Navigating English Policy and Practice in Japan's Primary Schools

Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-1-83668-151-9
Verlag: Multilingual Matters

Buch, Englisch, 195 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 482 g

This book investigates recent changes in language education policy and the implementation of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Japan’s public elementary schools. Through interviews with policymakers, school principals and elementary school teachers, it examines the challenges in creating, transmitting and applying this new language policy. It reveals not only the contents of language policy documents, but the political and socioeconomic rationale for introducing EFL into Japan’s national curriculum. This book will aid understanding of various macro-level discourses, such as progressive and conservative views of schooling in Japan and how globalization has affected attitudes toward English education. It will be of interest to researchers in language policy and planning, second language acquisition, second language teacher education and Japanese studies.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ferguson, Peter

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Schulen, Schulleitung Grundschulen, Hauptschulen
• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Pädagogik Bildungssystem Bildungspolitik, Bildungsreform
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Fremdsprachenerwerb und -didaktik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachpolitik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments

Note on Name Conventions

Introduction: Ethnographic Insights into Elementary English Language Policy in Japan

Chapter 1. Language Classrooms: Competing Ideologies on Language, Culture and Identity

Chapter 2. The Politics of Policy Formulation: Acceptance and Resistance

Chapter 3. The Players: MEXT, the Board of Education and Schools

Chapter 4. Policy or How the Ministry of Education Controls Language Learning

Chapter 5. The Role of Textbooks

Chapter 6. Teachers Bringing English Language Policies to Life

Chapter 7. English Lessons Reimagined: Making Policy More Meaningful for Young Learners

Conclusion

Appendices

References

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Ferguson, Peter
Peter Ferguson is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Languages and Education at Kindai University, Japan. Following 30 years as a language teacher in Japan, his work explores educational linguistics, language policies, English education for young learners and language teacher education.

Peter Ferguson is Associate Professor of Languages and Education at Kindai University, Japan. Following 30 years as a language teacher in Japan, his work explores educational linguistics, language policies, English education for young learners and language teacher education.