In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed]

Some tourist guides suggest that young people may be more suitable than older people for communicating in English, such as Wikivoyage's section on communicating in Japan.

While I understand the theory that many Japanese may learn English at school and then lose it, and I also assume that governments like to think that the current English education is better than that of previous generations, I haven't really noticed a strong connection between age and English speaking ability.

In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people compared to old people?

Best Answer

Having a friend who lives in Japan, I can assure you that the new generations have at least a basic knowledge of english. As you said, it is hardly unthinkable that older people may be able to speak english. In any case, the level is not that high due to the fact that they have to learn a brand new alphabet, write and speak in a totally different way to the one that they are used to.

Pictures about "In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed]"

In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed] - Smiling young woman in casual clothes showing smartphone to interested senior grandfather in formal shirt and eyeglasses while sitting at table near laptop

In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed] - From below pensive gray haired woman trying to guess who closing eyes while sitting at table and reading book in light library in cottage

In Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed] - Cheerful diverse friends demonstrating thumb up gesture

Do young people in Japan speak English?

Yet despite this growth, studies estimate that less than 30 percent of Japanese speak English at any level at all. Less than 8 percent and possibly as little as 2 percent speak English fluently.

Is Japan friendly to English speakers?

In addition to bilingual signage in the Tokyo Metro, JR Lines and in popular areas like Asakusa and Shinjuku, a large percentage of people in Tokyo speak some English, even those who don't work in foreigner-facing professions. You don't need to speak Japanese at all to enjoy Tokyo!

Why do so few Japanese speak English?

The reason Japanese have difficulty with English is because of the limited range of vocalization used in the Japanese language. Unless pronunciations and nuances of foreign languages are learned in childhood, the human ear and brain has difficulty in discerning them.

How does Japan rank in English fluency?

The 2020 EF English Proficiency Index ranked Japan 55th out of 100 countries and regions in the world, with a \u201clow\u201d level of proficiency.

Do Japanese Really Suck at English? (English Test!)

More answers regarding in Japan, is English more likely to be understood and spoken by young people than old people? [closed]

Answer 2

I don't know about young people today, but my experience in Japan 25 years ago was that almost no one spoke English except those for whom it was an obvious job requirement, e.g., Palace tour guide. Hotel keepers spoke broken English, enough to explain necessities (breakfast, bath rules). The only exception was one boy about 16, who saw us staring bewildered at a cafe where it was necessary to order food by purchasing tickets from a monoglot vending machine. His English was fluent, but when we complimented him he insisted it was no better than his friends'. That was our second cultural lesson of the day.

TL;DR. Young people may speak English, but older ones outside established tourist venues, no.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: RODNAE Productions, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio