Abstract
Esperanto is a language that enables us to easily communicate with people with different linguistic backgrounds, and provides students with opportunities to open their mind to diverse people and cultures. In addition, it is proven to help students learn other new languages with ease. In spite of these advantages, however, Esperanto is not a language commonly taught in Japanese schools. This paper, based on the author’s personal experiences of teaching Esperanto at schools and in communities for a number of years, discusses the significance and potential of teaching Esperanto as a second language in Japanese schools.
