Language issues and policy in JAPAN

OVERVIEW

PREVIOUS YEARS

CURRENT YEARS

ENGLISH ROLES IN
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Overview

Language issues
and policy in
pluralist society in
Japan
 Policy documents
• Issued by the largest business lobby in Japan,
Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), and
the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
(TMBOE) with in Japan’s social and political
context.
• American occupation after World War II.
• Meiji Restoration
• Discrimination of indigenous peoples (foreign
residents, Korean, Chinese)
• Intra-national, international, understanding.
• Globalization: Action Plan to Cultivate
Japanese with English Abilities.
• Neoliberal (social and political context)
 Role of English

Language issues
and policy in
pluralist society in
Japan
 Role of English
• Communicative imperialism (Phillipson, 2005)
– Strengthening communicative skills in English(urgent
challenges in Japan)
• 1. Improving English conversation skills at elementary, lower
& upper secondary schools & increase Assistance Language
Teachers (ALTs)
• 2. developing English L proficiency of Japanese EFL teachers
using TOEIC, TOEFL or other commercial tests.
• 3. reforming the system for university entrance, (where
most of the emphasis on reading comprehension)
 Role of English
• MEXT (2013c) – English education reform plan
corresponding to globalisation.

“Action Plan to Cultivate Japanese with English

Abilities”

- The abilities to obtain and understand knowledge and

info & to transmit info and to engage in
communication.
 Role of English
Seven actions
1. Improvement of English education.
2. Improvement of English classes.
3. Improving motivation.
4. Improvement in the evaluation system.
5. Support for English conversation activities in
elementary schools.
6. Promotion of practical research.
 Role of English
• TMG 2015
– 7 agendas for develop human resources who are active
around the world.
– 4 policy principles to achieve the goal:
• Promoting English acquire 4 integrated skills.
• Promote measures for students develop awareness and pride
as Japanese.
• Promote measures students foster internationally.
• Promote establishment of new types of senior high school
with rich international environment to develop human
resources with awareness as pride as Japanese, high
intelligence, and English abilities to be active around the
world.
 Role of English
• The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education(TMBOE)
• 8 measures
1. a new program called “Program for the Development of
Next-Generation Leaders” –students sent to overseas with
financial support
2. Sudden placement of a JET teacher & rapid increase of
ALTs at every high school.
3. Newly establishing an International Baccalaureate
course at a high school.
4. “Global Ten” metropolitan high school – English further
promoted.
 Role of English

5. large-scale Japanese EFL teachers training.

6. Senior high school reform and new
implementation plans focusing on English
education.
7. A new facility called “English Village”.
8. A new school integrating elementary, junior
and senior high schools with intensified English
education.
 English Village 2015

• Also known as Tokyo-version English Village

• Students use English in virtual real-time
situations while they study at school.
• Students – 1. try using English
2. Exchange with people with various
nationalities.
3. Find motivation to learn English.
 REFERENCES
• Miyashita, H (2017). Critical Analysis of English Education Policies in Japan
Focusing on Two Discourse: Developing Human Resources and Nurturing
Japanese Identity. (pp 10-20) World Journal of English Language.
• Harito, R. (2005). A policy Language Education in Japan: Beyond
Nationalism and Linguicism. (pp 45-69)