Navigating English Policy and Practice in Japan's Primary Schools.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ferguson, Peter.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (207 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bristol : Multilingual Matters, 2025.

Summary:

Examining the implementation of English as a foreign language within Japan's public elementary schools, this book reveals the challenges faced by policymakers, school principals and elementary school teachers in creating, transmitting and applying new language education policy.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Introduction

Why Japan?

Why Elementary School?

This Study

Conceptual Framework and Methodology

Overview of the Education System

Rationale of the Book

Domestic Education Policy Reactions

The Schools

Organization of the Book

Chapter 1: Language Classrooms: Competing Ideologies on Language, Culture and Identity

Changing Demographics in Japan

Shifting Ideologies

Changing Ideologies in Japan

Elementary School Curriculum Reforms

Chapter 2: The Politics of Policy Formulation: Acceptance and Resistance

Conflicting Discourses and Ideologies Toward Schooling

Post-WWII

External Politics and Accountability Restrictions

Internal Politics and Hierarchal Restrictions

Chapter 3: The Players: MEXT, the Board of Education and Schools

Educational Administration in Japan

Japan's Ministry of Education: What's in a Name?

Organizational Structure

Large Responsibilities with Minimum Personnel

Boards of Education

Limited Staff and Budgetary Constraints

Qualifications

Controlling Voice through a Discourse of Expertise

Dealing with Ambiguity

Unclear policy borrowing and referencing

Navigating the challenges of introducing new terms

International Understanding versus Global Competition

Chapter 4: Policy or How the Ministry of Education Controls Language Learning

Policy Documents

The Course of Study Overview

Foreign Language Activities/Foreign Languages Manual

Policy Analysis

Discourse of Crisis

The Discourse of Globalization

Realigning the Purpose of Schooling

Realignment of Assessment Standards

Role of the Education System

Cross-Curricular Approach

Special Subject: Moral Education

Foreign Language Education and Culture

Integrating English into the Curriculum.

(Over)Emphasis on Communication

The Teaching of Other Languages

Chapter 5: The Role of Textbooks

Textbook Regulation

Modeled Textbooks

MEXT's Textbook Division

Challenges in Defining Key Educational Concepts

What Can Be Included?

Knowledge for Teachers (and Textbook Writers)

Language Activities

Chapter 6: Teachers Bringing English Language Policies to Life

Teachers' Roles

School-Level Approaches to English Policy Implementation

EFL Program Modifications

Team-Teaching

EFL Policy Appropriation in Classrooms

Teaching vocabulary

Teaching phrases (target questions and answers)

Listening skills

Presentations

EFL Emergent Literacy Skills

Chapter 7: English Lessons Reimagined: Making Policy More Meaningful for Young Learners

The Curriculum

Support for Bottom-Up Approaches

Enriching the Language Learning Environment

Enriching the EFL environment around schools

Enriching the EFL environment in schools

Cultivating Effective English Teachers

Enhancing Classroom Practice

Improving student speaking and listening skills

Improving student emergent literacy skills

Conclusion

Appendix A

List of Classroom Observations

Appendix B

List of Interviews

Appendix C

Aims of Foreign Language Activities and Foreign Language Education

Appendix D

Goals of English Activities and English as Subject

Appendix E

JET Programmer Participant Numbers by Country

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-83668-152-6

1-83668-153-4

OCLC:

1535964035