An Open Letter to My Students

 Working at Junior High Schools in rural Japan, I have come to grudgingly accept the fact that for now, at least, very little of what I say to you in English classes will get through. Some of you, of course, are like English All-Stars, and shine like bright beacons of hope in, let's be honest, an otherwise English-poor country. The rest of you I see struggle, and I can only hope that you persevere. Your education system is what it is, and although I could fill this letter with suggestions to improve both it and your English comprehension, I will save that tirade for another time. I will say, however, that it is improving, and after recently meeting with the director of the JET Programme at CLAIR, I am convinced that there is a genuine desire to make your English education more effective. My goal in this letter is simply to communicate to you why English is important to your future and the future of your country, because I genuinely do care about both. I also realize that a letter in English may not be the ideal way to communicate, but I'm working on a translation that will hopefully be soon to follow. In the meantime, I can only hope that the message may percolate down to you through your teachers or other English speakers. 

 Foremost, I would like you to be acutely aware that Japan is not only an island nation, but a language island as well. The fact that very few people outside Japan speak Japanese tends to isolate you from the outside world, by making it difficult for Japanese people to function when they travel outside of Japan, and also by making it difficult for outsiders to function when living in Japan. This is an unfortunate characteristic in an age when the world is increasingly more connected and interdependent, and this cultural isolation can do damage to Japan on several levels in the long run.

 One aspect of this isolation is that it effectively prevents the positive aspects of other cultures from reaching Japan, and prevents other cultures from gaining any deep understanding of Japan's culture. I find this particularly sad, as I believe we all have much to learn from each other. In the Meiji era, Japan was considered adept at adopting the best practices used in other countries, and this strategy could be just as effective at revitalizing an ageing Japan today, but language remains a barrier to making this process as smooth as it could be. I also believe that the rest of the world could learn a great deal from Japan about cooperation, community spirit, and determination in the face of adversity. I hope that in the future, a much more English-fluent population will help to facilitate this exchange between Japan and the rest of the world. On a more personal level, speaking an international language will also offer Japanese people the opportunity to make new friends around the world, an experience that I have always valued very highly in my own life.

 Another factor to consider is that the language of international business is English, and Japanese people, facing a slowing economy at home, would see vastly more opportunity both at home and abroad if they speak English more proficiently. The simple truth is, when conducting international business, companies are reluctant to do business in a country where language barriers will be a problem, and they typically desire employees that can converse with other employees and business partners from around the globe. This ability is becoming an increasingly standard requirement in the world today, and I would hate to see Japan or any of my students be left behind because they lack it. Especially in a rural community like Miyakojima, English can be a passport to a larger world and a more comfortable life. Even in a local context, English opens doors into the tourism industry, which is not only lucrative, but by many accounts very rewarding.

 Finally, it has been shown that having more than one language has a way of changing one's thinking, and broadening one's mind. It allows you to think in new ways that may not be as obvious in your native tongue, to see novel solutions to old problems, and to retain a mental flexibility that tends to last into old age. There is also, of course, a sense of pride that comes when understanding begins to dawn; when a language that was previously opaque to you suddenly starts to become clear. I hope, after studying English for years, you will eventually experience this moment, and that you will find it as rewarding as I did when I started to grasp basic Japanese. I hope that you will make the most of our time together, and I promise that I will do whatever I can to not only help you, but to make English as interesting and engaging an experience as possible.