Teaching English in Japan

Let's look at some reasons why people study English in Japan, and also the English education system in schools, universities, and English conversation schools in Japan. Additionally we'll look at teaching methods and training for Japanese teachers of English.

English lessons are important to the Japanese. English is on offer in more than 90% of all schools in Japan, and most students study it. For many university degrees it is required to study a foreign language, and English is the most common. However, English teaching methods in universities in Japan appear to have some shortfalls. We'll cover that later on this page.

Furthermore, many Japanese attend English lessons at English conversation chain schools or in English lessons provided by their employer. TV and radio stations offer English lessons to some degree.

Why study English? The initial reason the Japanese had for studying English and one that continues today, is learning about the outside world. People in Japan want to express Japanese culture, feelings, mindset, and attitudes on issues to foreigners.

Also as more Japanese travel it's better to be able to communicate, and as English is an international language, it's natural for Japanese to choose English to study. Additionally the Japan and US ties have influenced the choice of English study in Japan, with the knock-on effect of increased English teaching possibilities throughout Japan.

English is also a conduit for Japanese people to learn about other cultures. As Japan isn't as multicultured as say, the US, it's important for Japanese to learn about different cultures and societies. Studying English can help achieve this.

Studying English and English speaking cultures can also contribute to Japanese people having a better understanding of Japan, Japanese culture, and the Japanese language.

English Education in Japan - A history
English teaching began in Japan in 1808 after the Japanese government found that they couldn't communicate with the crew of a visiting foreign ship. The authorities added English to their list of languages to study. A Dutch national became the first English teacher in Japan, teaching officials.

America came along in 1853 and convinced Japan to open it's doors, and so further contributed to English teaching in Japan. Early on in the history of English teaching in Japan two main teaching methods were used. The first teaching method focused on proper pronunciation and meaning, while the second teaching style centered primarily on meaning.

Students who were taught in the second style had better English comprehension, while students of the first teaching style were robot like in pronunciation and understood little.

A language teaching system was setup in the late 1890's. English became compulsory in secondary schools in Japan. English teachers were mainly native English speakers. English classes were held at higher learning institutes, with textbooks coming from the US. Students achieved a good level of English during that period due to the teaching methods, and native English teachers.

Then came the 1900's and foreign teachers and books were slowly replaced with teachers from Japan, and English text books made in Japan. Japanese teachers that had been schooled abroad soon gained influence in the English education system in Japan, and the previous decades teaching approach changed.

To their credit some of the Japanese nationals English teaching methods from that era remain current, eg: Targeted language, reduced translation, and teaching about culture. However, English in Japan at that time mostly became a subject of study, learned for reading, as opposed to a way of communicating.

In the 1920's an English specialist in teaching came to Japan as an advisor to the Ministry of Education. His methodology to teaching English turned up good results for Japan. However, his teaching approach required a high level of English competency, mostly above that of Japanese teachers of English at that time.

Around the time of World War II English study was frowned upon. Post war the education system was restructured to include: 6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of high school, and 4 years of college.

Today education is compulsory until the completion of 3 years of junior high school in Japan, but most Japanese go on to high school. Foreign language study is offered, with English being the most widely taught foreign language in Japan.

English teaching in elementary schools in Japan
Japan has three types of elementary schools. Municipal: Those attached to universities: And private. Almost 100% of the elementary schools in Japan fall into the first category. The Ministry of Education controls them, and the curricullum does not include teaching foreign languages.

Some private and university aligned elementary schools teach English courses. A low percentage of elementary schools in Japan teach English. Some offer English as part of regular lessons, others only occasionally. Elementary level English classes in Japan lean toward oral and aural English rather than reading.

Some students take English lessons at jukus, essentially a cram school. Jukus prepare students for exams prior to high school and university.

English teaching in junior high schools in Japan
Many students in Japan commence English lessons during the first year of junior high school. The Japanese Ministry of Education doesn't require English in Japanese public secondary schools, but certain schools do require it's teaching.

The importance of English can't be overlooked when taking high school and university entrance in Japan into consideration, so we find that the majority of junior high school students have English lessons. On top of English lessons at school, students can be found having English lessons in jukus, English conversation schools, and with private teachers/tutors.

Until 1981 Public schools in Japan offered five hours weekly teaching English lessons, and then it was reduced to three. English lesson content in public junior high schools in Japan is set by the Ministry of Education.

The goal of English education in Japan is to give students a meaningful working knowledge of spoken and written English, and to give insight into the cultural/social backgrounds of English speakers. This requires special attention to certain teaching techniques and methods on the teachers part.

Junior high English teaching textbooks need approval from the Education Ministry. Proposed copies of textbooks are checked by officials from the Ministry and others, comprising mainly of English teachers, professors, and other teaching professionals in Japan.

Teachers in Japan alone don't have control over text for their English lessons/teachings. Teachers and students often dislike the textbooks at their disposal, saying there is too much emphasis on grammar, and too little on practical and interesting content.

Junior high school English lessons are very important, and for many students in Japan it'll be their first formal education in English. High school teachers are generally better qualified than junior high school teachers, teaching classes of around forty students.

Many students in Japan are eager to start studying English, but as the teaching system pushes memorization and learning about English, as opposed to actually communicating, a large proportion get bored with their English lessons.

English teaching in high schools in Japan
English classes in high school are controlled by the Ministry of Education. As in junior high school English classes, the content of lessons, vocabulary, and grammar are determined yearly. Lesson content for teaching high school English is mainly determined by university entry exams in Japan.

Public high schools in Japan offer four hours of English lessons per week. English I is an extension of junior high school English. English II (reading) is taken during the second and third years of high school. It's added too by English IIA (speaking), English IIB (advanced reading), and English IIC (writing).

Additional English lessons are offered by some high schools prior to school, after school, or during vacation time to help students prepare for university exams. Students whose schools don't have additional lessons often attend jukus or have private teachers/tutors.

High school English classes in Japan are based around a reader and grammar book. As with junior high textbooks they need approval for English teaching use by the Ministry of Education. With high school textbooks, individual schools throughout Japan choose the texts instead of the district. However, individual teachers have virtually no control over English textbook choice.

Students preparation for their English class may include writing Japanese equivalents beside English words etc, and then reading the translation. Teaching methods include reading out models and making corrections to students translations. Teachers also model reading out loud English versions of the lesson while students chorus after the teacher.

Teaching English Composition involves translating Japanese into English, but with little emphasis on free writing. Private English schools in Japan offer more study time for English per week than other schools, and generate further teaching possibilities for foreigners in Japan.

Japan university entry - English teaching
Translation from English into Japanese is usually part of the university entry exam in Japan. Multiple choice questions, grammar and other often overly difficult questions make up the test.

These exams don't use English in a natural manner, instead it's a grammar exercise requiring little practical English. Few exams test students English communicative ability, although they require knowledge of English.

English courses in Japanese universities
The majority of four year courses in Japan require students to study two foreign languages. Non English majors take a minimum of 8 credits in the first foreign language which is usually English, and further credits in a second language. Non English majors in junior colleges take 2 to 4 credits of English, and English majors take 46.

Many thousands of English teaching college textbooks are published in Japan. 70% are readers that mostly contain prose and don't have exercises teaching, or helping students understand the English. Teachers tend to choose textbooks based on their own interests, and those that blend with their teaching style. Unfortunately that doesn't always fit in with the students aims for studying English.

English classes at university level in Japan are reading based. Students are usually asked to translate English sentences into Japanese. Many textbooks used in Japan don't give students opportunities to develop functional, useful communicative possibilities. Students reading levels tend to show that they have difficulty in dealing with dialogues, newspaper articles, advertisements, etc.

English language students at university seem to know little about English speaking cultures. With culture and language being closely linked, an understanding of the target culture is required for meaningful communication. However, the teaching of culture is minimal in English classes in Japan.

It seems that many people in Japan can read English, but have difficulty speaking English. So here the question is, "Are they understanding what they are reading?" It would appear that a Japanese students definition of reading is: Reading and then locating the Japanese equivalent of an English word. However, combining the individual words can give little true meaning of the sentence overall.

College students in Japan tend to have problems with the speed at which they read English, reading around 50-100 words per minute. As a certain amount of speed is beneficial in reading for comprehension, students appear to have difficulty getting the gist of what they are reading in English.

Training - Teaching the teacher in Japan!
English teachers in Japan are trained in universities of education or in universities with teaching courses. Teachers of English in public junior high and high schools in Japan are required to have teaching certificates.

National requirements for a teaching certificate in Japan include 6 credits in English linguistics, 6 in English literature, and 2 in English composition and conversation. Additionally, further credits in related subjects such as literature and practice at English teaching.

However, the above requirements don't focus on English teaching methods, practice teaching, or performance in English, eg: Composition classes only have students translate unrelated sentences from English into Japanese, and not in writing.

English classes are often too large to give students the opportunity to actually practice speaking English, let alone practice teaching it. Additionally, teachers in training often have little time studying or practicing English teaching methods.