Pre-reading questions:
- When did you start studying English?
- How long do you study English every day?
The Japanese Education Ministry will increase English study hours to 70 hours starting 2020. This change will affect primary school, middle school and high school students. This change will lessen the need to enrol in cram schools. Other improvements will also be made. There will be improvements on subjects and the Japanese Entrance Examinations. All these changes will be made to improve the English skills of students and will give them the ability to compete with other countries.
Vocabulary:
increase – 増える[verb] to (make something) become larger in amount or size
affect – 影響を及ばす [verb] to cause change on someone or something
lessen – 減らす [verb] to make something smaller or less
enrol – 登録する [verb] to sign up; to apply
cram school – 学習塾 [noun] a school that prepares students for university entrance examinations
improvement – 改善する [noun] when something gets better or when you make it better
ability – 能力 [noun] the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something
compete – 競争する [verb] to gain or win something by defeating others
True or False:
- The Japanese Education Ministry will increase English study hours to 70 hours starting 2029.
- This change will affect primary school, middle school and university students.
- This change will increase the need to enroll in cram schools.
- There will be improvements on subjects and the Japanese Entrance Examinations.
- All these changes will be made to improve the English skills of students and will give them the ability to compete with other countries.