Critical Thinking in Japanese Education?
Looks like the Ministry of Education (MEXT) in Japan is trying to overhaul Kokugo Kyoiku (literally, National Language Education).
According to Asashi Shinbun, MEXT is going to move away from the traditional four-skills pedagogy that emphasizes the learning of "grammar" through vocabulary, syntax, and style as well as the interpretation of literary text.
The new direction is the one that emphasizes "logical thinking" through proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing in various "modes" of discourse--dialogue, report, summary, and explanation.
Labels: announcement
7/28/2006 07:28:00 PM | permlink |
3 Comments:
Hi Paul! I just found your blog for the first time. Very cool.
Maybe you can get someone from MEXT to speak at the SSLW in Tokyo. Would be interesting to hear the rationale and proposed approach...
I have also read that MEXT sponsors special SELHi schools so that students can communicate better in English and not only acquire a theoretical knowledge of the language. Does this contradict or come into conflict with the current examination system in Japan?
I read the following article in Asahi Shimbun: POINT OF VIEW/ Shinichiro Noriguchi：English education leaves much to be desired. This mentioned, "... that Japanese society has been completely duped by the idea that the TOEIC test and the development of "communicative" skills in English will finally solve the long-standing problem of inept English education."
All these seem pretty diverse views. Wonder what is the solution...
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