picture album page 4 of 2003
May
Guest speaker: Thorfinn Tait
Date: Saturday, May 17 (2003)
Title: Why can't Japanese speak English?
11 people attended the meeting
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Akita JALT
Email invitation (May 8) sent to Akita JALT list:
| Invitation to the May meeting: Many have doubted the way most Japanese public high schools teach English. In a word the method might be described in general as grammar translation method and the teacher centered not the learner oriented. It is simply not effective for learning practical English or developing communicative skills. It might work only for the paper "juken eigo" type of tests, but hardly anything else. Some think it is a waste of energy and money on a national scale. Isn't the situation a problem? How can we better it if is it? Is there anything we can do? Social needs are changing. Japan and the world want more workers with practical English skills. Examinations are changing, too. For example many universities are starting to implement listening tests. In 2005 TOEFL will start its new test, which requires examinees to have proper listening and speaking skills. The Ministry of Education has been sponsoring and advocating the Strategic Plans to educate "Japanese who can use English" since last summer. Will the conventional grammar translation method be effective for all changing environment? I am very happy to welcome Thorfinn Tait, an ALT as a guest speaker to our May meeting and listen to what he will have to say about Japanese English education. And we will have active and good discussion about it. Please join us. Takeshi Suzuki (May 8, 2003) |
| "GENKI" English education homepage by Takeshi Suzuki Read My Diary 4(from January 1, 2003)  go back to "genki" homepage index |