Japan: Racy approach to English picks up speed

[Francis Hult]

The Japan Times

 

Racy approach to English picks up speed

 

As a kid, Wilson wanted to be an entertainer, a writer or a movie producer. Forty years later, he finds himself doing all these things, and is pretty happy about it. "Gaigo.TV's not a full-time project for either of us. Rather we see it as a chance to help people with their English." 

 

Such altruism is commendable. But what about the product, which shows English being taught by attractive young women in various stages of undress? 

 

"English teaching is boring," Wilson says, "Not all, but a lot. Japanese spend seven years learning the language as an academic exercise and most will say they left school hating English. Also a lot of the eikawa chains here are motivated purely by profit. Which is why we ask, why can't learning English be fun?" 

 

A keen observer of trends in education and entertainment, he decided to bring the two together in a highly original - if controversial - way. 

 

Full story:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080126a1.html

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