Is the demand for English teaching poised for another 80's -like "boom"?

[NorthByNorthwest]

My understanding is that the English conversation market in Japan is in a constant decline or has at least plateau'd - compared to what it must have been like in the late 80's and early 90's when the buzzword "kokusaika" (internationalization) was everywhere.

However, I am wondering whether the recent "English as the official language" policies of companies like Rakuten and Fast Retailing (UniQlo) signal a return to this trend.

Do you think the rest of corporate Japan also see fit to emphasize English-ability and thereby trigger a comeback in the demand for English conversation classes throughout Japan?

[well_bicyclically]

I think Rakuten and Uniqlo's moves toward English rank on the "Rat's Arse" level as far as the rest of the nation. With the downturn, more companies are having work dispatched abroad, some are having jobs dispatched as well. More staff will require better communication skills in English -- Not just conversation, but very goal oriented in that regard.

China is the new area of expansion for many companies. Chinese lessons were added to one of my employer's outlesson offerings.

[speedboat]

I think Rakuten and Uniqlo's moves toward English rank on the "Rat's Arse" level as far as the rest of the nation. With the downturn, more companies are having work dispatched abroad, some are having jobs dispatched as well. More staff will require better communication skills in English -- Not just conversation, but very goal oriented in that regard.

China is the new area of expansion for many companies. Chinese lessons were added to one of my employer's outlesson offerings.

Lesson 1. How to say 'No, they are our islands, fark off dog eaters'

[well_bicyclically]

Lesson 1. How to say 'No, they are our islands, fark off dog eaters'

Lesson 2. How to ask, "How much for the little girl?"

[Mustachioed-Ken]

Lesson 2. How to ask, "How much for the little girl?"

Yes. In twenty-thirty years, Japan'll have another economic boom. That's what happens after a major depression. Which is what Japan will have to suffer through first. The economy was shot before the tsunami. Now you got all these damages to deal with.

A recession is actually a great time for young entrepreneurs. So if you have an awesome idea, strike while the iron's hot! Plus, in retrospect, many Japanese people feel 'nostalgia' at the post-WW2 era when things were much simpler. (That's why a lot of post-WW2 movies have that kind-of simple, nostalgic feeling). It could actually be a great time for gaijin, so long as the gaijin we're talking about aren't lame shitheads (which, let's face it, are most of the gaijin in Japan).

[Subarctican]

Could someone please tell me what "meh" means? I've never heard it before coming here, and apparently the spell-checker here has never heard of it either.

At first I thought there must be someone around here named "Meh," whom people were addressing.

[speedboat]

Could someone please tell me what "meh" means? I've never heard it before coming here, and apparently the spell-checker here has never heard of it either.

At first I thought there must be someone around here named "Meh," whom people were addressing.

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/meh
Meh is an interjection of apathy or disagreement. According to Wikipedia, “meh” was first popularized by the Simpsons 2001 episode “Hungry Homer”, before taking it’s place in popular internet language and image macros.

Here's a different simpsons example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWwzOMFsQ8Y

[Keeptrying]

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/meh
Meh is an interjection of apathy or disagreement. According to Wikipedia, “meh” was first popularized by the Simpsons 2001 episode “Hungry Homer”, before taking it’s place in popular internet language and image macros.

Here's a different simpsons example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWwzOMFsQ8Y

I wish Amuricans would leave our language alone...

[ghostrider]

I think it's safe to say the demand for English in the 80's was due to Japan's quick economic rise and the importance of the US at the time. There is no sign Japan is poised for an economic rise anytime soon, and the recent natural disasters and nuclear problems certainly aren't going to help. English is still seen as a luxury there. I doubt Uniqlo and Rakuten are going to affect the job market for English teachers enough. Japan needs more money in the pockets of the average person and most companies need to feel they have the money to blow on extras like English lessons. The rise of China (and to a lesser extent Korea) also complicates matters as China is a more enticing market at the moment, while much of English speaking west is stagnate or in decline.

[nh281]

I don't buy the above analysis whatsoever.

For any companies involved in the export trades, finding the "extra money" for English lessons is no longer an option. Japanese firms are aware they are at a distinct competitive disadvantage due to the general lack of English competency among their staff. The key to survival for many Japanese companies that continue to hold any competitive sway will be M&A activity, which requires legal, administrative, and engineering staff who are capable of communicating desired integration processes to the entities they are combining operations with. Chinese lessons are only useful for staff dealing with a local Chinese work force that is undereducated and doesn't speak English. This may be the case with things like simple parts manufacturing, but larger activities like major line assembly and channel development processes require individuals who have globalized skills, if you will. The number of Chinese graduates who can operate in English at this level are plentiful these days, and Japanese firms who hope to make use of them will need to have people who are equally matched to get any kind of results.

In any case, English remains now, more than ever, the lingua franca of global commerce and trade, and if any of China's asset bubbles burst, even that will not be a saving grace for the need to bolster English skills.

The only area I would expect continued retraction is in the translation business - there are now web tools and online businesses devoted to translation that will quickly replace the previous generation of dedicated staff doing document review and what not. This will only accelerate with time.

[Jakebullet]

I don't buy the above analysis whatsoever.

For any companies involved in the export trades, finding the "extra money" for English lessons is no longer an option. Japanese firms are aware they are at a distinct competitive disadvantage due to the general lack of English competency among their staff. The key to survival for many Japanese companies that continue to hold any competitive sway will be M&A activity, which requires legal, administrative, and engineering staff who are capable of communicating desired integration processes to the entities they are combining operations with. Chinese lessons are only useful for staff dealing with a local Chinese work force that is undereducated and doesn't speak English. This may be the case with things like simple parts manufacturing, but larger activities like major line assembly and channel development processes require individuals who have globalized skills, if you will. The number of Chinese graduates who can operate in English at this level are plentiful these days, and Japanese firms who hope to make use of them will need to have people who are equally matched to get any kind of results.

In any case, English remains now, more than ever, the lingua franca of global commerce and trade, and if any of China's asset bubbles burst, even that will not be a saving grace for the need to bolster English skills.

The only area I would expect continued retraction is in the translation business - there are now web tools and online businesses devoted to translation that will quickly replace the previous generation of dedicated staff doing document review and what not. This will only accelerate with time.

Thats right. The demand for English from Japanese companies is still strong, but in order to develop business with countries such as India and China.

[well_bicyclically]

my feeling: this is just one step to get the staff ready for their next assignment.... overseas. because that is where their job is going to be!

[displaced_gaijin]

My understanding is that the English conversation market in Japan is in a constant decline or has at least plateau'd - compared to what it must have been like in the late 80's and early 90's when the buzzword "kokusaika" (internationalization) was everywhere.

However, I am wondering whether the recent "English as the official language" policies of companies like Rakuten and Fast Retailing (UniQlo) signal a return to this trend.

Do you think the rest of corporate Japan also see fit to emphasize English-ability and thereby trigger a comeback in the demand for English conversation classes throughout Japan?

Yes except they will be Chinese teaching schools after the European Union collapses in on itself like the pathetic joke it is and the American economy starts to implode on bad debt and crappy fiscal policy.