Firstly, the situation of English language education in Japan and characteristics of Japanese when they speak English is explained. According to Sankei newspaper article (2014), English language education in high schools is aiming at acquiring practical English skill. Board of education in Osaka is targeting their English language education as practical and put focus on communication for students to keep up with globalization. Also, they have a goal to increase the number of students who can acquire four skills of English, which is speaking, listening, writing and reading. However, ALC Education Inc. (2006) proved that Japanese people have tendency that they do not speak English well. They divide results of telephone standard speaking test,
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“Uncertainty avoidance” relates these characteristics. Hofstede (1991) explain that “Uncertainty avoidance deals with a society’s tolerance for uncertainty ambiguity. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of uncomfortable or unstructured situations.” Japan is introduced as having much higher level of uncertainty avoidance than those from other countries. For example, people with uncertainty avoidance do not speak English because they are afraid of making mistakes in front of people or they fear the possible negative reaction of peers when they speak imperfect English. This characteristic relates to shyness when Japanese people speak English. Norman (2012) has data that many Japanese university students feel shy. Questions she asked to participants were if students feel themselves shy, and if students feel themselves shy when they speak English. As the result, about 85% of them answered they are very shy or a little shy. In case of when they speak English, over 90% of students answered they are very shy or a little shy. From this research, it is clear that university students feel even shy when they speak
“Uncertainty avoidance” relates these characteristics. Hofstede (1991) explain that “Uncertainty avoidance deals with a society’s tolerance for uncertainty ambiguity. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of uncomfortable or unstructured situations.” Japan is introduced as having much higher level of uncertainty avoidance than those from other countries. For example, people with uncertainty avoidance do not speak English because they are afraid of making mistakes in front of people or they fear the possible negative reaction of peers when they speak imperfect English. This characteristic relates to shyness when Japanese people speak English. Norman (2012) has data that many Japanese university students feel shy. Questions she asked to participants were if students feel themselves shy, and if students feel themselves shy when they speak English. As the result, about 85% of them answered they are very shy or a little shy. In case of when they speak English, over 90% of students answered they are very shy or a little shy. From this research, it is clear that university students feel even shy when they speak