最近の英語教育に思うこと

【最近の英語教育に思うこと】

 

中学生に英語を教えることが多いけれど、驚くほど25年前と学び方が変わっていない。教材も指導法も、ほぼそのまま。2024年、日本の英語能力指数は過去最低の世界92位。それもそのはず、やり方がアップデートされていないのだから。

 

私が勤めるイタリアの会社は、世界ランキングで英語力46位。英語が母国語でない彼らも、若い世代は堂々と英語を話し、会議やチャットも自然にこなしている。

文法ミスや訛りがあっても、ビジネスでの意思疎通に全く問題がない。

一方で、日本は「英語がなくても生きていける国」としてやってきた。でも、その国力が衰えていく中で、海外で戦える“もう1つの武器”を持っておくことは、リスクヘッジになるはず。日本人の勤勉さに英語力でも負けなくなったら鬼に金棒じゃないですか。

英語が話せる＝選択肢を持てる。

その価値を、もっと広げたい。

 

What I’ve Realized About English Education in Japan

As someone who teaches English to junior high school students in Japan, I’ve noticed something that might surprise people from outside the country: the way English is taught here hasn’t changed much in over 25 years.

The textbooks, classroom methods, and focus are still very similar to when I was a student myself.

In 2024, Japan ranked 92nd out of 121 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index, its lowest ranking ever.

 

This doesn’t mean Japanese students aren’t trying. In fact, they spend years studying English in school. But the approach hasn’t been updated to focus on real communication or practical use. Most classes still emphasize grammar rules, translation, and test preparation.

By contrast, I work for an Italian company. While Italy also doesn't rank particularly high (46th in the same index), many of the younger staff, especially those working in global roles, speak English confidently.

They make mistakes, have accents like I do, and sometimes struggle with grammar, but they communicate. They’re not afraid to speak up, and they’ve learned to use English as a tool, not just a subject.

 

Japan is a country where you can live your whole life without needing English, and that’s a testament to how self-sufficient the society is. But as the economy continues to shift, I personally feel that having the ability to connect globally through English or other languages will become more important.

For young people especially, being able to speak English isn’t just about being “cool” or “international.”

It’s about having options, building confidence, and preparing for a world where borders are becoming less relevant.

 

And maybe, little by little, that mindset can grow.