Problems and Solutions

The Japanese Government (MEXT) has recognised that present action is required to be taken if student English ability throughout Japan is to be increased and assured.

I.　Problems

II. Solutions

I..Problems

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has formulated various measures such as the revision of the Ministry's Courses of Study with a further focus on cultivating students’ basic and practical communication abilities. However, in order to make such improvements bear fruit, it is necessary to carry out simultaneously a number of different measures. These include improving teaching methods, improving the teaching ability of teachers, improving the selection system for school and university applicants as well as creating better curricula.

Furthermore, native English speakers have become an issue: it has been argued that both the number of ALT applicants and the quality of those applicants have decreased considerably over the past few years.
 

II. Solutions

Recently, MEXT issued a report detailing its plans to use the English competency test and evaluate the level of English that Japanese Teachers of English possesses throughout Japan since there has been some debate as to the quality of the English teaching being administered. They have stipulated that a minimum score of TOEIC 730 points is required for a JTE to continue to work as a professional English Teacher within a given institution. 

With regard to teacher training, various ‘skill-up’ courses have been scheduled during the summer months with TEFL/TESOL Trainers to raise awareness as to the latest methods and approaches used in the EFL classroom.

The Japaneese government - in conjunction with CLAIR - have decided to extend the maximum period of employment from three years to five years through making flexible the terms of employment of the JET program and to utilize ALTs as special part-time instructors who can teach alone in class, the effective use of ALTs will be promoted. At the same time, the use of ALTs will be encouraged by meeting the placement requests of local municipal bodies as flexibly as possible. From 2003, by making an additional quota to the fixed number of teachers at junior high schools, the aim is to appoint 300 people as full-time junior high school teachers over the next three years with the future goal of appointing 1,000 junior and senior high school teachers. Thus, the use of native speakers of English, such as ALTs with excellent experience, will be promoted.

See the CLAIR website on this topic.

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