my opinions about Japanese Eng;lish education ( No.2)

Here is my opinion about Japanese English education. (NO.2)

（小学校での英語教育について）

３、小学校での英語の授業は必要か？
(Do you agree with having English classes in primary schools?)
I agree with the idea that a language should be taught when a learner is younger. Obviously, the younger is the better when it comes to learning a language, especially in terms of pronunciation. So I think teaching English in primary schools is a good idea. Having said that, it’s totally up to the teachers, teaching methods and materials to decide whether this attempt is going to be successful or be another depressing disaster.

４、小学校から英語を始めることで日本人の英語力は向上すると思うか？
(Do you think Japanese people's English ability will improve by starting English education in elementary schools?)

As I mentioned above, it completely depends on how the teachers teach and what kind of teaching materials to be used. If they can teach properly, I am certain that pupils learn English and be communicative in English. But it is just a start, it shouldn’t be stopped at the elementary school level. It has to be continued onto middle school and high school too. I think there are some changes should be made in higher English education systems too, such as shifting the entrance examination for university or college to less grammar and reading based and more communication-based one so that there will be more listening and speaking classes in the middle and high school.

５、小学校英語教育の問題点、そしてその改善方法は？
What kind of problems are there in the current English education at primary schools? How can we solve the problems?

I think there are many problems in the current education systems in elementary schools. The biggest problem among them is the teacher’s poor English language and teaching skills.

It is no wonder that elementary school teachers are worried about English classes because not only they themselves can’t speaking English and but also they have no ideas about teaching English. I think most of the teachers have forgotten about English itself since they were not required to study English to become an elementary school teacher. Honestly, we shouldn’t rely on those teachers who are not confident in their English and teaching skills. How can you teach properly when you are not sure about what you are doing? I have to admit that present Japanese elementary school teachers are striving to do their best and giving as good lessons as they can. But I still think that is not good enough. Local municipalities and schools are trying to support the teachers by giving intensive English courses where teachers can learn teaching skills and lesson plans and speaking sessions with native speakers. However, the most important thing is the teacher’s English skills. If they are going to teach English as a main teacher, their English has to be very fluent. As an English language learner, I have to say that it takes years to become fluent in a language. Anyway present elementary school teachers are already having a lot on their plates so I don’t think they should teach English.

I think the education ministry should give up on forcing current elementary school teachers to teach English to pupils. Native English teachers should teach English as a main teacher and as a support teacher, the education ministry should consider hiring Japanese professional teachers of English language education. There is a non-profit institution called J-shine and they train and accredit private English instructors so that they have enough ability to teach English in elementary schools. More and more private English instructors are acquiring the certificate and they are waiting to work in schools.

I am not saying that we should do as I’ve suggested forever. We should introduce this teaching system as a temporary solution and at the same time we should train prospective teachers in universities. University students have more time to learn English and teaching skills so they can be fluent in the language and more capable of teaching English.

Lastly, I find it disgusting to know the attitude of the education ministry. I have to say that they are not serious about the English education in elementary schools. I think like this because they don’t provide detailed curriculum or teaching methods to teachers. They devised this textbook called EIGO NOTE but they said that basically teachers can do anything in their English classes, which can create a big difference among pupils’ English abilities when they enter junior high school. I have to say that the ministry has introduced this English education in elementary schools just because other Asian countries are doing it. I think it is quite superficial and it won’t change anything until people in the ministry change their attitudes.