Let’s Be International
Japan would be a more international country, if the Early Childhood English Education System (ECEE) was introduced. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology mentioned that English should be a compulsory subject in elementary schools. They are planning to introduce the system to 5th and 6th grade elementary school students from 2009. Actually 94% of the public elementary schools already started to teach English to Children. The Early Childhood English Education System should be introduced in elementary schools.
First, English is necessary in the world to communicate with people. It is regarded as the international common language these days. More and more people study and use English all over the world. For example, about one-third of the world people have learned English because of the influences of American TV or the Internet. Actually, English is used in between 80% to 90% of websites worldwide. Also, other Asian countries consider English as an international Language too. For example, people in Singapore use English as their common language even though 80% of them are Chinese. Also, Taiwan government already introduced the ECEE system in 1998. At that time ECEE system was intended for 5th and 6th grade students. Yet, from September in 2004, some of the cities started to introduce the system to the entire grade of students. So, more people will be able to express their thoughts or opinions in English in the world.
Second, young children are able to absorb more knowledge than adults. They are good language learners, especially 9 to 12 years old children can accept the sounds itself very smoothly, so they would master natural English pronunciation. They can also understand English grammar more fluently than junior high school children who hesitate to use English because they are afraid of making mistakes. Furthermore, younger children can enjoy learning and using the new language. So, elementary school students should be taught English in elementary school.
Third, learning English will firmly help Japan be a more international country. Japanese people can’t say their opinions clearly at global meetings. However, if I mastered English, I would be able to make myself understood to non-Japanese people. Then I could let them know what Japanese people’s way of thinking is like and even what Japan is like. Consequently, I would be able to protect Japanese culture and survive in the international world, and Japan can truly be an international country.
I think the ECEE system is very important for Japanese people to catch up with globalization. Not only in western countries but also in Asian countries, English is necessary. Children have potential ability that adults can’t predict. The sooner, the better. So, the Early Childhood English Education System should be introduced in elementary schools. Thanks to the introduction of this system, I am sure that Japan will be a more internationalized country in the future.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Comparison/Contrast Essay
The Best Lifestyle
I had a cultural shock when I saw my American host family’s lifestyle for the first time. I had been to the United Sates of America for only one week when I was a high school student. Almost everything was new for me at that time. There were a lot of differences between my Japanese family and my American family.
My thoughts about the meals were also different. My Japanese family considered meals as one of the most important things in life, especially vegetables and rice. My grand parents were growing many kinds of vegetables, so there were always a lot of fresh vegetables during every meal. It was a very healthy way to eat. Also, we had to eat three meals regularly every day. However, My American family said that enjoying delicious foods was the most important thing. They sometimes ate very sweet lemon cheese cake for breakfast. What’s more, they decided to eat only when they were hungry. So their meal times were irregular. I was used to my Japanese family’s style, so I was a little confused.
The values toward experiences, money and study were also a little different. My Japanese family used to say “Studying is important but I will not force you to study. You can decide what you want to learn.” They had never said “Go to your room and study!!” On the other hand, my American mother and father always checked their children’s grades. If they got bad score on exams, they scolded them very much. When I saw that, I was so surprised and felt very sorry for my host sisters because my parents had never scolded me about the results of tests.
Our family forms and rules were very different. There were grandparents, parents, and three children in my Japanese family. We lived together. I had to respect elders very much and be polite. My grandfather often told me that women should be obedient to men. The highest-ranking person in my Japanese family was my grandfather. I had to obey and couldn’t talk back to him. He made many strict rules for his grandchildren such as “Come back home by 5 o’clock p.m. If you broke the rule, I won’t let you enter the house.” Or “Don’t eat meals before I eat.” and so on. Actually, I hated those rules because 5 o’clock p.m. was too early and the latter one was stupid. Even though I felt so, there was nothing to do except obey the rule. However, my American family didn’t have such strict rules. They had a rule that they had a family time to get together and to talk at least once a week. I thought it was really nice rule. There were only parents and children in their home. Their relationships were fair. If a child and mother had any troubles, they talked and talked and talked until both of them understand completely. I have never seen such a family style before so it was the biggest different point between Japanese family and American family.
My Japanese family and my American family had very different life styles as I mentioned above. I can’t say which one I prefer because both of them have advantages and also disadvantages. I like my Japanese family’s thought about meals and I don’t want to force my children to study hard. But, I prefer American family’s rule. I don’t want to make unreasonable rules and ranks in my home. I want to talk with children if we had any troubles. Also, I want to select good points which fit me and create new family style in the future. It will be the best way for me and my future family.
I had a cultural shock when I saw my American host family’s lifestyle for the first time. I had been to the United Sates of America for only one week when I was a high school student. Almost everything was new for me at that time. There were a lot of differences between my Japanese family and my American family.
My thoughts about the meals were also different. My Japanese family considered meals as one of the most important things in life, especially vegetables and rice. My grand parents were growing many kinds of vegetables, so there were always a lot of fresh vegetables during every meal. It was a very healthy way to eat. Also, we had to eat three meals regularly every day. However, My American family said that enjoying delicious foods was the most important thing. They sometimes ate very sweet lemon cheese cake for breakfast. What’s more, they decided to eat only when they were hungry. So their meal times were irregular. I was used to my Japanese family’s style, so I was a little confused.
The values toward experiences, money and study were also a little different. My Japanese family used to say “Studying is important but I will not force you to study. You can decide what you want to learn.” They had never said “Go to your room and study!!” On the other hand, my American mother and father always checked their children’s grades. If they got bad score on exams, they scolded them very much. When I saw that, I was so surprised and felt very sorry for my host sisters because my parents had never scolded me about the results of tests.
Our family forms and rules were very different. There were grandparents, parents, and three children in my Japanese family. We lived together. I had to respect elders very much and be polite. My grandfather often told me that women should be obedient to men. The highest-ranking person in my Japanese family was my grandfather. I had to obey and couldn’t talk back to him. He made many strict rules for his grandchildren such as “Come back home by 5 o’clock p.m. If you broke the rule, I won’t let you enter the house.” Or “Don’t eat meals before I eat.” and so on. Actually, I hated those rules because 5 o’clock p.m. was too early and the latter one was stupid. Even though I felt so, there was nothing to do except obey the rule. However, my American family didn’t have such strict rules. They had a rule that they had a family time to get together and to talk at least once a week. I thought it was really nice rule. There were only parents and children in their home. Their relationships were fair. If a child and mother had any troubles, they talked and talked and talked until both of them understand completely. I have never seen such a family style before so it was the biggest different point between Japanese family and American family.
My Japanese family and my American family had very different life styles as I mentioned above. I can’t say which one I prefer because both of them have advantages and also disadvantages. I like my Japanese family’s thought about meals and I don’t want to force my children to study hard. But, I prefer American family’s rule. I don’t want to make unreasonable rules and ranks in my home. I want to talk with children if we had any troubles. Also, I want to select good points which fit me and create new family style in the future. It will be the best way for me and my future family.
Cause/ Effect Essay
Finding My Way
I had been looking for my own way in life. Until I graduated from my high school, I believed that everything my older brother said to me was right. He was so logical and smart, I was eager to be like him. However, now I don’t want to be like him anymore even though I still really respect him, because I found my own way in life. I learned that having responsibility for my own choices makes me more confident about my life.
During junior high school and high school, I had compared myself to him. I was always trying to imitate him because I had no confidence for my own choices. I wasn’t able to be like him. The more I tried to be like him, the more I found that it was really tough. I always asked him to give me a clear choice. I tried to follow his path. For example, He was president of student government in junior high school and high school. I am sure that everybody in both schools did know who he was. I joined the student government because he was there. No matter what I wanted to do or not do, I took it for granted that I was able to participate in it. As a result, teachers had called me “Satoshi’s sister” for three years. That was so humiliating but I didn’t know how I should be at all. At that time, my older brother was in charge of my life in every way.
When I was a 3rd year high school student, I made a big decision by myself for the first time in my life. I had an ideal university which I really wanted to enter. Yet, I wasn’t able to pass the university’s entrance examination. There were two choices at that time. One was to take the other universities’ exams, and then to enter the university which I scored the highest for. The other choice was to enter a cram school and to study one more year. Then, I would take the entrance examination of the university I really wanted to enter. I wanted to ask my older brother about this decision as usual, but at that time he wasn’t in Japan. He had left for Russia to study abroad. So, I asked to my parents what I should do. They said they wanted me to choose the path that I wanted to take. I was so confused because I felt that I couldn’t make any excuses because it was my decision. I strongly thought that I couldn’t give up and must carry on. Eventually, I chose to go to cram school to study hard, then, I passed every university examination that I took. My confidence grew.
Through one year that I was in the cram school, I had many chances to decide things by myself. I considered my life and future seriously. At the end of 2005, I decided to take AIU’s entrance examination for myself. I decided to come here even though my older brother objected to me coming to AIU. I could consider his opinion as advice to be objective about my life and to choose my future for myself intelligently. Since I made this decision for myself, and now I don’t regret my choice at all.
Through those experiences I learned that I can have confidence if I have responsibility for my choices. Sometimes it is hard but it is very important to enjoy my life as my own. I was able to be patient and not give up so easily. I finally found that I have to live my own life. I can feel I am not anyone else now.
I had been looking for my own way in life. Until I graduated from my high school, I believed that everything my older brother said to me was right. He was so logical and smart, I was eager to be like him. However, now I don’t want to be like him anymore even though I still really respect him, because I found my own way in life. I learned that having responsibility for my own choices makes me more confident about my life.
During junior high school and high school, I had compared myself to him. I was always trying to imitate him because I had no confidence for my own choices. I wasn’t able to be like him. The more I tried to be like him, the more I found that it was really tough. I always asked him to give me a clear choice. I tried to follow his path. For example, He was president of student government in junior high school and high school. I am sure that everybody in both schools did know who he was. I joined the student government because he was there. No matter what I wanted to do or not do, I took it for granted that I was able to participate in it. As a result, teachers had called me “Satoshi’s sister” for three years. That was so humiliating but I didn’t know how I should be at all. At that time, my older brother was in charge of my life in every way.
When I was a 3rd year high school student, I made a big decision by myself for the first time in my life. I had an ideal university which I really wanted to enter. Yet, I wasn’t able to pass the university’s entrance examination. There were two choices at that time. One was to take the other universities’ exams, and then to enter the university which I scored the highest for. The other choice was to enter a cram school and to study one more year. Then, I would take the entrance examination of the university I really wanted to enter. I wanted to ask my older brother about this decision as usual, but at that time he wasn’t in Japan. He had left for Russia to study abroad. So, I asked to my parents what I should do. They said they wanted me to choose the path that I wanted to take. I was so confused because I felt that I couldn’t make any excuses because it was my decision. I strongly thought that I couldn’t give up and must carry on. Eventually, I chose to go to cram school to study hard, then, I passed every university examination that I took. My confidence grew.
Through one year that I was in the cram school, I had many chances to decide things by myself. I considered my life and future seriously. At the end of 2005, I decided to take AIU’s entrance examination for myself. I decided to come here even though my older brother objected to me coming to AIU. I could consider his opinion as advice to be objective about my life and to choose my future for myself intelligently. Since I made this decision for myself, and now I don’t regret my choice at all.
Through those experiences I learned that I can have confidence if I have responsibility for my choices. Sometimes it is hard but it is very important to enjoy my life as my own. I was able to be patient and not give up so easily. I finally found that I have to live my own life. I can feel I am not anyone else now.
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