Elementary School English Education in Japan: Changing Policies, Issues and Challenges 1) 日本の小学校英語教育政策の変容と課題 WAKITA Hirofumi 脇田博文 Abstract 概 要 新学習指導要領の実施に伴い 年 月から 小学校 年生での英語活動が必修化される運びとなった しかし これまで同様に 外国語活動 の一環であり 教科 としての扱いではない 韓国 台湾等の東アジア諸外国の英語教育政策と比較する時 カリキュラム 教員 教材 授業時間 実施学年等 多くの政策的課題が曖昧なままに残る 一方で 学校現場では 実態として 低 中学年からの英語教育が拡大しつつあり 政策は後手に回っている 本稿は これまでの日本の小学校英語教育の変化を4つの時期に分けて概観しながら 日本の英語教育政策としての特徴と問題点を明らかにすることを目的とする 併せて 今後の英 3
語教育政策の方向性について示唆を行う キーワード : 英語教育政策 小学校 外国語活動 課題と方向性 1. An Overview of EEP Changes in Elementary Schools 1.1 Full-fledged discussions about English education at an early age (1986-) 1.2 An experimental study of English education in elementary schools as part of international understanding studies (1992-) 2) 1.3 The new national strategic concept and the action plan to cultivate Japanese with English abilities (2002-) Eigo ga tsukaeru Nihonjin 4 国際文化研究第 号 ( )
1.4 The new national curriculum in 2008, and the implementation of English Education in elementary schools as foreign language activities from 2011 onwards (2008-) 2. Status of English and Objectives of Foreign Language Activities in the National Curriculum in principle, a foreign language refers to English 35 teaching hours are required to be set aside per year for 5th and 6th grades. to deepen pupils understanding about language and culture through the experience of foreign language learning to develop a positive attitude towards communicating in a foreign language to allow pupils to familiarize themselves with sounds and basic expressions of a foreign language. to foster a base for communication ability by experiencing English activities based upon the three above-mentioned objectives in an integrated manner, which may create a link with future studies in junior high schools 5
3. Decentralization of EEP in Elementary Schools and Ensuing Problems 3) 4. The Situation of English Education in Elementary Schools (as of 2010) Obunsya, Benesse. Benesse 6 国際文化研究第 号 ( )
5. Conclusion: Critical issues and Challenges 4) 5) 6) 7
Notes References Selected Papers from the Twelfth International Symposium on English Teaching The Spread of English in Taiwan: Changing Uses and Shifting Attitudes. English Language Teaching in East Asia Toda Changing Policies and Practices, Shougakko gakusyu shidouyouryo kaisetsu: gaikokugo katsudou hen 8 国際文化研究第 号 ( )
Gengokyouiku toshiteno Eigokyouiku Appendix Policy Changes in Elementary School English Education in Japan, Korea and Taiwan Japan Korea Taiwan 1980 The 6th national curriculum (-1991) 1981 The 4th national curriculum (-1987) 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 The 7th national curriculum (-2001) The 5th National curriculum (-1991) The 6th national curriculum (-1996) Revision of the national curriculum for elementary schools Revision of the national curriculum for elementary schools 9
1997 Japan Korea Taiwan The 7th national curriculum (-2008) 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 The 8th national curriculum (-2010) 2005 2006 2007 2008 The revised 7th national curriculum (-present) 2009 2010 2011 The 9th national curriculum Provisional 9-year integrated curriculum for compulsory education was publicized. 9-year integrated curriculum for compulosry education 10 国際文化研究第 号 ( )