Posted inQuestion about Japan
Do a lot of people speak English in Japan?
This article explores the current state of English proficiency in Japan. According to a survey by EF Education First, Japan ranks 25th out of 72 countries for English proficiency, indicating that while many people can understand basic English, there is still a long way to go before reaching a high level of fluency. English education has been mandatory since the late 1980s and businesses have become more aware of the importance of being able to communicate effectively with their international counterparts using English. However, many Japanese people still view learning and speaking English as something that is difficult or unnecessary. Charles R Tokoyama, CEO of Japan Insiders, believes that while most younger generations have some level of understanding and basic conversational ability when it comes down to fluency and accuracy there is still quite a way to go.