ELT Policy Directions in Multilingual Japan

摘要: ELT policies in Japan have been extremely controversial and not entirely consistent recent years. An advisory panel to the Prime Minister proposed make English Japan’s official second language, which produced an enormous debate but concrete steps implement proposal. Teachers at secondary level continue teach preparation for university entrance examinations, whereas 2002 was introduced public elementary schools with a focus on communicative English. In this chapter, I analyze debates concerns each of these areas. Although there is general call more effective, communicatively-oriented education Japan, some educators policy makers argue that allow emphasis willingly subject imperialism. On other hand, participants limited their attention almost exclusively language majority population i.e. what spread might mean Japanese. The question how reconcile influence power need nurture minority languages crucial given increasing linguistic cultural diversity, rarely addressed.