Transcript English in Elementary School

English in Elementary School
ALT Skill Development Conference
Monday, January 23rd
Martin Sedaghat
History of ES English
• TOEFL score data for 2004-2005 put Japan
next to last in Asia, just one point above North
Korea. Is English being introduced too late?
• Since 2002, about 97% of Japanese ES have
introduced some form of English lessons, but
with widely varying frequencies.
• Compulsory English classes officially began in
April 2011, with all 5th and 6th graders having
one lesson per week (35 periods in one year).
History of ES English
• The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren)
strongly backs ES English education, citing a lack of
employees who can use English.
• 70% of parents and guardians support compulsory
English education.
• Some academics oppose English in ES, saying that
many teachers are untrained in planning and
presenting lessons, and that Japanese children
should spend more time studying their mother
tongue.
Goals of ES English
Goals of ES English
• Preparation for JHS English
• Alphabet and phonics
• Classroom English (open your books,
take out a pencil, work together...)
• “Thinking in English” (dog, train,
baseball...)
• Confidence
Challenges of ES English
Challenges of ES English
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Pronunciation (not katakana)
100% English vs. 100% translation
No English outside of the classroom
Shy, embarassed, or low-level students
Motivation (why should we study
English?)
1. Preparation
2. Presentation
3. Mindset
Preparation
Tools
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Flashcards (organize by theme)
Big books
Posters
Maps
Realia (authentic objects)
Puppets (for youngest classes)
Movies (holiday themes, music videos)
Laminate. Everything.
Curriculum
1st and 2nd year:
Greetings, introductions, and themed vocabulary
(animals, food, body parts...)
3rd and 4th year:
Build on 1st and 2nd year English, focus on speaking
and listening
5th and 6th year:
Speaking, listening, reading, and writing
Communication and simple grammar structures
Students use English to talk about themselves and
their world
Lesson Planning
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Circle Time
Review
New language/vocabulary
Short activity
Check understanding
Main activity
English Room
• Physically sets English apart from
normal, daily classes
• Chairs and desks can be set up for
different games/activities
• Space for theme/culture displays
• Use as discipline (if students
misbehave, return to homeroom)
English Room Themes
Alphabet
Numbers
Feelings
Days and months
Colors and shapes
Animals
Directions
Phonics (easy words)
Body parts
Clothes
Food and drink
Adjectives
Countries
Jobs
Classroom items
Polite English
Presentation
Circle Time
• Begin every class with the same
rhythm and repetition, adding to the
“circle” throughout the year.
• Greeting, weather, day, month, how are
you?, alphabet, numbers, chants, song,
book...
• Useful as warm-up and English “switch
on”, as well as review
• 5-10 minutes
Songs and Chants
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Background music to set atmosphere
Match music to class attitude
Music to signal transitions/activities
Music to introduce (and review)
language points
• TPR music (connect listening, singing,
and movement)
• Repeat multiple times
English Speeches
• Students have a chance to use English
to describe themselves and their world
• Help building confidence before
entering Junior High School
• Students practice vital non-verbal
parts of communication (eye contact,
posture, body language/gestures)
• Connect to JHS and HS speech
contests
Phonics
• Part of Circle Time?
• Start with individual letter sounds (A is
for apple), then vowel sounds (hat, hit,
hot), and move into 3 and 4 letter
words
• Gradually merge into easy sight
reading
• Spelling Bee!
Mindset
Homeroom Teacher
• Discipline (not ALT’s job)
• Join students (learn games and
activities)
• Help slow learners
• Communication with ALT (easy
conversation, information about school
events)
• Students should see their HRTs using
English
Points to Think About
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English instructions and praise
Name cards
Pair vs. group work
Competitive games
Students vs. themselves (bingo)
Students vs. each other (quiz game)
Multiple Intelligences
• Use different kinds of lessons and
activities to appeal to different kinds of
learning
Arts (drawing and crafts)
Music (singing and dancing)
Drama (skits)
Sports
Puzzles and memorization
Play to your own strengths!
• Use your own interests, hobbies,
background, and experiences in your
teaching
• If a lesson is interesting for you, it will
be interesting for your students
Thank you and good luck!
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