to, including children at street stores, pedestrians, supermarket employees and restaurant workers spoke fluent English. I asked a group of Swedish children how they had acquired English; they said they watched English programs on TV.
Daily English programs broadcast on NHK should range from news and dramas to music and documentaries. NHK could select good programs produced in Britain, the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries. This would be the most efficient way for the Japanese to improve their English. English lessons only once or twice a week don't amount to anything.
I would like to propose that the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) add an English channel to its current general and education channels. The channel would no doubt contribute to improving the English ability of Japanese people, young and old.
I have doubts about the effectiveness of English lessons due to be introduced in the fifth and sixth grade of elementary school in April 2011 under revised new teaching guidelines. Furthermore, it will be a disaster for Japan if English becomes a required subject in the third grade as an education panel proposed to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on May 26.
Don't Japanese children already have enough things to learn about Japan and the Japanese language? Elementary school teachers are not trained in methods of teaching English. Some may not have good English pronunciation. It is difficult to unlearn wrong pronunciation acquired at 9 or 10.
Last summer I went sightseeing in the Scandinavian countries. To my surprise, everybody I talked to, including children at street stores, pedestrians, supermarket employees and restaurant workers spoke fluent English. I asked a group of Swedish children how they had acquired English; they said they watched English programs on TV.
Daily English programs broadcast on NHK should range from news and dramas to music and documentaries. NHK could select good programs produced in Britain, the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries. This would be the most efficient way for the Japanese to improve their English. English lessons only once or twice a week don't amount to anything.
（From READERS IN COUNCIL, The Japan Times, Thursday, June 5, 2008)
英語力向上へ専門番組を望む (原題：NHKに英語チャンネルを）
教育再生懇談会は小学３年生から英語教育を行うことを首相に提案した。すでに新学習指導要領により、小学５，６年生に「英語活動」を２０１１年度から導入することが決まっている。
私は小学校における英語教育に反対である。小学生はもっと日本のことを勉強すべきだ。第一、小学校の先生は英語教授法を専攻しておらず、間違った英語の発音を教えてしまうこともあり得る。いったん習得した間違った発音は矯正しにくい。（英米人の採用、視聴覚機器の購入、教材の作成等で）莫大な費用もかかる（だろう）。
政府がそれほど日本人の英語力向上を目指すなら、公共放送であるNHKに英語専門チャンネルを設置してはどうか。
昨年、北欧を旅行して驚いた。通行人、駅員、スーパーの店員ら、誰もが流暢な英語を話した。理由を尋ねると、テレビで英語の番組を見ていると言う。日本でも英語専門チャンネルがあれば、（老若男女）誰でも英語に親しむことができる。（英、米、豪、インド、香港等の番組を購入すれば良い。） 小学生に英語の授業を週１，２回行うぐらいで英語力がつくわけがない。生の英語を浴びなければつかない。文部科学省はこの点を是非検討していただきたい。
[朝日新聞投書欄 「声」に掲載。２００８年６月６日 注：上記タイトルと本文中（ ） 内は朝日新聞編集者により変更またはカットされた部分です。]
