I have created What’s For English in order to provide intermediate level adult learners with reading and listening material that is interesting and relevant but not too difficult and not too easy. It is well-known that Asian speakers of English (in particular the Japanese) struggle in conversation, discussions, presentations and meetings. They are quiet. They say as little as possible. And they make frequent errors. There are many reasons for this: linguistic (the first language influence), cultural (fear of making errors, preference for modesty and reflection), and educational (memorization, exams, little emphasis on communication in class).

I believe one important educational reason is this: too many English classes or lessons but not enough real interactions with English speakers, and too much intensive learning but not enough extensive learning.

What is the difference between intensive and extensive reading or intensive and extensive listening?

Some characteristics of Intensive reading: short passages; reading to find specific answers to questions; reading to see examples of specific grammar or vocabulary points; reading exercises, quizzes and tests. But extensive reading might look like this: no tests or quizzes; reading for pleasure, for understanding or for information; reading long passages or books, reading in a wide range of topics.

Even if you cannot meet and interact with English speakers, extensive reading and listening builds up your reserves of vocabulary and language. Over the hours that you spend reading and listening to content that is interesting to you, you encounter many words and structures again and again. Eventually you will have encountered those words and structures so often and in so many different contexts that you may be able to use them fluently and automatically when you do have an occasion to interact ìliveî with an English speaker.

I would like to hear from Europeans who speak English about this. At what point in your English learning did you begin reading literature (stories, books, articles)? What did you read in high school or university English classes?

So come to this blog for regular, extensive reading. From time to time, I will suggest other sources that you might find useful. For extensive listening, please visit Extend Your Listening for podcasts with discussions of business, news and information. And if you happen to have an interest in wine, you can listen to Wine In Easy English. This is a podcast for learners who would like to extend their knowledge of wine in English.

I live in Urayasu, Japan, a suburb near Tokyo. If you arrive at Narita Airport and travel to Tokyo by bus, you will pass through Urayasu. Most Japanese know this town as the home of Tokyo Disneyland. They are envious that I can see the Disneyland fireworks from my window.

I’m married and have two children – a teenaged son and daughter. My wife, Lek, is from Thailand. She teaches the Thai language in a nearby university. Our children were born here in Japan. They speak three languages. So we are a foreign family that has made our home in Japan.

I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. When I was 11, we moved to the Napa Valley. It’s a famous wine growing region about 100 km north of San Francisco. My parents purchased land on a mountain, and we planted a vineyard. So I grew up on a farm, surrounded by grape vines, fruit trees and redwood forests.

Later I felt the “country life” wasnít for me. I moved to San Francisco after I graduated from university. But after one year of living in the city, I decided to take a big trip, backpacking around the world. At age 23, I took off for Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, India and Nepal. I was gone for about a year.

The trip to Asia changed my life.  As a result, I decided to pursue a career in teaching. I studied for a Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language so that I could live and work abroad. In 1987, I moved to Thailand to teach in a Thai University. I met my wife in Thailand. After we got married, we decided to move to Japan. We came here in 1990.

So, I’ve been living in Japan for almost 20 years. This has been a wonderful place to live and work and raise a family. We plan to stay as long as we can.