Japan’s attempt at English fluency falls flat

Tokyo – Japan’s all-out effort to improve the English skills has been lost in translation.

The government has canceled plans to introduce English exams from six private organizations, including the widely used Eiken proficiency test, into standardized tests for university admissions.

Japan ranked a feeble 49th among 88 countries and regions in a survey by EF Education First, behind Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, Macao, China and Taiwan, but barely ahead of Indonesia. (Nikkei)