世論 What Japan Thinks

Over the first 5 days at the start of the New Year, MyVoice surveyed its monitor group to find out their views regarding foreign language learning. 10,504 people successfully completed the survey; 54% were female, 2% in their teens, 19% in their twenties, 40% in their thirties, 26% in their forties, and 13% in their fifties.

Note that putting Q1 and Q3 together we see that around half of the poplation would like to study English but currently aren’t doing anything about it. You may want to cross-reference the results here with a similar survey on English last year, also conducted by MyVoice.

I’m trying to find a way to tie this into the news today that 7 NOVA “English” “teachers” got busted for drugs, but I’m failing miserably.

Q1: What foreign language do you currently most want to study, regardless of whether or not you are currently learning it? (Sample size=10,504)

English	56.2%
Chinese	4.9%
Hangul (Korean)	4.0%
French	2.2%
Spanish	1.6%
Italian	1.4%
German	1.4%
Russian	0.4%
Arabic	0.2%
Other Asian language	0.7%
Other European language	0.4%
Other	0.4%
Not interested in learning foreign languages	26.2%

Q2: For what reasons do you want to study that language? (Sample size=those who want to learn, up to three answers)

For travel-based vocabulary	56.9%
To understand movies or music	32.4%
To talk to foreigners in Japan about everyday things	28.7%
For business conversation	24.7%
To talk overseas about everyday things	20.7%
To read books in original language	10.1%
To be able to understand television or radio broadcasts	9.9%
To be able to read foreign magazines and newspapers	7.7%
To obtain language study qualifications	7.3%
For business letters	5.1%
For letters other than business	3.4%
Other	4.3%
Not decided on any particular objective	9.6%
No answer	0.2%

Q3: What language are you currently learning? If more than one, select the one you are most into. (Sample size=10,504)

English	8.8%
Hangul (Korean)	1.7%
Chinese	1.3%
French	0.7%
German	0.6%
Spanish	0.1%
Italian	0.3%
Russian	0.2%
Arabic	0.1%
Other Asian language	0.3%
Other European language	0.1%
Other	0.2%
Not currently learning anything	75.4%

Q4: How are you studying that language? (Sample size=those currently learning a language, multiple answer)

Television language learning program	21.3%
Radio language learning program	12.1%
Cassette-, CD-based correspondence course	11.8%
Internet site contents or mail magazine	11.3%
Watching films without subtitles	10.8%
Reading foreign-language books, magazines or newspapers	10.3%
Attending language school	9.9%
Listening or viewing to foreign-language television or radio broadcasts	8.6%
Using computer or games machine software	8.4%
Using general language learning books or magazines	8.3%
Using qualification-targeted language learning books or magazines	8.2%
Studying on the internet at home	5.0%
Exchanging postal or electronic mail	4.7%
Attending one-to-one lessons at language school	3.6%
Listening to podcasts	3.5%
Study group with friends	2.9%
Private lessons	2.4%
City-sponsored lessons	2.0%
Studying by video phone at home	1.2%
Going to a foreign language cafe	0.7%
Mobile phone contents	0.7%
Other	10.6%
No particular way	12.6%
No answer	0.6%

Q5: When selecting the methods of studying in Q4, what were the most important points for choosing them? (Sample size=those with a decided study method, up to three answers)

Can study at my own pace	32.8%
Easy to get into	31.2%
Fees are cheap	24.9%
Seems like I can improve my speaking ability	23.2%
Looks like I could continue for a long time	22.4%
Appropriate for my level	18.8%
Appropriate for my objectives	16.5%
Seems like I can improve my reading ability	15.4%
Can choose whatever location to study	11.4%
Suitable day or time	10.0%
Seems like I can improve my writing ability	7.1%
Seems interesting themes or contents	6.1%
Seems like I can improve rapidly	2.2%
Because I’ll be there with friends	2.1%
Teachers or staff are charming	1.7%
Classes or learning materials are top rank	0.9%
Good evaluation from people around me	0.6%
Accepts education benefits or student grant	0.6%
Other	5.0%
Nothing in particular	9.9%
No answer	1.0%