[NOTE Series | Parent's Future Strategy Newsletter] Vol. 14: The Reason Why the Anxiety of "I'm Paying for English Lessons but Still Worried" Never Goes Away | Reverse Engineering from Age 22 That Parents Should Consider
Hello.
This is the NEXT2035 editorial department.
This time, based on an article recently sent out in our newsletter by one of the NEXT2035 organizers,
Chikako Dean, we would like to think about
"English education" and "future planning" that support a child's future.
When it comes to English education, we tend to focus on
"how much they can do right now."
Eiken grade level
How many words they have memorized
English conversation school attendance
International school enrollment
Whether they can speak like a native
Of course, visible results are also important.
But when thinking about a child's future, is that really enough?
If you look at English education as "dots," you will get lost.
What is important is not just looking at the results right in front of you, but viewing them as a
"line" that connects to the child's future.
This time, we will consider the "design ability to support a child's future" that NEXT2035 values, from the perspective of
English education and career development.
What is the purpose of English education?
English is not just a school subject.
Of course, it relates to school grades and entrance exams. There are also visible results like Eiken and certifications.
But essentially, English is a
tool to expand life's options.

Connecting with people overseas. Accessing information. Conveying your own thoughts. Expanding the range of places to work and people to interact with.
Thinking about it that way, English education is not something that ends with "what grade level you achieved."
Rather, what is important is
Using that English,
what kind of future will your child be able to choose?
Isn't it worth considering up to that point?
Imagining your child at 22
At NEXT2035, when thinking about children's education, we value looking not just at the 'now,' but at the near future.
For example, age 22.
Around the time they graduate from university. Around the time they start entering society. It is the time when they begin to choose their career path and way of working more concretely.
What kind of person would you like your child to be at that time?
Being able to speak English. Having an academic background. Holding certifications.
Those are, of course, important too.
But even more than that,
🌟 knowing their own strengths
🌟 being able to choose an environment that suits them
🌟 having the ability to interact with others
🌟 even if they fail, being able to think of another path
🌟 having the means to connect with society
These kinds of skills will become increasingly important in the coming era.
Do not pit dreams against reality
When a child has a dream, parents sometimes feel conflicted.
I want to support them.
But I also want them to look at reality.
I want to let them do what they love. But I also want them to consider a path where they won't struggle in the future.
In this way, we tend to think in terms of a binary choice: 'Should I support their dream?' or 'Should I make them look at reality?'
But in reality, I believe
dreams and reality do not have to be in conflict.
What is important is,
Pursuing dreams while also designing reality.

For example, among the students Chikako is currently working with, there is
a child aiming for the world of entertainment.
They have been learning English since the 5th grade of elementary school and are
currently in their 3rd year of junior high school.
In their 2nd year of junior high, they had the dream of
“I want to become an idol” and auditioned on their own.
And now,
they are active as an apprentice in an idol group.
They have clear strengths.
🌟 Can stand in front of people
🌟 Loves to express themselves
🌟 Has the power to attract people
🌟 Has the courage to take on challenges
🌟 Can communicate well
This is a valuable skill even in the AI era.
Instead of denying that dream,
we are thinking about it in combination with English.
Rather than just aiming to be an idol,
they are aiming to be an “idol who can connect with the world through English.” They can interact with overseas fans.
They can communicate in English.
They can convey their thoughts at overseas events.
Even with the same dream,
by adding English as a tool,
the way the future expands changes significantly.
You don't have to bet everything on one path.
What is needed in the coming era is not just betting everything on one path.
Rather,
it is an era where having multiple possibilities
leads to a child's peace of mind.
is.
Entertainment, English, customer service, Japanese culture, technology, and communication skills.
By multiplying several strengths,
future options will expand.
Even if one thing doesn't go well,
you can connect with other strengths.
I think of this design as a
“spiderweb-style career.”
A spiderweb is not made of just a single thread.
Because many threads are connected,
even if a part is cut, the whole can still be supported.
A child's career is the same.
One dream.
One school.
One qualification.
One correct answer.
Instead of relying only on that,
connecting multiple experiences and strengths.
Wouldn't that be a great support for children living in an era of great change?
The reason why people get lost in English education
Many families get lost in English education.
They attended English conversation school.
They took Eiken tests.
They bought teaching materials.
They spent money on education.
And yet,
"What will this lead to in the future?"
the anxiety never goes away.
The reason for this is that,
even though you are working hard on individual "dots,"
they may not be designed as a "line."
✅ Early childhood: Sense of security and self-esteem
✅ Elementary school: Curiosity and study habits
✅ Adolescence: Self-understanding and identity
✅ High school: Career path and career design
And
at age 22, connecting with society.
Looking at it this way,
we can see that English education does not exist in isolation, but is connected to
the child's entire life.
What parents need is design ability, not pre-emptive action.
Parents cannot decide everything in their child's life.

In fact, if you decide too much,
it can become harder for the child to develop the ability to choose for themselves.
But there are things parents can do.
That is,
not being swayed by information, but
looking at the child's future together.
Do not judge based only on current grades.
Do not compare them too much with other children.
Think about their strengths and what they love in a way that connects to their future.
And,
no matter what situation they are in,
nurture multiple threads
so that they can connect with society somewhere.
I believe this is the
parental "design ability"needed for the coming era.
At NEXT2035, we will continue to provide perspectives
that help children choose their own future,
from the angles of education, career, money, and global education.
Like this time,
"How to think about English education"
"How to connect a child's dreams with reality"
"How to cultivate the skills needed for the future"
We deliver such themes via ournewsletter.
If you would like to receive information as soon as possible,
please register for our newsletter below ^^
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at the time of distribution.
Thank you for reading until the end.
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