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English Education in Japan for the 21 st Century

English Education in Japan for the 21 st Century. Aoyama Gakuin University Mitsue Allen- Tamai ( allentamai [AT] cl.aoyama.ac.jp ). Developing a strategic plan to cultivate “ Japanese with English abilities ”.

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English Education in Japan for the 21 st Century

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  1. English Education in Japan for the 21st Century Aoyama Gakuin University Mitsue Allen-Tamai (allentamai[AT] cl.aoyama.ac.jp)

  2. Developing a strategic plan to cultivate“Japanese with English abilities” “… We have formulated a strategy to cultivate “Japanese with English abilities” in a concrete action plan with the aim of drastically improving the English education of Japanese people.” Nine years have passed. Have we changed?

  3. English language abilities demanded of all Japanese nationals • On graduation from junior high school Ability to hold simple conversations and a similar level of reading and writing ⇒The 3rd level of the STEP English Proficiency of 9th graders Holders of STEP 3rd or higher 18.3% Equivalent 14.0% Total 32.4%

  4. English language abilities demanded of all Japanese nationals • On graduation from senior high school Ability to hold normal conversations and similar lever of reading and writing ⇒ The 2nd or semi-2nd level of STEP English Proficiency of the 12th graders Holders of semi-2nd or higher 10.7% Equivalent 19.6% 30.3% (Survey in 2007)

  5. Comparing STEP and other Criteria

  6. Key policy issues • Improving educational content • Improving the qualifications of English instructors and upgrading the teaching system • Increasing opportunities to use English • Improving entrance examinations • Enhancing English conversation activities in elementary schools • Cultivating Japanese language ability for appropriate expression and accurate comprehension

  7. 1. Improving educational content • Promoting the comprehensive integration of the 4 skills, emphasizing basic practical communication ability. • Promoting small-group teaching and streaming students according to proficiency level. • Promoting progressive English education in high schools

  8. The current situation 1. How much English is used in class? (Oral Communication class in high school) More than 80% 19.6% More than 50%32.8％ • New Course of Study requires that class will be conducted all in English in high school from 2014. • 169 high schools were designated as SEL Hi (Super English High School).

  9. 2. Improving the qualifications of English instructors and upgrading the teaching system • The expected English-language abilities of English teachers are equivalent to STEP semi-1st level, TOEFL 550, TOEIC 730. • Junior-high and senior-high students will have a class with native speakers more than once a week. • Promoting the utilization of human resources with fluent English-language abilities living in the local community.

  10. The current situation ☆English Proficiency of English instructors Holders of STEP semi-1st or higher Junior-high school teachers 24.2% (in 2009) Senior-high school teachers 48.9% (in 2010) ☆Utilization of ALT Elementary schools 67.4% (in 2008) Junior-high schools 24.9% (in 2008) Senior-high schools 9.1% (in 2009) (English specialized) 33.2% (in 2009)

  11. 3 Increasing opportunities to use English • Expanding opportunities for overseas study for high school students (10,000 a year) • Increasing opportunities to use English outside a classroom (promotion of English conversation salons and speech contests ) ⇒high school students in overseas study 3,190 (in 2008)

  12. 4 Improving entrance examinations • Promoting the use of results of external examinations and listening tests in entrance examinations to high schools and universities ⇒Introduction of listening test into the University Entrance Central Examination in 2006

  13. 5 Enhancing English conversation activities in elementary schools • In connection with English conversation activities, which are carried out in the Period for Integrated Study, support is to be extended so that teaching can be conducted by foreign instructors, fluent English speakers, or junior high school teachers in one third of such sessions. ⇒Introduction of “Foreign Language Activities” to public elementary schools

  14. Overall Objectives of Foreign Language Activities To form the foundation of pupils’ communication abilities through foreign languages while developing theunderstanding of languages and cultures through various experiences fostering a positive attitude toward communication , and familiarizing pupils with the sounds and basic expressions of foreign languages .

  15. Overall Objectives ofForeign Language at lower high schools To develop students’ basic communica- tion abilities, such as listening, speaking, reading and writing, deepening their understanding of language and culture and fostering a positive attitude toward communication through foreign languages.

  16. Overall Objectives ofForeign Language at junior-high schools To develop students’ communication abilities such as accurately understanding and appropriately conveying information, ideas, etc., deepening their understand- ing of language and culture, and foster- ing a positive attitude toward communi- cation through foreign languages.

  17. The new Course of Study • Implementation of “Foreign Language Activities” to 5th and 6th graders • Increase of class times per week from three to four for 7th to 9th graders • Restructure and rename subjects in upper high schools (no reading, no writing) • Teachers use English as a language of instruction.

  18. New names for high school classes Aural/Oral Communication I & II English I & II Reading Writing Communication English (Basics) Communication English I, II, & III English Expression I & II English Conversation

  19. Foreign Language Activities English will be taught from 2011. (1) to 5th and 6th graders (2) once a week (35 times/year) (3) as a “compulsory” subject (4) but not as a “regular” subject (5) by TT (HRT & ALT) (6) English Notes (Sub-textbook)

  20. The Primary purposes of English classes 1992~2010 NOT Developing English language skills 2011~ NOT Developing English language skills Consequently, at the elementary school stage, it is important to separate spoken and written English and focus instruction only on spoken English. Lessons should develop both oral and written language. Adequate literacy education to school-aged children is necessary. Not English EducationBut English Activities Focus on spoken language International Understanding Cross-cultural Communication Communication Skills

  21. iBT TOEFL (2009)-Asia

  22. Teaching English at elementary schools ELI= English as a language of Instruction, Y/I = Year of Implementation, S/G = Starting Grade

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