To the minister of education:
Recently the education ministry announced that it would require high school students to memorize 1,800 words instead of the 1,300 they currently have to remember. As an English teacher here in Japan, I couldn't help but read this in disgust. This so-called change is just more of the same. It is well known that students in Japan do not need to cram a bunch more words into their heads that they forget soon after a test, but to actually practice speaking and listening in the classroom.
You may argue, "But the ministry of education hires thousands of native English speakers to teach English communication to the kids." This may be true, but because of the all-important entrance exams, which stress grammar and reading, even if there were time for communicative practice, the students and parents want teachers to focus on what is going to be on the next exam because it will determine the child's future school and most likely the child's future career.