How useful is English for engineering students who plan to work in Japan?
English is quite useful for engineering students who plan to work in Japan. It can help them understand technical documents, standards, software information, and research, and communicate with overseas colleagues or customers. However, Japanese is central in many domestically focused roles, and the required level and frequency of English use vary by job and employer.
Key points
- English supports access to technical documents, standards, research, and software information.
- It can broaden opportunities to work with overseas offices, colleagues, or customers.
- For Japan-focused work, Japanese may be more important in day-to-day communication.
Things to check
- The English level required and how often it is used depend on the field, role, and employer, so students should check the duties and job information for positions they are considering.