do japanese learn english from an early age, or is this just incorrect info i've obtained?

i've heard that most japanese children get english classes (some from the age of 4).

just a question

I am not sure, but I do know that it is a required language to learn in most japanese schools, I am in japan, and it really pisses me off when someone asks a japanese girl do they speak english (know that they do) and have them reply in plain english "I do not speak english"

I also heard that even though they get at early age, they suck at english (pardon my french) , and that they nearly molest people (foreigners that is), for they are craving for the correct english pronunciation. I think this is mainly because their teachers are japanese thmeselves, and do not know (or not enough) how to pronounce certain words, and it is also due the tongue of the japanese. They do not use the same sounds in their language as english. This is not a criticism, for i myself am studying japanology at his moment.

japanese english speaking seem like not saying word order correct way.

anyway, i think you're right about most japanese aren't good at speaking english. i've never seen/heard a native japanese speak english well like i've seen other asians such as chinese (in media/entertainment that is).

really i thought that it was not required in schools until later, but right now i heard that there are alot of out of college students that are being hired by the japanese govt to work as english teachers in various schools in japan. i heard the program is really good.

Yeah, I think that my friend Daymon is doing the same thing, he is taking college in the states, but he said that he was comeing over here to japan in a couple of months to be a teacher.

dunno bout the nation itself, but the japanese gamers i play with are as bad as english as korean gamers

filipinos have different word order than english language, but i dont notice them getting order confused, i wonder why? but there is this properness feeling and accent in filipino english! i think its kinda cute, "kindly pass the remote control" "i just dont know"

out of topic but i doesn't matter what kind of accent you have, if you were born with so what can you do, you don't have to copy others just to communicate properly why not just be yourself.

yeah, simple ones...

English Language is mandatory is Japan starting in the first grade of Junior High School. English is also taught in High School, but High School is voluntary [though slightly over 90% of graduating Junior high students go on to study in High School].

Currently English is being taught in Elementary school [I teach elementary school English here in Japan]. However it is in a preliminary
stage and is taught as "sogo" class, or general studies.

The atmosphere about English in Elementary school is mixed around Japan and so the B.O.E has yet to establish a standard. Therefore English Lesson plans are left soley to homeroom teachers. Most of the teachers are clueless about how to incorporate English in their general studies class held once a month.

Aside, their is no pass fail for Japanese students during their required schooling: Elementary 1st to 6th grade and Junior High 1st to 3rd grade. So unless the students really like English/their teacher/AET etc., the students usually sleep/skip/draw/write notes or do another class' homework.

Don't you just love the "NO PASS/FAIL" system!

look at it from a Cultural perspective. alot of the times ppl speaking different languages might translate the words they wanna say litterally.

But when you translate them word fo word in your head and say them out, it wont be gramatically correct.

Yes, some parents want their children to learn English at an early stage in life to give them an advantage in the future. There are many schools that offer English courses to children from 6months - 11 years. However, the baby classes to around 10 year olds has experienced kind of a "Boom" the last year or so.
Now Nova has, NOVA KIDS. ECC, with ECC KIDS.

very true....it's all about the syntax!
pronounciation comes second; being understood is more important than perfecting the accent IMO