Director British Council , Japan
INTERVIEW
Jeff Streeter
Director British Council , Japan
Custom Media
Please tell us a little about your background and career .
I am from Devon in the UK , and grew up on a farm . I studied English Language and Literature at university and have worked for the British Council — mostly outside the UK — for many years . I really enjoy living in Tokyo .
Jeff Streeter : It is important to tackle the current state of English-language testing here .
For what reason did the British Council come to Japan ?
The British Council opened its Japan office in 1953 , since when it has been working to build fruitful relationships between the two countries . We are celebrating our 60th anniversary in Japan this year .
What services and products do you provide here ?
We work in the areas of English , the Arts , Education and Society , through which we provide various services and products that support Japan ’ s global jinzai ( human resources ) agenda , as well as our cultural relations activities .
Our activities in the area of English are diverse . Not only do we offer a wide range of English-language courses to students , corporations and organisations , but we also provide online English learning materials and applications for all generations .
In addition , we offer the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )— one of the major English exams in the world .
Aptis , our newly launched English exam service , has been designed to assess the level of English communication skills and can be tailor-made , based on an organisation ’ s needs .
Our partnerships enable us to run better activities together by utilising each other ’ s expertise .
What is your opinion on the recent proposal , by the Liberal Democratic Party ’ s education reform panel , that TOEFL be required to enter , and graduate from , public universities ?
I have followed with great interest the recent announcements .
Given the need — expressed both by the government and businesses — to improve foreign language learning in Japan . I agree with the panel that it is , indeed , important to tackle the current state of English-language testing in the country .
However , we also believe in choice . I think it will be great if students and institutions have the opportunity to choose from among different exams — especially UK ones !
For example , IELTS is the most popular international English proficiency test in many parts of the world for those who wish to study or work in an Englishspeaking environment . In 2012 , it was taken by over 2mn people .
The test is already widely used in Japan , including by The University of Tokyo , and is offered here by ourselves and Eiken — another nonprofit organisation that is dedicated to enhancing English language levels in Japan .
Are more Japanese than before studying English in the UK ?
The UK has always been one of the most popular destinations for Japanese students . About 4,000 of them go to the UK every year to study at institutions of higher education .
The recent trend is to learn business English in the UK as the country has a well-deserved reputation for offering high-quality English teaching .
In recent years , how have student numbers been at the British Council in Japan ?
While the student number at our classes has been firm , we are seeing more business people at the classes than before , due to current global business needs .
The trend also has had a positive impact on our customised English training courses for companies and educational institutions . We teach the courses at global and local companies in Japan , and at many leading universities .
Why is the level of spoken English in Japan perceived to be lower than that in many other countries ?
We believe that this is partly due to Japanese being very shy about making mistakes . We encourage students through our classes to gain confidence in speaking English .
We emphasise that English will open doors , and that learning English can be fun !
Some critics blame foreign teachers , in part , for the low level of English-speaking ability in Japan . How do British Council teachers — and lessons — differ ?
All our British Council teachers must have a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and at least two-years ’ teaching experience .
Through our global network , we share our experience and knowledge and stay up-to-date with trends in English teaching .
In addition , we are committed to teacher development . We use communicative approach methods to teach real English that enables learners to communicate with others through the medium of the language .
Are Japanese people interested in British culture ? How about those outside Tokyo ?
I find that Japanese people generally enjoy the culture of other countries , including the UK .
We believe there is a huge interest in British culture . We have seen from our own activities , and those of our partners across the country , that there is an appetite all over Japan for UK arts .
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