[Mao]

Thank you Kerin!

I have been a bit busy at work.

I will look it through and correct on my own.

[Mao]

There are numerous accents in Japan even though these are quite similar to each other. A snobbery also exists among those. There are two on top of a hierarchy, the Tokyo accent (standard) and the Osaka accent. The others are found as dialect and take the piss out of those who speak them. Therefore, they always hide their accent and speak the Tokyo accent as though they are from Tokyo.

People understand the Tokyo accent is standard and regard with respect seen as official news in Japan always use it or children in school are taught how to speak it and read stories in Japanese class with that accent.

Then why Osaka accent has such prestige? I think because of the unique characteristics of the people in addition to the strong accent as if they are quarreling. Since I am from Osaka and came to Tokyo for a univ degree, most of my friends from Tokyo asked me to speak the Osaka accent. I have never turned the request down but speak with confidence as it is the best accent in the world. It is apparent that people from Osaka in Tokyo are so stubborn (sticky to the accent) that they never fail to be assimilated to Tokyo accent at all. That is an indicator for me to distinguish those who are from my hometown (Osaka) and the others.

[Mao]

Thanks for your deliberate corrections!

I will review them and recorrect!

[Mao]

Before arguing the following points, the scene of Chinese shouting out loud was terrifying me. I even didn’t know how enthusiastic Chinese youth are to learning English.

For the discussion questions, I find mania sounds more positive connotation to me in the way that people are spontaneously into something excessively. In this way, I disagree with the identification of Mr.Walker with Chinese as English mania. It is more like forced brainwash which restricts students mind from interest-driven learning, but push them learning English as an obligation by using propaganda. In this sense, authentic English mania is the one who has engaged to learn English as their hobby or based on their interest, and massively passionate about learning it.

Why English? Because it is spoken by a largest number of races and that results in the most opportunities to have jobs, money, information and other tremendous benefits followed. However, these days Chinese has significantly grown its economy and been tapping into the world market. Japan, for example, use to place English as the first priority of the second language to be evaluated at job interview though, nowadays those who can speak Chinese also have a privilege to be hired by company. This tendency is projected to be increased and Chinese demand may overtake English during the coming decade.

I don’t think English mania will sweep out the other local languages. With the premise of patriotism and value own culture, people will intend to make a balance of the local language and the other language. Japanese are divided into two categories; one prompts teaching English at earlier age and the other insists no Japanese acquisition, no English to be taught. Same as China, Japanese school teaches English from Grade3, which used to be from Secondary school when I was a kid. Year by year, the starting period of learning English has been earlier. Therefore, there is a critical discussion over the decade in period of teaching English. However, sooner or later, English will be compulsory at the infant age, such as 1-2 years old and people will now discuss to how to preserve as the level of a native language as people in the past several decades.

[Mao]

Thank you Kerin for your comment.

I will look up what you pointed out! 🙂

[Mao]

Thank you Kerin.
I checked all the correction and deepened my understanding in these words.
I will make a good use of them!