The Junior High School Entrance Exam Craze Isn’t Boosting Vocabulary Skills… Kids Who Use “Egu” to Describe Everything: “Language Skills That Can Be Developed Through Video Games”
Following on from [Part 1], let’s take a closer look at the reality of children’s declining vocabulary. In recent years, there has been a growing number of children who describe everything using words like “yabai,” “egui,” and “kishoi.” Children who can only use crude language tend to resort to such extreme terms even when discussing important matters that should be considered with nuanced language.
However, saying “yabai” when opinions clash with friends doesn’t solve anything. Saying “egui” when praising someone doesn’t convey anything either. As a result, they struggle to get along with those around them.
The book *Children Who Can’t “Communicate with Words”* (Nihon Jitsugyo Publishing), which squarely addresses these children’s struggles and outlines a path to developing their verbal skills, has become a bestseller, going through multiple reprints.
The period up to around age 6 is when the foundation for a child’s “language skills” is laid. During this time, efforts at home are crucial. This book details the know-how for doing so.
For example, do parents help their children articulate their inner thoughts during conversations? Do they use “open-ended questions” to draw out their children’s responses? Do they provide opportunities for children to learn words not used in everyday life—such as by reading picture books aloud or visiting museums? It is important to be mindful of these practices as ways to cultivate “verbal skills” and to incorporate them into daily life.
It is also said that a family’s book collection has a significant influence. While research has shown that reading fosters children’s vocabulary, statistics indicate that children who love to read tend to come from homes with large book collections.
Video Games Are Not an Absolute Evil
A veteran elementary school teacher featured in this book says the following:
“With the boom in early education and the trend toward middle school entrance exams, I feel there has been a dramatic increase in the number of education-minded parents lately. They often tell their children, ‘Read books,’ ‘Use polite language,’ and ‘Think carefully.’
But when I observe the children, what the kids who truly have a rich vocabulary, think deeply about things, and can express themselves clearly have in common is that they aren’t the ones doing these things just because their parents told them to—they’re the ones who are following their parents’ example. Children who naturally do these things by observing their parents’ behavior are the strongest, rather than those who do them simply because their parents told them to.”
It’s true that whether it’s reading, using polite language, or deep thinking, the influence of parents is significant. Children naturally start doing these things because they imitate or look up to their parents. From a parent’s perspective, it’s more important to lead by example than to constantly nag them to “do it.”
This applies even to everyday activities that feel like play. Let’s take games as an example from this book.
Many parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend playing video games. In reality, video games do not offer many opportunities to develop verbal skills. Therefore, compared to children who read picture books or play outside with friends, spending long hours playing video games can have a negative impact on the development of their “verbal skills.”
That said, video games are not inherently bad.
If a child is sitting alone in front of a game console, they cannot develop language skills. However, research has shown that playing games on a TV screen with family or friends can serve as a catalyst for increased conversation between parents and children or among friends, which ultimately benefits the child.
This principle also applies to the use of tablets and smartphones.
It’s not that game consoles and digital devices are inherently bad; rather, when it comes to nurturing children’s “verbal skills,” there are both good and bad ways to use them. That is precisely why it is essential for adults who interact with children to learn and practice the correct ways to use these devices.
While I refer you to *Children Who Struggle to “Communicate Through Words”* for specific methods to develop *“verbal skills”*, why is it so important for children to have these skills right now?
Honing “verbal skills” has a positive impact on school life, interpersonal relationships, and even academic performance. However, I’d like you to imagine a future that lies a little further ahead. It will be about 10 to 20 years from now that today’s young children will become adults and take an active role on the front lines of society.
What skills will be necessary in the world of 2040…?
Try to imagine what the world might look like in 2040.
The wave of digitalization will likely be far greater than it is today, and values will have become much more diverse. Furthermore, as globalization advances, we will be required to coexist with people from completely different backgrounds and cultures.
What kind of skills will be necessary to thrive in such an era?
The ability to independently sift through vast amounts of information, respect the values of others, engage in ongoing dialogue with people from different backgrounds, and work together to solve problems. It is the holistic “power of language” that makes this possible.
Young children build this foundation through interactions with others at home and in daycare, and from elementary school onward, they refine it through a wealth of learning and experiences.
No matter how high one’s test scores may be, or how prestigious the company one joins, without this ability, it will be difficult to weather the storms of the world and carve out one’s own path in life. Why not take a moment to seriously reflect on the “power of language” while envisioning your child’s future?
Reporting and Text： Kota Ishii (Nonfiction Writer) PHOTO： Afro