Why Many Japanese People Can’t Speak English
Many people are surprised by this: Japanese students study English for many years, but only a small percentage can actually speak it. Some reports say that only around 7–10% of the population can communicate in English.
So why does this happen?
I am Japanese, and I experienced this myself. I started learning English when I was very young. I went to an English conversation school in kindergarten. Later, I even had a private English tutor for six years during junior high and high school.
But I still couldn’t speak English.
English Education Is Focused on Tests
In Japan, English education is mainly for exams.
Students spend a lot of time on:
- Grammar
- Vocabulary memorization
- Long reading passages
These skills are important, but speaking is almost never practiced. In my school, we rarely had a chance to speak English in class. Most lessons were in Japanese, even in English class.
So we can read and write, but we don’t know how to speak.
There Are Few Chances to Use English
Even if students study English for years, they don’t use it in real life.
Many people only use English:
- In school
- For exams
Some students study abroad and improve their speaking skills. But after they return to Japan, they often don’t have many chances to use English again. Without practice, it is easy to forget.
Perfectionism and Fear of Mistakes
I think this is the biggest reason.
In Japanese education, we are often taught to aim for 100%. If we get 95 points on a test, teachers focus on the 5 points we missed.
Because of this, many people feel:
- “Mistakes are bad”
- “I should not speak until I am perfect”
But language doesn’t work like that. You cannot become perfect without using it.
So many people feel afraid. They want to speak, but they don’t. And over time, they lose confidence.
My Experience
Even after many years of studying English, I couldn’t speak at all.
One time, I took a level test at an English school. I couldn’t say anything. I felt so frustrated and sad that I cried.
Looking back, it was natural. I had never practiced speaking.
But at that school, I met kind teachers from the UK and the US. They always told me, “You’re doing fine. Just be confident.”
Slowly, my fear of speaking English disappeared. I started to feel, “I want to speak more.”
That was a big turning point for me.
A Message to You
If you are interested in Japan and want to be friends with Japanese people, please remember this:
Some Japanese people may not be able to speak English well. But it doesn’t mean they don’t want to communicate.
They might:
- Feel nervous
- Be afraid of making mistakes
- Lack confidence
If possible, try to be patient and kind. Sometimes, writing messages can be easier than speaking. Starting as pen pals (or online friends) can be a great first step.
If you accept their imperfect English, you might find a wonderful friend.
Final Thoughts
This article is based on my personal experience, but I believe many Japanese people feel the same.
We studied English for many years. But we were not taught how to use it with confidence.
Now, I am learning again — this time, by actually using English.
And I am finally starting to enjoy it.
Click here to read my introduction.
