C1 Talk like a gaijin

The government hopes to boost the economy with English lessons

English-speakers are much less common in Japan than in most rich, globalised countries. In 2015 Japan’s average score in the TOEFL, a popular test of proficiency for non-native speakers, was 71 out of 120, lower than in all East Asian countries except Laos and Cambodia. Companies seeking English-speakers tend to look for people who studied or grew up abroad, on the assumption that locally schooled candidates will not cut the mustard.

http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21705853-government-hopes-boost-economy-english-lessons-talk-gaijin