新聞社設の教育的価値

Educational Value of Newspaper Editorials

This paper considers the value of newspaper editorials in Japanese language education in present-day Japan. The number of foreign nationals working in Japan has been increasing due to social changes. Recently, more and more Korean students have been getting employed in Japan. Unlike the past, where it was harder for foreigners to work in Japan, more and more Japanese companies are saying that if foreigners can speak Japanese, they can succeed in their job. The standard is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which most companies require their applicants to take, with the minimum requirement of Level 1. Some companies say that Level 2 would be sufficient for their jobs. This, however, does not mean that those students who posses the Level 1 certificate are guaranteed to obtain a job in Japan. If you have only passed Level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, you may not be able to find a job. In interviews with students, some companies use newspaper editorials, asking questions about politics and economics. Based on the above points, the purpose of this article is to examine the value of newspaper editorials as educational materials.