【英語学習】変わるぞ！にっぽんの英語 (English Version)　Interview with Genki English

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◆◆INDEX◆◆-1- What is Genki English about? & Advice for Japanese learners of English -2- Your initial impressions of Japanese English Education? & Japanese Education has improved? -3- More about Genki English

◆◆What is Genki English about?◆◆

(Kawamoto): So, first question, what made you decide to start Genki English?

Richard Graham

▼Posting Materials to a Website

(Richard): I started teaching at elementary school and was told to teach "Kokusairikai" and English. But there were no materials, so I had to make them myself. Then I started doing teaching workshops and I ended up with a big pile of papers I used to hand out to people, which was too much stuff.　So I put those on a website so when I was doing teaching training I simply gave out the website address and then things just went on from there. People started using the website from all over the country. I put more and more things on there.

Will Jasprizza

▼Taking It On Tour

(Will): Following on from what Richard said, I was in the same position. Elementary school - no materials - so I took the same approach, making things fun. At the end of JET, Richard said, "I've got these songs, I've made up these songs... Let's do something with it." I thought it was a great idea. I tried those songs at my school, and then we thought "Let's take it around the country." It was a good idea, a good chance, and I said "Yeah, okay, let's do it."


◆◆Advice for Japanese learners of English◆◆

(Kawamoto): What advice would you give to Japanese learners of English?

▼If You Think You Can Do It, You Can Do It!

(Richard): Realize that it's just English. It's something that's easy, that millions of people do everyday. No problem. If you think you can do it, you can do it. "Dekiru, dekiru, dekiru to Omoeba... DEKIRU!!"

▼Just Speak English!

(Will): Speak English. Find something you like doing and do it in English. Make it fun and you'll want to do it. If you want to actually do English don't think "I'm going to sit with a book and write and stuff" - go out and talk to people. It's more fun. Actually USE English and you'll enjoy it more and then you'll want to learn more.

（Kawamoto): When you don't know how to speak English, what would you do?

▼Taking Baby Steps

(Will): You throw yourself in. For example, say you spoke no English, and you had to order some food, what would you do? You'd point, you'd make a sound like "mooooo......"

[Laughter]

(Will): You'd do anything to communicate and then the other person would say "Ah, cow!" or "beef." You'd do anything and then when you communicated you'd go "I did it! I communicated!" And you'd feel really good. "OK, I know one word." And the next time you can go "bwack bwack bwack" (imitating a chicken) and learn the word for chicken. Somehow you'll communicate. Don't be scared. Just try it.

(Richard): I've got a good quote for you. I think it was Picasso who said, "Everyday I do things I can't do, so that I may learn how　to do them."