[AssKissinger]

Instead of using translations of Japanese texts why don't they just use English texts that already exist? I can imagine the answer but Jesus, who wants their kid studying from an unprofessionally translated text in a language he or she can barely speak? I think compulsory education ends at 16 in Japan. Before that, to use a kid as a guinea pig for this kind of doomed for failure project is just obscene and after that it becomes just absurd.

I predict that this idea will fail.

Hell, they can't even teach English in English and it's hard enough for the kids to learn the other subjects in Japanese.

I predict that these kids will end up with a slightly higher than average English ability and very little understanding of all the other subjects. And it's probably only 1 kid in 20 who'll ever use English in a practical way as an adult. The wasted resources and stupidity are astounding. Financially it's one thing but squandering these kids youth and education is almost criminal. Where do they come up with these stupid plans?

The city will establish an integrated elementary, junior high, and high school at which all subjects, with the exception of Japanese and social studies, will be taught in English by Japanese and foreign teachers working together in the classroom

Yeah we wouldn't want whitey in there by himself teaching social studies. Something could change. I wonder how they're going to teach Japanese in English.

[emperor]

i think its a good idea to teach or to at least offer the choice of learning maybe some (not all - especially Japanese) subjects through English

In Ireland, generally people only speak fluent Irish day-to-day in some small rural areas and on islands off the west coast. Generally the level of Irish ability is quite poor because its not seen as useful and in many cases poorly taught. However, we have schools even in the large cities that teach everything through Irish and they work quite well, especially in bolstering Irish language proficency.

If it can do that with a non-practical (just culturally important) language like Irish. Why not do it with English in Japan?

Getting them in at a young age seems to be key

[kamome]

AK, I think the Japanese are trying to follow something akin to the European model. Most people in Western Europe speak excellent English coming out of secondary schools because of the English language coursework. Have you ever met anyone from say, Denmark or Holland? Their native language isn't English, but it might as well be given their fluency. Perhaps the Japanese are trying to do something like that, except they're fucking it up by trying to use translations of their own textbooks (gotta' keep indoctrinating the kids, right?).

[Socratesabroad]

The kids could start by fixing the crap English in the Asahi article, for one.

But that may not be as easy as learning the ABC. In addition to translation costs, there are copyright fees and huge production expenses since only a limited number of copies are required.

A limited number is required, isn't it?

Although the pilot program allows schools to select their own textbooks, unlike other public schools where only government-approved material may be used, Ota officials are sticking to the education ministry's recommended list.

Although subordinate clauses are fun to use, unlike other boring grammatical constructions, they should be subordinate to the main clause, shouldn't they?

Instead of using professional translators, teachers due to start at the school have been assigned that task.

When you want the job done right, get the home ec teacher to translate...

[Andocrates]

Ireland has a language?

[Big Booger]

Surely he means Gaelic? If not, Irish English is the same as any other English as far as I have experienced it...

[emperor]

Ireland has a language?

Are ya taking the piss? ...

Surely he means Gaelic? If not, Irish English is the same as any other English as far as I have experienced it...

Youve got it BB - 99% of Irish speak English on a daily basis - a legacy the English left us with after several hundred years.. but i am in fact talking about about the other of our 2 official languages - Irish is more closely related to German than English in fact:

[quote]Irish (Gaeilge na h&#201]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language

[kamome]

Surely he means Gaelic? If not, Irish English is the same as any other English as far as I have experienced it...

Irish (Gaeilge na h&Eacute]

So where does Celtic fit in?

[cliffy]

The totaly incomprehensable Scottsmen are the most closely related to the Celts in Great Britain, and the Welsh a little bit, but who gives a toss?

[cstaylor]

So where does Celtic fit in?

[kamome]

So where does Celtic fit in?

Ok, now I love the Boston Celtics (especially references to the superstar team of the 1980's) but couldn't you come up with a less obvious joke?

[emperor]

In Northern Ireland; matches between the traditionally Catholic Celtic Football (soccer) Club and the traditionally Protestant Rangers Football Club give rise to flaring tempers quite frequently..

[DjMitch_UK]

In Northern Ireland; matches between the traditionally Catholic Celtic Football (soccer) Club and the traditionally Protestant Rangers Football Club give rise to flaring tempers quite frequently..

Celtic and Rangers are Scottish teams in the Scottish Premiership. Not Northern Irish teams.

Northern Irish people are by far the hardest to understand. The country is pratically at civil war between Protestants and Catholics and well..... it just generally sucks.

Speaking of football though, Euro 2004 is coming up.

GO ENGLAND!! YAY

[cstaylor]

:lol: Ok, now I love the Boston Celtics (especially references to the superstar team of the 1980's) but couldn't you come up with a less obvious joke?

Hey, you laughed, which was all I was going for.

[emperor]

Celtic and Rangers are Scottish teams in the Scottish Premiership. Not Northern Irish teams.

sorry i phrased that poorly due to lack of sleep!

I was of course referring to the Celtic and Rangers fans who live in the North: of which there are PLENTY.

The situation up there is stupid - theres been growing apathy in the south towards the situation for the last few years now. You get sick of hearing about it. Irish news is so mundane and repetitive: stories generally consist of punishment beatings in the North and Scandals/Tribunals involving govt officials and their friends in the business world.

I cant wait for Euro 2004 myself! Pity Ireland arent in it - but the World Cups only another couple of years away now
At this stage my money would be on France or Holland, England could do it too but I think Portugal may have a good chance - the home factor is so important.

[AssKissinger]

AK, I think the Japanese are trying to follow something akin to the European model. Most people in Western Europe speak excellent English coming out of secondary schools because of the English language coursework. Have you ever met anyone from say, Denmark or Holland? Their native language isn't English, but it might as well be given their fluency. Perhaps the Japanese are trying to do something like that, except they're fucking it up by trying to use translations of their own textbooks (gotta' keep indoctrinating the kids, right?).

Yeah, but what works in Europe will just be a big stupid mess in Japan. Sure I've met lots of Europeans from all over. The countries you named always have really fluent speakers. One thing that always blows my mind is when they have those 'strongest man in the world' shows. They'll interview some meathead berserker from some small town in Scandinavia who just hurled a full keg of beer ten meters in the air and pulled a school bus up a hill with his teeth and he speaks perfect English!


I think cultures that use English as a real form of communication actually learn it. All those different languages so close together in Europe make English more of a necessity. India is the same way.

[DjMitch_UK]

They'll interview some meathead berserker from some small town in Scandinavia who just hurled a full keg of beer ten meters in the air and pulled a school bus up a hill with his teeth and he speaks perfect English!

Maybe its because they have a strong will to learn English because it helps them communicate with other Europeans of whom they live in close proximity. Whereas JP people are only really going to talk Japanese with a tiny bit of English to the odd fucked gaijin??

I guess what im trying to say is similar to the German classes I used to take. "Cant be bother because nobody speaks German apart from the Germans and I dont plan on going there, and even if I did, 99.9% of people would know some English'

At this stage my money would be on France or Holland,

Our first game is against the 1998 Word champs themselves! Yikes! Hopefully we should get some good use out of Beck's right foot. Cannot rely on Owen anymore. He has slowed up alot these pass years.