Preface

　

"Although many Japanese people study English for at least six years, it may be difficult for them to produce even a simple conversational sentence.　This is because in the past, the emphasis had been mainly on memorizing vocabulary and grammar.　Students had very little opportunity to use the English they had studied in a Communicative Context."

- Anonymous, Communicative English: 2000 Ed.

　

　

English Education in Japan has changed enormously over recent years.　The focus has shifted from teaching mostly grammar and translation to the development of the four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking; emphasizing the need to teach and use 'communicative English' in the classroom. Very recently, considerable emphasis has also been placed on creating yet more interactive and dynamic lesson planning to accommodate the multitude of learner styles that vary from student to student.　

　

Although many teachers are changing their teaching style, some have found they have received very little practical guidance about how to teach English 'communicatively'. At the Education Center it is our aim to provide teachers with more information about this approach to English education.　In particular, we intend to highlight various ways to expand creative use of textbooks so that lessons can be taught communicatively.　This website has been specifically designed for Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs) and Assistant English Teachers (AETs) actively involved in Team-teaching. It contains teaching ideas, advice, and also strategies for self-improvement.　

　

Team Teaching plays a vital role in teaching communicative English.　This firsthand exposure to a native English-speaker provides students with an unparalleled opportunity to see studying a foreign language as a practical tool for actual communication, rather than just a set of grammar rules for translation.　Furthermore, this guide aims to provide some ideas for an effective teaching relationship between the JTE and AET.

　

This year's edition of Communicative English: a Practical Guide varies significantly from previous editions in several ways.　Firstly, this edition is being exclusively distributed online, rather than in hardcopy format.　We hope this makes the text more accessible to teachers all over the prefecture.　Secondly, we have included basic background information on best-practiced teaching methodologies, and how they can best be utilized in your English classes in Japan.　Hopefully, this will provide a quick and useful starting point for AETs with limited teaching experience.　We have also made the text more applicable to both JTEs and AETs, rather than merely focusing on one or the other.　Furthermore, we have provided a quick reference guide to basic English grammar, a section on the cultural and linguistic differences between various native English-speaking countries, and we have expanded the section on "Authentic Exercises and Activities (Games)".

　

Lastly, this online guide is being produced in conjunction with another helpful resource by Vinko Bosnyak entitled: Team Teaching Gambare!　This book provides extremely useful templates for activities and games that can be tailored to suit any lesson for any ability.　Links to appropriate sections in Team Teaching: Gambare! will be provided in relevant chapters of this manual.

　

We hope you will find the information in this publication most helpful!

　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Rich Beal, ALT

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Norm Cook, ALT

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 In-Service Training Management Division

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Gifu Prefectural Board of Education

　

With contributions from:

Vinko Bosnyak

Sheila Ryan-Hara

Justin Dart

Angela Brenner

　

This edition was published in January, 2003

　

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