| Abstract | This talk examines the low level of English speech output among Japanese high school students and explores ways to improve it. Drawing on the metaphor that true swimming skills are learned only by entering the pool, the author argues that actual speaking practice is essential beyond knowledge-based learning. Based on business experience in Asia, the author observed that non-Japanese Asian speakers use English more actively than Japanese speakers, a tendency supported by prior research (Ishikawa, 2016).
To address this issue, two extracurricular activities were implemented: online exchanges with Indonesian high school students via Zoom and AI-based English conversation practice using a language learning app. Analysis of surveys and speech records revealed that Indonesian students could sustain conversation using simple expressions and had more speaking opportunities in regular classes. Japanese students, through these activities, began producing follow-up sentences beyond single responses, increasing total speech volume.
The study emphasizes that while fluency and accuracy matter, sufficient speech volume is a prerequisite for improving quality. The author proposes AI conversation and topic-based exchanges with Asian peers as effective training methods. Future plans include expanding activities and quantitatively measuring spoken word counts. |
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