Overview

This book investigates recent changes in language education policy and the implementation of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Japan’s public elementary schools. Through interviews with policymakers, school principals and elementary school teachers, it examines the challenges in creating, transmitting and applying this new language policy. It reveals not only the contents of language policy documents, but the political and socioeconomic rationale for introducing EFL into Japan’s national curriculum. This book will aid understanding of various macro-level discourses, such as progressive and conservative views of schooling in Japan and how globalization has affected attitudes toward English education. It will be of interest to researchers in language policy and planning, second language acquisition, second language teacher education and Japanese studies.

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9781836681519

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Reviews

Employing multiple case study methods, Ferguson colorfully illustrates and critically examines how social structure, power and ideologies shape policy implementation, focusing on English education in Japanese elementary schools. Presented with conceptual clarity and accessible language, the study offers valuable global insights and profound implications for understanding educational reforms. * Yuko Goto Butler, University of Pennsylvania, USA *

Author Information

Peter Ferguson is Associate Professor of Languages and Education at Kindai University, Japan. Following 30 years as a language teacher in Japan, his work explores educational linguistics, language policies, English education for young learners and language teacher education.

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