Hiragana Times Archive
Language study / Education - Hiragana Times Archive
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High School Students’ Companies Revitalizing Local Regions
Companies run by high school students have been grabbing media attention recently. One of those companies, “TOKUSHIMA Okara Kitchen,” was established in 2004 by students in the Department of Commerce at Komatsushimanishi High School in Tokushima Prefecture as a way of educating entrepreneurs. ...
Nurturing Students to be Engineers Through Patent Education
The Japanese have submitted more patents than anyone else in the world. In Japan, there are higher education institutions where they nurture exceptional engineers by incorporating originality and ingenuity into education. The number of technical colleges has now grown to 62 since the first was established in 1961. ...
Language and Peace Discussed at Japanese Language Summit “The Japan Return Programme”
Non-profit organization the Japan Return Programme (JRP) collects essays written in Japanese by young people from all over the world and hosts the Japanese Language Summit where selected young people exchange opinions on various matters in Japanese. ...
Nearly 3 Million People Studying Japanese Overseas
English is well known to be the common world language. In Japan, English is a requisite subject for students from elementary through to high school age. Some students start learning English from as early as kindergarten. Chinese, Korean, French and Spanish are also popular foreign languages to study besides English. On the other hand, the number of people studying Japanese overseas is on the increase. ...
Japan Fever Stirring Among Young Americans
“Now, young American people are very interested in Japan,” says AOI Yukari, Director of American Homestay International in Irvine, California. “Japan fever is also high in my town. My daughter Sarah, who was raised in the United States, reads ‘ONE PIECE’ and ‘Detective Conan’ in Japanese and English.” ...
Soccer Teaching Friendship - and English!
There has been a big upsurge in recent years of getting English teaching out of the classroom and into the outdoors. While people can now study English while cooking, playing golf and even hiking, the latest movement in Tokyo is for kids to practice and learn the language while playing the world's most popular sport - soccer. ...
Tokyo Kids Gaining IT and English Skills
Kids' inquisitive minds and quick learning abilities very often surprise - and sometimes shock - mums and dads. But if your children are spending too much time playing computer games and not enough time learning, there is a way to pull them back in line and onto something that will benefit them - and maybe even you! ...
Aiming to Raise "Glocal" Experts - University's Unique New Division
It is safe to say that globalization is now spreading rapidly and that the earth is becoming more like one community. Under such circumstances, how should an individual live? Young people will need to study with this trend in mind. ...
You can't communicate what is in your heart even if you can with your language
Reporting Japan's cross-culture frontline by reviewing Hiragana Times 20th year You will often hear the phrase, "You can communicate what is in your heart even if you can't with your language." This is often true during superficial exchanges between people traveling overseas. ...
Is Your Company "English OK"?
In 2004, Dave MORI and Marc BEARDSLEY, an innovative pair Canadian entrepreneurs, launched English OK!, an English training and promotion company targeting Japan's hospitality industry. ...
Women Crossing the Digital Divide!
As the world races along the technological highway, men are not the only ones in the driver's seat. In fact, more and more women are 'getting digital' and taking a ride on the Internet bandwagon. ...
Very Popular New English Teaching Method - Relying on Native Speaker's Intuition
Bouncing into the room in his black leather jacket, Professor Onishi is the liveliest English teacher I've ever met. With the popular TV show, 'Haato de Kanjiru Eibunpou' ('English Grammar Feeling by Heart'), he is revolutionizing English teaching. ...
Overseas Japanese Language Learners are Increasing!
According to a Japan Foundation survey carried out in 2003, 2,356,745 people are studying the Japanese language in 127 countries and regions. Those learning through Japanese TV and radio language programs or private lessons are not included in this figure. ...
Invisible relations between Readers and Languages
Hiragana Times is read by many different people from over 90 countries. As it is written in Japanese and English, many Japanese read English and many non-Japanese read the Japanese parts first. Among non-Japanese readers there are many Westerners, as well as many Asian readers, especially Chinese and Koreans. ...
21st Century Japanese Language Learning from Las Vegas
In the Internet age, if you are running a business, you will most likely need a website. Running a website creates a whole host of issues and problems that need to be dealt with, alongside common questions that most entrepreneurs face such as - How should I advertise? How should I set my pricing? ...
Is Japan’s Education System Reliable?
I recently received an invitation to a students Handwriting Exhibition from the primary school my seven-year-old daughter attends. When I arrived at the school I saw only a few parents and not so many exhibited works. When I heard the reason, I was surprised. ...
