Why Koreans Are Better at English Than Japanese, According to a Japanese Person

Japanese Media Compare English Education in Korea and Japan
"Korea Has More International Students and Longer English Class Hours"

A leading Japanese economic media outlet analyzed why Koreans are better at English than Japanese by comparing the state of English education in Korea and Japan.

Japan's Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) newspaper began a series titled "Global Education Policies" on the 20th, comparing the realities of English education in Korea and Japan. Japan has been focusing on English education, such as introducing an English speaking test in the Tokyo Metropolitan High School entrance exam last November.

Nikkei stated, "Although Korean and Japanese are equally disadvantaged in learning English, the average TOEIC score, an English test, is about 100 points higher in Korea than in Japan." As of 2020, the average TOEIC score in Korea was 683, while in Japan it was 531.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Nikkei cited the large number of international students and longer English class hours as reasons why Koreans are better at English than Japanese. "Korea's population is about half of Japan's, but the number of international students is three times higher." According to the report, as of 2019, there were 213,000 Korean students studying abroad and 61,989 Japanese students.

Also, when adding up the hours that 3rd to 6th grade elementary students spend learning English at school, Korea has 130 more hours than Japan. It further analyzed, "Korea adopted English as a compulsory subject in elementary school about 20 years earlier than Japan, in 1997, and has maintained a high level of educational enthusiasm."

The media emphasized that "as a child's language ability improves, their worldview broadens," and that language learning is not only about grammar but also an opportunity to develop critical thinking and the ability to see the world properly. Regarding studying abroad, it added, "Living abroad allows one to face oneself and develop the capacity to accept others."

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is actively promoting overseas study for students in Japan. In his policy speech to the National Diet last month, he emphasized "internationalization of education" and "nurturing global talent," stating, "We must expand overseas study opportunities for Japanese students and accept promising international students."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.