It is an explicit fact that English education in Japan is in the midst of rapid change.　A new course of study has been implemented in senior high schools as well as junior high schools.　 The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has released a new plan of English education for the coming new era: Developing a Strategic Plan to Cultivate "Japanese with English Abilities."　Meanwhile, education of foreign language and culture has been a focus of controversy in elementary schools.

 

　　 Amid this overwhelming trend, we have to make our target and standpoint clear, and pay close attention to the improvement of our lessons. We have a lot of problems to be solved through self-development and free and extensive discussion.

 

　　 This document, Communicative English ---A Practical Guide---, is targeted to give some clue to solve these problems, especially topics about assistant English teachers and team teaching. It is absolutely necessary to exchange information on what other teachers and assistant teachers are thinking and doing, and to share their superb lesson ideas: creative writing lessons, confident speeches by students and dramatic reading lessons etc.

 

　　We are going to revise some parts from this year if necessary. Two assistant language teachers, Richard Beal and Norman Cook at the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education help to revise the book. They have collected useful contributions from several assistant English teachers in addition to their own research.　The contributions are highly appreciated.

 

　　 Feedback to this edition will be greatly appreciated.　We welcome comments from assistant English teachers, Japanese teachers of English and any others who are involved or interested in English education.　Furthermore, anyone is welcome to enrich this document by submitting more practical information: lesson plans, sample activities etc.　Please do not hesitate to give us any piece of information to share on our website.

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