Japanese people study English for over 10 years in junior high, high school, and university, yet when they face a foreigner, the words just won’t come out.
Many foreigners are surprised and wonder, “Why is that?” in such situations.
In fact, when a foreigner I met asked me about the reason,
they said, “Do Japanese schools only teach reading and writing, not conversation?”
When I answered, “No, we do have conversation classes,” they were even more surprised.
In other words, in Japanese education you can learn *English as knowledge*, but there’s an overwhelming lack of opportunities to *practice English you can actually use*.
Why can’t Japanese people speak English?
Japanese school education has been built around “reading, writing, and grammar,” which directly connect to entrance exams and qualification tests.
Since the goal is to get the right answers on tests, conversation takes a back seat.
But in reality, what’s needed is not “perfect grammar” but the *ability to communicate*.
Overseas, even if you make mistakes, speaking confidently is valued.
In Japan, however, the strong feeling of “It’s embarrassing to make a mistake” makes many people avoid practicing out loud.
This cultural background is also a major reason why Japanese people are often said to “not be able to speak English.”
A self-introduction is like your **business card in English**.
At Watausa English, we put special emphasis on *self-introductions*.
This is a very logical approach.
Because conversations in English always begin with a self-introduction.
Your name, where you’re from, or your hobbies—just a few words can open the door wide to conversation.
However, the self-introductions taught in Japanese schools often end with just “My name is 〜.”
That alone doesn’t lead to further conversation.
At Watausa English, instead of memorizing textbook examples, we practice building self-introductions in *your own words*.
By including things like your favorite food, how you spend your days off, or travel stories, your self-introduction naturally flows into a real conversation.
The difference between *school English* and *practical English*
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School English: The goal is to get the right answers on tests. Mistakes are marked as negative.
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Watausa English: As long as you’re understood, it’s OK! Mistakes are part of the learning process.
This difference is huge.
In real conversations, what matters most is not perfect grammar but *conveying your feelings to the other person*.
That’s why here, we welcome the *courage to make mistakes*.
What you can experience at Watausa English
Watausa English is not a place to sit at a desk and memorize vocabulary.
It’s a place to *speak English out loud and actually use it*.
Here are some specific experiences you can have:
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Exchanging self-introductions with once-in-a-lifetime guests
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Exchanging self-introductions with once-in-a-lifetime guests
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No need for perfect grammar❣️ Words and gestures are enough if they get your message across✌️😆
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Through real interactions with foreign guests staying here, you’ll naturally gain confidence❣️
By repeating these activities, the knowledge in your head transforms into *practical English* that flows naturally from your mouth.
Real changes in participants
For example, even though my own English was terrible, after just three weeks of joining Watausa English…
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“Feeling embarrassed to speak English”
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“The high hurdle of approaching foreigners”
I was able to overcome these two things.
When I thought, “I have to say the correct answer,” my mouth would freeze up.
But by switching to, “Let’s just try speaking,” I was able to experience the joy of actually having real conversations❣️
This is a change you could never gain just by studying at a desk in a classroom.
You can speak English without going to school.
To learn English, there’s no need to attend school.
All you need is the *desire to learn* and just a *spark of courage* to join Watausa English.
What you can learn here is not English for exams, but *living English* you can use right away in travel and daily life.
Even if you’ve studied English for years but still struggle to speak…
that’s exactly why you should give Watausa English a try.
Surely, within just a few weeks, you’ll meet a new version of yourself who *can speak English*.
summary
At Watausa English, we provide a fun environment to learn *practical everyday English* with a focus on real interaction.
I myself have also become able to easily start conversations in English with our guests.
In the past, I felt embarrassed, lacked confidence that I’d be understood, and hesitated—
but now I can approach and speak up more and more.
I’m still just squeezing out whatever words I know to try to communicate, but even so, I find it so much more fun to interact than before 🥰
I really want more people to have experiences like this, and I think it would be wonderful if English and interactions with foreigners could become part of everyday life.
Life would surely become even more fun ✨
English isn’t something you master just at a desk—
it’s something you truly learn by *speaking out loud and using it*.
Why not take that first step at Watausa English?
That’s it for today’s article.
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