Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Monday extended a warm welcome to the ministry’s newest recruits, and asked the young diplomats to continue improving their English and other essential skills needed to connect Japan with the rest of the world.

MANILA — Growing numbers of Japanese are opting to travel to the Philippines to study English at affordable costs ahead of the planned speaking efficiency-focused college entrance exams and Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.   The number of Japanese visitors to the Southeast Asian country has steadily risen in the last few years, reaching 584,180 in 2017, up 9.1….Read more

The Japan Times will hold its ninth annual spelling bee Saturday in Tokyo, with students from Japanese, international and United States military base schools across the nation competing to be recognized as the best speller in Japan.   The winner of the Japan Times Bee qualifies to compete in the televised Scripps National Spelling Bee final in Washington, D.C.  ….Read more

LONDON — Japan’s soft power has been boosted immeasurably by its decades-long policy of recruiting foreign graduates to come and teach in the country, according to a study by a British-based researcher.Sharleen Estampador-Hughson, from the University of Sheffield, argues the experience of living in the country has a powerful effect on the young teachers who will have a positive approach….Read more

JIJI — More and more private junior high schools in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region are introducing English into their general entrance examinations.   Parents are also showing great interest in the subject, reflecting progress in globalization and anticipated changes in the question format on the English examination for university entrance.   As the entrance exam season….Read more

It is hoped efforts will be made to arouse children’s interest in learning English and carefully nurture their desire to do so.   This spring, primary school students in the third and fourth grade will start engaging in “foreign-language activities” about twice a month, during which they will familiarize themselves with English through songs and games. Those in the fifth….Read more

The English-language learning programs in Japan’s public schools have long been criticized for being too focused on rote learning.   But Mio Horio, a 32-year-old English teacher from mountainous Shiga Prefecture, is challenging the nation’s system and nudging her students to think outside the box.   Horio’s teenage students interact with young people worldwide via Skype and are encouraged to….Read more