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English Education Issues

English Education Issues. Salvador Nava C. Takahashi JAPN 311 Social Issues in Japan Spring 2013. Outline. Why this topic? Research Questions Explanation of Issues Student Perceptions of Their Education Solutions Conclusion Resources. Why this topic?.

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English Education Issues

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  1. English Education Issues Salvador Nava C. Takahashi JAPN 311 Social Issues in Japan Spring 2013

  2. Outline • Why this topic? • Research Questions • Explanation of Issues • Student Perceptions of Their Education • Solutions • Conclusion • Resources

  3. Why this topic? • Interested in many issues concerning Japan (Previously choose abortion) • Going to Japan this August as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) • Becoming more and more interested in this area

  4. Research Questions • What are the common problems with English education? • How do students feel about the way they are being taught? • What is the Ministry of Education doing in order to deal with the issues?

  5. Overarching Problems with the English Education System • Reading and writing centered • Abundance of information during the Meiji Restoration • Used as a filter for higher education • Evident in juken eigo, studied for the sole purpose of college entrance exams

  6. Overarching Problems with the English Education System • Teacher’s Background • Majority were English Literature majors • Lack of English as Second Language/English as a Foreign Language background • Fosters negative attitudes among students

  7. Student’s Perceptions of Their Teachers • Were not taught how to use English to communicate about everyday topics • Teachers did not facilitate discussion in English among the students • Teachers did not place a high emphasis on how to use English in real life situations

  8. Student’s Perceptions of Their Classes • Students acknowledged several negative elements in their classes • Reading activities took presedence over Communicative activities • Strictly textbook oriented classes • Translation exercises are excessive • Focus was primarily on passing exams

  9. Attempted Solutions • Availability of English in Elementary Schools • Increase study abroad opportunities • Implementation of standardized tests • Accrediting over 100 schools for their effective English teaching methodology • JET Program • Training for teachers • Curriculum amendment (Ministry of Education’s Course of Study Guidelines)

  10. My Solutions • Establishing English as an official language • Setting concrete and realistic curriculum • Changing college entrance exams • Increase social exchange with English speaking countries

  11. Conclusion • Well balanced system needs to be introduced, Japan needs to do what other Asian countries are doing with their English curriculum. • Establishing adequate teacher training. • Students learning should take precedence over everything.

  12. Resources Honna, N., Takeshita, Y. (2005). English Language Teaching in Japan: Policy Plans and their Implementations. RELC Journal, 36, 363-383. Kikuchi, K., Browne, C. (2009). English Education Policy for High Schools in Japan: Ideals vs. Reality. RELC Journal, 40, 172-191. Seargent, P. (2008). Ideologies of English in Japan: The Perspective of Policy and Pedagogy. Language Policy, 7(2), 121-142.

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