Our mission is to empower local residents in gaining confidence and honing their English speaking skills when communicating with foreigners. Although Japanese students study English in high school and excel in reading and writing, conversational fluency and pronunciation receive less emphasis. The key lies in providing ample opportunities for practice rather than acquiring new knowledge.
To facilitate this growth, we organize conversation afternoons where locals can join at their own convenience. These sessions go beyond mere language usage; they serve as a platform for individuals to become more comfortable interacting with foreigners. Moreover, it presents a remarkable opportunity for you to delve into their unique life experiences and rich cultural heritage.
The Otaki tourist map, now available in English, designates certain shops and hotels with a star symbol to indicate that the owners have some proficiency in English. However, navigating the village without Japanese language skills can still be challenging.
Pride also plays a role in this dynamic. Some hotels, rather than risk not providing perfect service due to the language barrier, may prefer to decline bookings from foreigners. Unfortunately, this hinders the village’s efforts to attract more international travelers to its picturesque surroundings.
To facilitate the village’s development, two simultaneous measures need to be taken:
1. Villagers and local business owners must become more accustomed to interacting with foreigners.
2. Locals need to gain confidence and practice in speaking English.
Japanese students study English in high school, but the current education system places greater emphasis on reading and writing rather than conversation. Thus, their lack of spoken English proficiency is not indicative of their overall knowledge or educational level. The crucial element missing is regular practice in speaking the language, which affects their comfort level in engaging in conversations.
