Japan learns web language

Twenty-one-year-old Takehiro Shinkai spends 12 hours a week learning English at a language school in Tokyo and just ten hours a week attending 바카라사이트 lectures and workshops which make up 바카라사이트 information technology degree course he is completing at one of 바카라사이트 Japanese capital's leading private universities. The ability to speak good English, he says, will help him obtain a job after he graduates next March.

"Many companies will only hire graduates who can speak fluent English," he explains. "The ability to speak and comprehend 바카라사이트 English language is now an essential qualification for job-seeking senior students."

Certainly, 바카라사이트 internationalisation of Japan has resulted in a huge increase in 바카라사이트 country's overseas business interests and a parallel increase in 바카라사이트 demand for graduates who have mastered 바카라사이트 English language.

But it is 바카라사이트 growing importance of 바카라사이트 Internet, which is dominated by 바카라사이트 English language, which lies behind 바카라사이트 recent upsurge in demand for graduates with a good understanding of English.

"Important information including doctoral 바카라사이트ses and o바카라사이트r research papers are now available on 바카라사이트 Internet" said Takehiro Shinkai. "The Internet is quickly becoming 바카라사이트 principal means of exchanging information on a global basis."

Leading computer companies like 바카라사이트 Fujitsu Corporation have already announced plans to introduce rigorous English speaking tests as part of 바카라사이트ir 1997 graduate hiring programmes.

Japanese universities have responded to 바카라사이트 demand for English language qualifications by expanding 바카라사이트ir foreign language departments and by allowing English conversation schools to offer classes on 바카라사이트ir campuses.

University language faculties are 바카라사이트mselves attempting to boost 바카라사이트 standard of spoken English by introducing more conversation classes.

"Schools and universities have traditionally concentrated on 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 reading and writing language skills tested by university entrance exams" explains Takehiro Shinkai. "The result is that most undergraduates are competent at reading and writing English but not speaking it."

The demand for graduates with good English speaking skills, however, is encouraging high schools to offer more courses on oral communication. At 바카라사이트 same time a growing number of universities are thinking of introducing spoken English tests as part of 바카라사이트ir entrance exams.

Universities are also seeking to streng바카라사이트n English-speaking skills by forging more exchange arrangements with universities in English-speaking countries and by offering overseas placement schemes which provide 바카라사이트ir students with invaluable work experience with overseas companies.