問題２４
Fewer and fewer Japanese students are studying abroad these days. Why is that? What should the government do about it? (100-150 words)
模範解答
私が書いたエッセイを見てみましょう
〖私が受験生ならこう書きます〗
I have three reasons to explain why fewer Japanese students study abroad.
First, they or their parents are not rich enough. Unlike some European countries, the Japanese government doesn't offer a free college education, so they have to pay full tuition. Considering how much money they have to pay, we can easily guess why they cannot study abroad.
Secondly, there has been a lot of terrorism around the world, which makes Japanese students more negative about going abroad. Japan is thought to be one of the safest countries, so leaving Japan can seem really dangerous for them.
Finally, Japanese students are just too afraid to put themselves out there. In other words, they don't have guts. Despite the fact that they have been studying English for a long time, they are so afraid of making mistakes in face-to-face communication.
I suggest that the Japanese government should improve the scholarship system to support students and change the English education system so that students can learn communicative English and be confident about their language abilities.
（173文字）
模範解答を見てみましょう
〖模範解答〗
I think there are two main reasons.
First, students are getting less interested in foreign countries. They tend to feel safe and comfortable living in Japan. The second is financial. Due to the long recession, their household doesn't have enough money to let them study abroad. The government should strongly recommend studying abroad. For example, they should give more information about foreign education and schools. If the students know how overseas education is meaningful, they get more interested in it. Then the number of students going abroad will increase. In addition, the government should provide financial support for students. It will help those who want to study abroad but cannot because of financial reasons.
（117語）
ふりかえり
〖問題〗
日本の学生が留学する数が年々減っているのはなぜか。日本の政府は何をすべきか。
私が書いたエッセイ
【理由】
①お金がないから←日本では大学の学費を払わなければならない
②世界でテロが多発←日本は安全だから出たくない
③度胸がない←語学力に自信がない
【政府の対策】
①学生への経済支援
②英語教育の見直し
模範解答
【理由】
①海外への興味の低下
②お金がないから
【対策】
①海外の教育についての情報提供
②学生への経済支援
それでは詳しく見てみましょう。
使える表現に下線を引きます。
簡単な文は訳を省きます。
私が書いたエッセイ
【序論】
I have three reasons to explain why fewer Japanese students study abroad.
「なぜ留学する学生の数が少ないのかを説明する３つの理由があります」
【本論】
First, they or their parents are not rich enough.
Unlike some European countries, the Japanese government doesn't offer a free college education, so they have to pay full tuition.
「ヨーロッパのある国々とは違い、日本の政府は無料の大学教育を提供していないので、学費を全額払わなければならない」
Considering how much money they have to pay, we can easily guess why they cannot study abroad.
「どれだけ多くのお金が払わなければならないかを考えると、なぜ彼らが留学できないのか容易に想像できる」
※Considering ～「～を考えると」という表現、よく使います。もう決まった言い方になっていますが、もとを辿れば分詞構文です。分詞構文とは、省略できるものは省略してスッキリさせた文のこと。省略する過程がこちら☟
①接続詞を消す
②主語が主節の主語と同じなら消す
（＝違うなら消さない）
③最初に出てきた動詞を～ingにする
Secondly, there has been a lot of terrorism around the world, which makes Japanese students more negative about going abroad.
「二つ目に、世界中でテロが起こっており、それが日本人の学生を海外に行くことに否定的にしている」
※,which（関係代名詞の非制限用法）を使いました。先行詞は前述の文(there has been a lot of terrorism)で、「世界中でテロが起こっている」に「それが日本人学生を海外に行くことに否定的にしている」という補足的情報を付け加えています。
Japan is thought to be one of the safest countries, so leaving Japan can seem really dangerous for them.
「日本は最も安全な国の一つと考えられているので、日本を出ることは彼らにとって危険に感じるのである」
Finally, Japanese students are just too afraid to put themselves out there.
「最後に、日本人は怖くて自分をさらけ出せないからである」
※put myself out thereはここで解説したよく使う表現。
In other words, they don't have guts.
「言い換えるとガッツがないのである」
※put themselves out thereが伝わらなかったらいけないので言い換えました。
Despite the fact that they have been studying English for a long time, they are so afraid of making mistakes in face-to-face communication.
「長い間英語を勉強しているにも関わらず、彼らは面と向かってのコミュニケーションで間違えるのを恐れている」
【結論】
I suggest that the Japanese government should improve the scholarship system to support students and change the English education system so that students can learn communicative English and be confident about their language abilities.
「日本政府は、学生を支援するために奨学金制度を充実させ、学生がコミュニカティブな英語を学び語学力に自信が持てるよう英語教育のシステムを変えるよう提案したい」
※I suggest the Japanese government shouldのshouldについてはここを読んでください。
※so that S' V'「S'がV'するために」 主節の主語とso that節の中の主語が違う時に使えるので便利です。
例：I'll send out the package today so that you'll get it by Friday.
「あなたが金曜日までに受け取れるように私は今日荷物を発送します」
↑主節の主語は"I"、so that節の主語は"you"
☟の文章と比較してみてください。
例：I studied hard to get into this college.
「私がこの大学に入るために私は必死に勉強した」
模範解答
I think there are two main reasons.
First, students are getting less interested in foreign countries. They tend to feel safe and comfortable living in Japan.
The second is financial. Due to the long recession, their household doesn't have enough money to let them study abroad.
「長引く不況で、彼らの家庭は彼らを留学させてやるだけのお金がない」
The government should strongly recommend studying abroad. For example, they should give more information about foreign education and schools. If the students know how overseas education is meaningful, they get more interested in it. Then the number of students going abroad will increase.
In addition, the government should provide financial support for students.
It will help those who want to study abroad but cannot because of financial reasons.
「それは、留学したいけれど経済的な理由でできない人達を助けるだろう」
※このthose who Ｖ’「V'する人々」は使えるととてもかっこいいです。詳しくはここで解説しています。
（117語）
