By Keiichi Inai

At elementary schools around the country a period for integrated study was established based on the new Courses of Study implemented in 2002. During the period for integrated study, English conversation activities will be carried out for international understanding at many elementary schools. The aims of the activities are to learn positive communication using experiential English activities that are suitable for elementary school students.

In March of 2003, MEXT (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) announced a plan to cultivate Japanese with English speaking abilities. One of the goals of the plan is that at elementary schools where English conversation activities take place during the period for integrated study, about one-third of the sessions will be guided by personnel such as foreign teachers, those who are proficient in English and junior high school English teachers. However, teacher-centered methods for cramming knowledge should be avoided. It is important that a good attitude and motivation and communication are fostered by the activities where students use English for themselves.

In Hokkaido, English classes are carried out at many elementary schools. English activities at Okayama elementary school and Kanno junior high school in Mikasa are especially remarkable because they are the first to be combined with the 9-year education system in Hokkaido from this year, and a new subject about international understanding has been introduced. At Okayama elementary school, English conversation activities take place about once a week from the first grade. The goal is to get students used to English conversation by playing games and singing songs in English and to learn positive communication skills with native English speakers at an early age. The activities are planned to integrate English classes at junior high school, so we should keep on an eye on the development of the English education system.

Because of such English activities like those at Okayama elementary school, the demand for English teachers has been increasing. However, just increasing the number of English teachers and ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) isn't enough. Japanese English teachers need to study in English-speaking countries and gain abilities in communication. In addition, MEXT promotes the placement of ALTs with experience and the use of local personnel who are proficient in English. English teachers with experience are able to teach students the pleasures of communicating in English.

One of the things about the importance of learning English is studying about foreign culture through communication. In order to communicate with foreign people, we need to improve Japanese language skills, which is the basis of all intellectual activities in Japan. In other words, it is necessary to foster basic communication ability, so we need the ability to express appropriately and understand accurately the Japanese language. However, these abilities have been declining recently in Japan. To counter this problem, recommendations for improving Japanese language skills have been promoted. They will hopefully improve not only Japanese language usage, but also basic abilities in communication.

As Japan progresses toward globalization, we should use the power of language of both Japanese and English. The educational system in Japan should teach students English as a second language so that they will have the ability to communicate. However, the current style of teaching English classes in junior high schools and high schools must be avoided―just teaching students phrases out of textbooks and evaluating them by the score on paper tests. In other words, the classes must be geared to the abilities of communication and language. It is also important to use English naturally in daily life like bilingual people. Students could then have enthusiasm for speaking English, be motivated to study English and to learn English to be bilingual. Communication with native English speakers is the goal of the English activities at elementary schools, not studying English for examinations.