Compulsory English Education in Japanese Elementary Schools: Merit or demerit? B11507 Haruka Yamashiro

Background The path to compulsory English education in Japanese elementary schools 1992 English classes were first introduced to public elementary schools 2002 ～ English was taught in classes of general studies( 総合的な学習の時間 ) 2008 A new course of study was notified 2011 Compulsory English education started in elementary schools (Allen 2010:10)

Outline 1. Defining Terms 2. Evidence for Merit 3. Evidence for Demerit 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion

Defining Terms Compulsory English Education in Japanese Elementary Schools: Merit or demerit? ‘Compulsory’ means enforced and required (Webster’s 1973:183) → Classes which all students must take

Defining Terms Compulsory English Education in Japanese Elementary Schools: Merit or demerit? ‘Merit’ means worth, excellence, and a quality worthy of praise (Webster’s 1973:562) → good point ‘Demerit’ means something that deserves blame (Webster’s 1793:242) → bad point

Outline 1. Defining Terms 2. Evidence for Merit 3. Evidence for Demerit 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion

Evidence for Merit 1. Japanese company aiming to internationalize 2. The contents of English classes

Evidence for Merit 1 Q. What is a similarity between Rakuten ( 楽天 ) and Fast Retailing (UNIQLO) ? A. Both of them started using English as an official language in their office. (AFP 2010)

Evidence for Merit 1 ‘The number of company which call for the person who has the English skills is increasing year after year. About managerial posts of sales department of manufacture, it is difficult to find a job offer which doesn’t asking English skills.’ (quoted in Diamond online plus, 2012) ‘Merit’ means worth, excellence, and a quality worthy of praise (Webster’s 1973:562) → good point

Evidence for Merit 2 Tokio Watanabe says about…… the contents of 30 to 40% of an English textbook 4 skills (read, write, listen, speak) Listening skills (Sanseido 2004, MEXT 2006 ) ‘Merit’ means worth, excellence, and a quality worthy of praise (Webster’s 1973:562) → good point

Outline 1. Defining Terms 2. Evidence for Merit 3. Evidence for Demerit 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion

Evidence for Demerit 1. The burden of homeroom teachers 2. The necessity of English education in elementary schools

Evidence for Demerit 1 ‘To form the foundation of pupils’ communication abilities through foreign languages while developing the understanding of languages and cultures through various experiences, fostering a positive attitude toward communication, and familiarizing pupils with the sounds and basic expressions of foreign languages’ (MEXT 2008:1).

Evidence for Demerit 1 英語活動の指導への自信 英語活動の指導への負担感 Source: Benesse (2010) ‘Demerit’ means something that deserves blame (Webster’s 1793:242) → bad point

Evidence for Demerit 2 Source:Benesse(2008)

Evidence for Demerit 2 世界の言語別使用人口 単位 :100 万人 順位言語人口 1 中国語 1, 英語 ヒンディー語 スペイン語 ロシア語 アラビア語 ベンガル語 215 Source: MEXT(2005) ‘Demerit’ means something that deserves blame (Webster’s 1793:242) → bad point

Outline 1. Defining Terms 2. Evidence for Merit 3. Evidence for Demerit 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion

Analysis Merit 1. Japanese company aiming to internationalize 2. Effect on Japanese language

Analysis Merit 1. Japanese company aiming to internationalize △ ― This is not be concerned with the merit of English education in elementary schools. 2. The contents of English classes

Evidence for Merit 2 Tokio Watanabe says about…… the contents of 30 to 40% of an English textbook 4 skills (read, write, listen, speak) Listening skills (Sanseido 2004, MEXT 2006 ) Can’t find specific examples △

Analysis Merit 1. Japanese company aiming to internationalize △ ― This is not be concerned with the merit of English education in elementary schools. 2. The contents of English classes △ ― This evidence is questionable

Analysis Demerit 1. The burden of homeroom teachers 2. The number of English native speaker

Analysis 英語活動の指導への自信 英語活動の指導への負担感 Source: Benesse (2010) ○ Good evidence, but how is it NOW?

Analysis Demerit 1. The burden of homeroom teachers ― Good evidence, but how is it now? 2. The number of English native speaker

Analysis

Analysis Treating English as an official or a quasi- official langusge National: 54 Population: 2,107,312,000 (MEXT, 2005) English plays an important role as the world common language.

Analysis △

Analysis Demerit 1. The burden of homeroom teachers ○ ― Good evidence, but how is it now? 2. The number of English native speaker △ ― English is spoken all over the world as an official language.

Outline 1. Defining Terms 2. Evidence for Merit 3. Evidence for Demerit 4. Analysis 5. Conclusion

Conclusion Merit or Demerit? The answer is…… Demerit ○ △

Compulsory English Education in Japanese Elementary Schools: Merit or demerit? B11507 Haruka Yamashiro