Middle-aged and elderly flock to English conversation courses

By Masato Inoue

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Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

buddha4brains at 04:57 PM JST - 20th May

Gee what a bunch of ungrateful whiners. If you hate your life that much, change jobs.

As for myself, I welcome to be re-acquainted with former students as we swoosh down memory lane and catch up on what the kids and grandkids are doing.

If they can't learner what I can't teach, but we're happy, then all is well.
Ultradude at 05:01 PM JST - 20th May

Not whining and not a teacher, pudding for brains. If you've been teaching eikaiwa as long as you make it sound maybe you can share ideas about dentures and daipers with your returning students.
buddha4brains at 05:11 PM JST - 20th May

Well duh ultradude, that was my point. Dentures and diapers can also be discussed.

And if you are not a teacher then obviously I was not referring to you.

Anyway, nice to know there will be work in my "golden" years.
fingerless at 05:41 PM JST - 20th May

Yes, when the husband finally comes home after 40 years of life in an office the thought of foreign travel somehow seems so much more appealing.
KitsuneYoukai at 11:03 PM JST - 20th May

I think it's Great!!!! They are retired and doing what they want to do. I can only wish that I have the same energy and love of life to learn somehting new and travel at that age. There is a couple in Edogawa that was recommended to me on my first trip to Japan to help me get oriented to Tokyo and I must say they are womderful. So full of energy and treated me like a daughter. Now, everytime I go I make it a point to let them know so that I can see them. Ohkado-san speaks good english and loves to stay in practice so he enjoys my visits.
ka_chan at 12:01 AM JST - 21st May

It's never too late to learn or relearn. It you don't use it (your brain), you will loose it. So doing something new with your gray matter will help keep you young. Those who went to school in the 50s-70s probably had a better instruction in all subject compared to today. I do people who where in high school around Showa 20 that can speak and understand English better than now. They did go to Seitoku, I think recently they changed names to Shimokitazawa Seitoku. The old uniforms were better too. To me it is amazing that students who have taken English from middle school thru High School still can't speak English. That many years of a foreign language should make you close to fluent but then I guess it's depends on the instructor and Japan is zenophobic.
illsayit at 12:09 AM JST - 21st May

Some ladies I know are interested in other languages, besides English, too
unseemingly at 07:08 AM JST - 21st May

One good thing about teaching the grayyies is that their memories last for about a month. Therefore, you really onkly need one good month's worth of preparation, and you are ready. I welcome more of them to my class. Especially the one's with serious memory problems
yamecha at 10:06 AM JST - 21st May

I have been teaching English conversation in Japan for over 10 years. I think that the rate at which someone increases their fluency in English is a function of their motivation, memory, and fearlessness in making mistakes. I think students main study should be at home (outside of class). The one hour a week in class should be an aid to students, not the main part of their studies. More hours spent studying will definitely help. Traveling abroad and meeting foreigners definitely helps with the motivation factor. A good teacher always motivates and praises his/her students in class. A focus on reviewing the material and practicing natural spoken English (not just working from a book) are also key I believe. Of course rapport between teacher and student is incredibly important. Even with the best teacher if rapport is not there teaching is not as effective as it can be. Whether young or old it is important for the teacher to teach keeping in mind the students potential... which really is unlimited i believe. if you have any comments or advice about teaching English i would love to hear from you... johnshiomi@hotmail.com
cleo at 10:08 AM JST - 21st May

I welcome more of them to my class. Especially the one's with serious memory problems

Save's you having to remember where to put all tho'se pe'sky apostrophe's, right?
RedMeatKoolAid at 01:20 PM JST - 21st May

Middle- and old-aged Japanese are the ones studying English. So this is the group that convinces the people on this website that Barack Hussein Obama is Amerika's next president.
zzonkerr at 05:06 PM JST - 21st May

UnagiDon is right - we need to know if you can date the students.
KitsuneYoukai at 04:32 AM JST - 22nd May

yamecha...I think you have a very good idea on how to teach your students. Although it is a good idea to continue studying outside the class room without, without that 2nd person interaction for feedback you really don't know how well your're doing. I'm currently learning Japanese and sometimes I do well and at times not. Perhaps some of the students in your classes might consider getting together for coffee/tea, lunch, or dinner from time to time and practice what they've learned in class with one another. I think that will boost their confidence and ability to speak the language.
nimbus at 05:00 AM JST - 23rd May

zzonkerr - unlike the younger ones, these students most likely know how to cook. Bonus!!!
KaptainKichigai at 10:32 PM JST - 28th May

how do you teach conversation? I thought you just had them.