少子高齢化問題について話してみよう

Talking about the problems of an aging population and a low birth rate
外国人の友人と日本の少子高齢化問題について話しています。
少子高齢化は日本の大きな社会問題のひとつです。自分の考えを分かりやすく簡潔に伝えられるように、接続詞などやディスコースマーカーなどの表現をうまく織り交ぜて会話できるように練習しましょう。
How do you think Japan can address the issues of an aging population and a low birth rate?
 
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How do you think Japan can address the issues of an aging population and a low birth rate?

To address the problem of a low birth rate and an aging society, I think that it's important for the Japanese government to encourage companies to accept foreign workers.
In my opinion, the route cause of this problem is unsuitable economy. That's because constant income is not expected, the marriage rate and the birthrate decreases, and the lack of a workforce due to reducing children causes a stagnant economy.
To escape from this vicious cycle, the government should encourage Japanese companies to hire foreign workers.

自然な表現

To address the problem of a low birth rate and an aging society, I think that it's important for the Japanese government to encourage companies to accept foreign workers.
In my opinion, the route cause of this problem is the unsuitable economy. That's because constant income is not expected, the marriage rate and the birthrate decreases, and the lack of a workforce due to reducing children causes a stagnant economy.
To escape from this vicious cycle, the government should encourage Japanese companies to hire foreign workers.

1. We use the definite article when there is only one of something or when we are referring to a particular thing.
Encouraging companies to hire foreign workers is a key step. What policies do you believe the government should prioritize for effective implementation?

I believe that critical thinking skills are indispensable for working with foreign workers because different people have different opinions, so it's important to have a lot of perspectives to communicate with them effectively. The government should raise people's awareness to have opportunities to interact with people who have different cultural backgrounds.
Moreover, Ability to manipulate English is also necessary for effective communication with foreign workers. Therefore, the government should prioritize to introduce the kindergarten education in English. That's because the way of effective learning English is to begin studying it at as early stage of development as possible.

自然な表現

I believe that critical thinking skills are indispensable for working with foreign workers because different people have different opinions, so it's important to have a lot of perspectives to communicate with them effectively. The government should raise people's awareness to have opportunities to interact with people who have different cultural backgrounds.
Moreover, ability to manipulate English is also necessary for effective communication with foreign workers. Therefore, the government should prioritize introducing    kindergarten education in English. That's because the way of effective Engligh learning    is to begin studying it at as an early stage of development as possible.

1. Not wrong, but old-fashioned and formal. IN ADDITION would be more usual here.
2. No capital letter required. It is not a proper noun.
3. We use the present simple tense for something that is generally true or permanent, habits and facts. We use the present continuous for something that is happening now or around the time of speaking, or that is temporary.
4. We use the definite article when there is only one of something or when we are referring to a particular thing.
5, 6. The name of the subject comes first.
7. You must use an article (or a word like ‘my’, ‘his’ etc) before a singular countable noun.
Interesting suggestions! How might these changes affect Japan's international relations and cultural diversity in addition to addressing the aging population and low birth rate issues?

Early English education may promote cultural diversity as a result of many foreign teachers coming to Japan, and it has definitely good effects on Japanese society. However, there may be some disadvantages, such as a lot of Japanese who can speak English move to and work in foreign countries. This would be a completely reversal of the original plan. Finding a balance between maintaining workforce at home and promoting English education is very difficult for Japan.

自然な表現

Early English education may promote cultural diversity as a result of many foreign teachers coming to Japan, and it    definitely has good effects on Japanese society. However, there may be some disadvantages, such as a lot of Japanese who can speak English moving to and working in foreign countries. This would be a complete reversal of the original plan. Finding a balance between maintaining the workforce at home and promoting English education is very difficult for Japan.

1, 2. This adverb usually comes before the verb.
3, 4. We use the present simple tense for something that is generally true or permanent, habits and facts. We use the present continuous for something that is happening now or around the time of speaking, or that is temporary.
5. Adjective required.
6. We use the definite article when there is only one of something or when we are referring to a particular thing.
What are the reasons why some Japanese people who can speak English might choose to move to and work in foreign countries?

In my opinion, the reason is that in globalizing society, the younger generation seek more opportunities outside Japan to interact with people who have different cultural back grounds.
However, I wonder if this opinion includes my hope, and such disadvantages may be unfounded.
I think that some Japanese people still has so-called "sakoku" spirits, which means that Japanese people tend to hang out only with Japanese people, even outside Japan. I hope that such a current situation will be changed in the near future.

自然な表現

In my opinion, the reason is that in our globalizing society, the younger generation is seeking more opportunities outside Japan to interact with people who have different cultural backgrounds.
However, I wonder if this opinion reflects my hope, and such concerns may be unfounded.
I think that some Japanese people still have so-called "sakoku" spirits, which means that Japanese people tend to hang out only with Japanese people, even outside Japan. I hope that such a current situation will    change in the near future.

1. You need to explain WHO this refers to.
2. Not wrong, but the past participle adjective GLOBALIZED might be better here, as many people think that this process is well underway, and even complete in many places.
3, 4. We use the present simple tense for something that is generally true or permanent, habits and facts. We use the present continuous for something that is happening now or around the time of speaking, or that is temporary.
5. One word.
6. We usually use REFLECT with something intangible.
7. Refers to YOUR worries.
8. Normally in the present tense we add 's' to the end of the verb in the 3rd person (He, She, It).
9, 10. The active form is more appropriate here, as it will probably happen organically.
How do you think this cultural mindset might be changed to encourage more interaction with people from different cultural backgrounds, both within and outside Japan?

Do you think there might be any other contributing factors to the low birth rate and aging society in Japan that need to be addressed alongside the initiatives you've suggested?

As for your first question, if society changes, our cultural mindset might be changed over time. The Internet is a good example. Only 30 years ago, ordinary people couldn't imagine that the advent of such a borderless world. Online network makes communications across the countries common occurrence. Thus, time will tell.
As for your second question, I think so. Changing gender role in Japan might be another contributing factor to them. More women have become to pursue high education and their career. To resolve the problem, incentivizing for having children might not be ineffective, although it has many problems.

自然な表現

As for your first question, if society changes, our cultural mindset might be changed over time. The Internet is a good example. Only 30 years ago, ordinary people couldn't imagine    the advent of such a borderless world. Online networks make communications across    countries a common occurrence. Thus, time will tell.
As for your second question, I think so. Changing gender roles in Japan might be another contributing factor to them. More women have started to pursue higher education and their careers. To resolve the problem, incentivizing for having children might not be ineffective, although it has many problems.

1. Not a relative clause.
2, 5, 8. General point.
3. We use the definite article when there is only one of something or when we are referring to a particular thing.
4. You must use an article (or a word like ‘my’, ‘his’ etc) before a singular countable noun.
6. BECOME requires an adjective.
7. Comparative required.
  • decline(衰える、下降する)
  • exceed(超える、上回る)
  • gray(灰色の、白髪の)
  • maintain(維持する)
  • uncharted(未知の)
  • shortfall(不足)
  • immigration(移民)
  • fertility(受胎(生殖)能力)
  • aged((形)年とった、熟成した (名)老人)
  • decipherable(解読できる)
  • The reasons for Japan's current population crisis are very easy to see.(日本の現在の人口危機の理由はとてもわかりやすいものです。)
  • Increased education seems to be a dominant factor in Japan's declining birth rate.(教育の高まりが、日本の出生率低下の主要な原因となっているようだ。)
  • Japan's birth rate continues to plummet despite the government's attempts at providing incentives to young families.(政府が若い家庭に特権を与えようとしているにもかかわらず、日本の出生率は急落し続けている。)
  • Studies show that Japanese young people have less interest in dating.(日本の若者は、異性と付き合うことに以前より興味が減っているという研究結果が出ている。)
  • If Japan's death rate continues to outnumber its birth rate, the population of Japan will be less than 100 million in 2050.(もしも日本の死亡率が出生率を越えることが続けば、日本の人口は2050年に1億人以下となるでしょう。)
  • More and more young people seem to be delaying marriage these days.(近年、より多くの若者の婚期が遅くなっているようだ。)
  • More Japanese women are taking advantage of economic opportunities and are choosing careers over having children.(経済的な機会を利用して、子供を産むことよりもキャリアを選ぶ日本女性が増えています。)
  • A labor shortage may force Japan to ease its restrictions on immigration.(労働力不足により、日本は移民規制を緩和しなければならないかもしれない。)
  • Japan's looming demographic disaster will have profound economic, social, and political repercussions.(日本に迫り来る人口動態の大惨事は、経済的、社会的、政治的に深刻な影響を及ぼすだろう。)
  • One of the economic consequences of a low birth rate is that there will be fewer younger people paying for the national pension program.(少子化による経済的な影響の一つとして、国民年金を支払う若年層が少なくなることが挙げられます。)

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