Hiya!
It's not really a requirement but more of content. No nothing very cultural but rather the language level.
For example, even the book "The Berenstain Bears in the Dark" is barely readable by 6th graders in Japan. That is assuming they have had already over 2 years of English tutoring outside of school. Any child that relies only on regular schooling will finally be able to read that book by the end of 7th grade.
Many companies like Cambridge and Oxford have imported books like the "Let's Go" series. Great texts but they just don't match what the market needs. The publishers just pass them off as "that's all we carry".
But back to the story books. Like the above example about Dr. Suess. The kids just can't manage them on a level that is comprehensible. By the time they can understand them the story lines are just to childish.
This is the part that I was referring to.
I've been searching 14 years now
EFL - English as a Foreign Language
ESL - English as a Second language
California has many ESL classes in schools to help immigrants blend in with the rest of the students.
I've been in Japan for over 15 years now and run my own company which teaches kids outside of school, hires out teachers to kindergartens, high schools, and other businesses to provide inhouse learning, and have even provided translators for the US Navy Shore Patrol.
I'm no where near the top of field though ...
As for the business end, I've paid my dues to get into the business sector which is like breaking into a members only club. I'm from the states and didn't have the natural school ties that you would get if you went to an Ivy League school or such. Japan is really an Ol' Boyz club and they let you know it loud and clear, which is one reason why Mitsukoshi is key to breaking into the Japanese market.
I can test pilot books and fashion since I'm contact with mothers almost daily and it would be no big thing to ask them their opinions. Which is an art itself because they tend not to say what they really think and you need to interpret comments to get good feed back.
Knowing the rules is only a fraction of the game in this country. You gotta understand them to make it work.
ughhh, now I'm sounding like a teacher ... sorry if I sound like I'm teaching a class
lolo, maybe I'm over compensating since I can't give anything back to the 911 forums ... well, not yet anyway