Abstract
The discourse of English as an international language (EIL) has a strong presence in formal policies and discussion related to English teaching in Japan. For example, the press release entitled ‘Developing a strategic plan to cultivate “Japanese with English abilities”’ put forward by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2002 began with the following opening paragraph:
With the progress of globalization in the economy and in society, it is essential that our children acquire communication skills in English, which has become a common international language, in order for living in the 21st century. This has become an extremely important issue both in terms of the future of our children and the further development of Japan as a nation. (MEXT, 2002)
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Berwick, R. and Ross, S. (1989) ‘Motivation after matriculation: are Japanese learners of English still alive after exam hell?’, JALT Journal, 11, 193–210
Bolton, K. (2006) ‘World Englishes today’ in B. B. Kachru, Y. Kachru and C. L. Nelson (eds) The handbook of world Englishes (Malden, Mass.: Blackwell).
Crawford-Lange, L. (1985) ‘Foreign language enrollment: why are they declining?What can be done?’, NAASP Bulletin, 69, 14–21.
Decke-Cornill, H. (2003) ‘“We would have to invent the language we are supposed to teach”: the issue of English as a lingua franca in language education in Germany’ in M. Byram and P. Grundy (eds) Context and culture in language teaching (Clevedon: Multilingual Matters).
Dodick, D. J. (1996) ‘A study of the attitudes and motivation of high school foreign language students’, Canadian Modern Language Review, 52, 577–95.
Dörnyei, Z. (1994) ‘Motivation and motivating in the foreign language classroom’, The Modern Language Journal, 78, 273–84.
Friedrich, P. (2000) ‘English in Brazil: functions and attitudes’, World Englishes, 22 (2), 215–23.
Friedrich, P. and Matsuda, A. (2010) ‘When five words are not enough: a conceptual and terminological discussion of English as a Lingua Franca’, International Multilingual Research Journal, 44, 20–30.
Jenkins, J. (2007) English as a lingua franca: attitude and identity (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
Jenkins, J., Modiano, M. and Seidlehofer, B. (2001) ‘Euro-English’, English Today, 17, 13–19.
McKay, S. (2002) Teaching English as an international language (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
Mantle-Bromley, C. (1995) ‘Positive attitudes and realistic beliefs: links to proficiency’, Modern Language Journal, 79, 372–86.
Matsuda, A. (2000) ‘Japanese attitudes toward English: a case study of high school students’. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Purdue University.
Matsuda, A. (2003) ‘The ownership of English in Japanese secondary schools’, World Englishes, 22, 483–96.
Matsuda, A. (2006) ‘Negotiating ELT assumptions in EIL classrooms’ in J. Edge (ed.) (Re)locating TESOL in an age of empire (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
MEXT (12 July 2002) ‘Developing a strategic plan to cultivate “Japanese with English Abilities”’. Available at news/2002/07/020901.htm
MEXT (31 March 2003) ‘Regarding the establishment of an action plan to cultivate “Japanese with English Abilities”’. Available at http://www.mext.go.jp/ english/topics/03072801.htm
Murray, H. (2003) ‘Swiss English teachers and Euro-English: attitudes to a nonnative variety’, Bulletin Suisse de linguistique appliquée, 77, 147–65.
Sugita, M. and Takeuchi, O. (2009) ‘What can teachers do to motivate their students? A classroom research on motivational strategy use in the Japanese EFL context’, Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 4, 21–35.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2011 Aya Matsuda
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Matsuda, A. (2011). ‘Not Everyone Can Be a Star’: Students’ and Teachers’ Beliefs about English Teaching in Japan. In: Seargeant, P. (eds) English in Japan in the Era of Globalization. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230306196_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230306196_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-31502-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-30619-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Language & Linguistics CollectionEducation (R0)