With many individuals the perceived need is not realised until the implications of not being able to communicate with speakers of another language affects them directly. This is not surprising, naturally, but it is a situation that IF Japan believes is holding back the development of their economy and culture, could be handled more effectively by the policy makers, the media, parents, and the education system. Most of my customers are those who thought it would be possible to enter the global market with an unawareness of the challenges involved, most notably the language issues. The bubble has burst and the truth is that there are a lot more players out there now who are selling the same goods, with the same or better quality, at cheaper prices. If a company is not willing to take equal responsibility for effective communication then it is going to have major difficulties and conflict in the long run.
Some of the big players in Japan are making small steps, such as increasing the TOEIC score required for freshman staff. Arguably not the right step, but a step nonetheless. I would argue, however, that a much more effective solution is to begin to change the stigma currently associated with English and foster a new, more sincere, more honest and more unified outlook.
You may be interested to know that due to major communication and culture problems with Boeing, the three big Japanese companies involved in the 787 project, KHI, MHI and FHI, along with Boeing, set up a completely new company in Seattle with the sole purpose of fixing the tensions that had arisen.
Just my ten cents (NZ no longer has 2 or 5 cent coins
)
That's somewhat heartening
