世論 What Japan Thinks

With the Nova bunny finally succumbing to myxomatosis last year, there has been a good number of people with nowhere to learn English. So, this recent survey from JR Tokai Express Research Inc and reported on by japan.internet.com regarding studying English conversation looks at if people might be interested in virtually learning the language.

Demographics

On the 29th of March 2008 330 members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor panel employed in either public or private industry completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 77.9% of the sample was male, 12.4% in their twenties, 41.2% in their thirties, 34.5% in their forties, 10.3% in their fifties, and 1.5% in their sixties.

English conversation differs from actual English language study, as it is based on the theory that if you sit a Japanese person beside an English speaker, there will be a miraculous transfer of the contents of the victim’s wallet language abilities. There are of course a few good schools and teachers, but the mass market companies are not much more than social clubs for both the students and teachers.

Research results

Q1: Have you ever studied English conversation? (Sample size=330)

Have studied	45.5%
Currently studying	5.2%
Never studied	49.4%

Q2: Are you interested in using Skype or a web camera, etc to study English conversation? (Sample size=330)

Yes	27.3%
No	55.2%
Don’t know	17.6%

Q3: Are you interested in using the Second Life virtual world to study English conversation? (Sample size=330)

Yes	13.9%
No	62.4%
Don’t know	23.6%

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