RRJ#3

Reference
Shiomi, N. (2009, Nov. 12th). Primary school stresses planning lessons. Daily Yomiuri Online. Rertieved on Nov 17, 2009 from
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/20091112DY14001.htm

Summary

In this article, the author wrote about the elementary school English ecucation. In Chiba, which is near Tokyo, Narita primary school started teaching English for students in 1996 for the first time. Later, schools which have classes in English have increased everywhere since 2000. In the class, teachers mainly use English with ALT, Assistant Language Teacher, and as a result of it, a lot of students try to use and speak English actively. In addition, primary school teachers discuss English classes with junior high school teachers, and then they learn how to teach and shere their ideas. But teachers who can teach English are still a few, so many primary school teacher are worried about teaching English to the students. Moreover, the English classes are going to start in 2011 officially, and teachers have to consider about how to teach by themselces.

Reaction

I`m also interested in the primary Englsih education, because the course of sutdy is going to change in 2011. In the earlystage, is is better for students such as primary school students to touch or learn English. This must be a good chance to change Japan`s English education. Although it will start from 5th and 6th grade student in next course of study, English education should begin from an earlier grade because younger children can understand and use what they learn sooner than older people. But the primary school teachers won`t be able to teach soon, because they haven`t taught English before. Moreover, they have no standard to teach English, so they must fing their own teaching. This makes it difficult for them to teach English. They need to communicate with Junior high school teachers, and take lessons to teach it. Every primary school should follow Narita primary school`s example. In terms of students, they won`t deal with English soon, even if teachers can teach English. If students aren`t intersted in English, it will be nonsense to continue to consider it for a long time. If I were teacher, first of all, I would teach an easy greeting, game, and song. The next course of study`s purpose is to touch English in the early stage, so a teacher should use materials where students can have an interest in English. Although teachers have many problems, I wish English education would succeed from now onward.