If mom has a passport, it’s a guarantee that mom knows English. Both mom and child are welcome at JELI. Even though every person has compulsory English classes in elementary school, junior high school, high school and university, it is almost impossible to find anybody who speaks English.
Japan’s English education ranks near the bottom of all countries on earth. Since most Japanese don’t care, it doesn’t matter if students have 50 English classes, 500 English classes or 5,000 English classes. The results will always be the same.
99% of Japanese will never speak English. Even English teachers can’t speak English. Japanese people who travel abroad realize that the common Japanese attitude towards foreigners is not acceptable in any foreign country.
Therefore, mom needs a passport. An expired passport is fine. Since mom traveled overseas, mom understands that English is important for communication with people from other countries.