english language

Foreign English teacher in Japan calls student’s ability garbage, says it was an “American joke”

Teacher reprimanded for inappropriate remarks towards junior high school student.

Read More

English-speaking-only bar opens in Osaka and Tokyo, yellow cards for those who don’t follow rules

Bar Sick! is only open to English speakers.

Read More

How do you say ‘Google it, you trash’ in British English? Answer surprises many in Japan

People in Kyoto and England have more in common than previously thought. 

Read More

Japanese netizens give their thoughts on how English has changed the meaning of “senpai”

The new usage has even made Japanese news.

Read More

Engrish sign at the Tokyo Olympics turns out to be hilariously accurate

One of those times when an English mistake ends up expressing everyone’s true feelings.

Read More

This isn’t the type of self-service they were meaning.

Read More

Sapporo decides to sell new Japanese beer with English mistake on label

Spelling error looks set to make this uncancelled release a hot new collectors’ item.

Read More

English mistake on new Japanese beer leads to suspension of sales before its release

Exciting Family Mart and Sapporo beer collaboration goes straight in the can after the error was discovered.

Read More

English ad in Japan has some seeing a command to stay infected with coronavirus this Christmas

Department store chain wants to show concern for shoppers’ mental wellbeing, but some see a message of doom for their physical health.

Read More

Japanese student’s “drug dealer” English gaffe confuses foreign ALT

Assistant Language Teacher quickly learns that Japanese doesn’t always translate properly into English.

Read More

“We wasted so much time in English class” — Japanese Twitter user points out major teaching flaw

One simple chart could have made all the difference.

Read More

Say hello to the Four Heavenly Kings of Center Listening.

Read More

Japanese anime girl virtual YouTuber also speaks perfect English!【Video】

Virtual idol Sakura Fujima stands out from the pack with a voice that sounds familiar…

Read More

20 percent of Japanese junior high students score a zero on nationwide English writing test

Government test reveals huge gap in proficiency of third-year middle schoolers.

Read More

Japanese book “nekotan” teaches foreign language the best way possible: by talking about cats

Because cats are the true universal language.

Read More

“Don’t worry, he is a docile pervert” and other useful phrases in Japanese and English

Get ready to impress/terrify your Japanese friends!

Read More

Top 10 English vocabulary words for 2015 according to users of Japanese online dictionary Weblio

To coincide with Japan’s annual “Kanji of the Year” event, which reveals the mood of 2015 with a Chinese character, popular online dictionary site Weblio asked its Japanese users to nominate an “English vocabulary word of the Year”. The top ten results provide a unique insight into the hot topics of interest in Japan in 2015.

Read More

The science behind why English speakers can’t pronounce the Japanese “fu”

Learning a foreign language is hard. Even if you master all the vocabulary and grammar, there’s still no guarantee that you’ll ever achieve a native-like accent. For Japanese learners of English, differentiating between the “l” and “r” sounds and pronouncing the “th” sound correctly can be tricky them no matter how many years they’ve been practicing.

But have you ever wondered what it’s like the other way around? What sounds do we English speakers make that sound strange when we speak Japanese? Well it turns out the sound that we mess up the most is one you might not have expected: “fu”.

Read More