hone
先生が言われていたことがやっと日本でも実現しそうです。全国に広まってほしいと思います。
Tokyo government to establish English-speaking 'village' for students
The Tokyo metropolitan government announced on Dec. 25 that it will set up a language-learning “village” in fiscal 2018 where students can hone their English skills with native speakers in various real-life settings.
The intensive program, designed to improve English competence outside the classroom, is part of the metropolitan government’s long-term vision report outlining its policy priorities.
According to officials, the village will resemble a popular KidZania theme park, one of which is located in Tokyo. Children pretend to work at various adult jobs at the entertainment chain.
The government-planned facility will target elementary, junior high and senior high school students. During their time at the village, the students will not be allowed to use Japanese, in principle, and will hone their English communication skills with native speakers in various daily settings such as at restaurants and hospitals.
The Tokyo metropolitan board of education began in June 2013 consulting with education experts, including university professors and private-company personnel managers, on measures to help improve English proficiency in junior and senior high school students.
Many of the experts pointed out the limitations of passive, lecture-based lessons the children often receive in school and called for a participatory program where students can actively involve themselves in an English-speaking environment. That led to the plan to create the interactive village with native speakers, according to the metropolitan government.
The government plans to set up a panel for the project to discuss the size of the facility and method of operation.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201412260041
honeはもともと、whetstone（砥石）で磨くことからきています。そこから、skillsなどを磨くという意味でも用いられるようになりました。Umeさんも述べておられますように、「日本人はこのような場合、brush upとよく言うことが多いが、brush upは文字通り一度身に付けたskillsを長い間ほったらかしにして錆び付いたので、学び直すという意味合いがある…」というのも受け売りです。
明日はA30にまいります。（GP）
