KOTESOL International Conference 2016
(Concurrent Session)
Cory Koby, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University/ JALT Sendai Chapter President
Communicative Language Teaching in Japanese High School: Where Are We Now?
Abstract
Japan's New Course of Study took effect at the secondary level in 2013. Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology's (MEXT) placed a strong emphasis on communicative competence which is to be realized through communicative language teaching. The 2015-16 academic year was the first opportunity we have had to analyze the degree to which changes have taken place inside the classroom in light of the new curriculum. This nationwide study (n=106) of Japanese teachers of English (JTEs) employs a mixed-methods design and investigates changes in Japanese Teachers' perceptions, attitudes, and practice of communicative language teaching. Results will be presented which indicate that there is a significant divide between public and private school teachers, and the presenter will discuss causes of this divide.
Biographicals
Cory Koby will complete his MA in ELT at the University of East London in August, 2016. He taught in a private secondary school in Sendai, Japan for seven years, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Miyagi Gakuin Women's University. He is serving his third term as JALT Sendai chapter president. His present research focuses on the attitudes and perceptions of Japanese secondary school teachers of English in light of recent curriculum changes, specifically investigating the viability of communicative language teaching in high school. He is also currently involved in the design and implementation of a two-year extensive reading program through which he is establishing realistic yet ambitious reading volume goalposts whilst investigating learner motivation.
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