TOEFL and Census

Today I was reading a newspaper article about the TOEFL test changes. The most discussed feature was about the new speaking part of the test, saying that many students, especially asians, are afraid of it.

English classes in Asia seems to focus a lot in vocabulary and grammar, but lack conversation practices. As far as I know that is true at least in Japan, where we often hear about Japanese having problems talking in English or any other foreign language. I've met students whose vocabulary may be bigger than mine (not that my English is so good...), but that have problems when talking. The "Engrish", or "katakana-go", helps making things worse.

An interview with a student showed a possible reason for that: sometimes it would be considered unpolite to talk or make questions, so students only listen and take notes (that's another thing that I've noticed here. And not only in English classes...). Then, I wonder, why they study English for? I believe that the goal for studying a language should be "becoming able to communicate with other people who speak that language" or something like that (note there're different levels of communication: academic, chit-chat...), not for passing tests or whatever. I skipped many chances to talk in Japanese while I was studying it in Brazil, and I regret that as I could've come to Japan with better conversation skills. With the speaking part in the TOEIC test I hope that English schools here will adapt themselves and change accordingly, and also that students will be conscious of the importance of practicing conversation.

Ah, well. I know that there's cultural stuff related to this teaching system and things won't change so easily, but it may be a beggining.

And today I recieved the National Census form. Guess I'll become part of Japanese population's statistics for the next years. But it'll take some time to fill that out because I was given the Japanese version handbook. Well... I've got homework...