Possible English Teaching Methods for Japanese Senior High School
214M018 N. T.
English teaching methods have been changing for centuries. Researchers have been pursuing the better ways to teach English in general and in specific conditions. However, from my teaching experience at six senior high schools for 38 years, I feel that English teachers in Japan cling to the traditional methods, which are also linked to the university entrance examination. I happened to find a communicative approach at the sixth senior high school. The teachers there encouraged the students to fulfill various kinds of tasks by using English. That was the task-based language teaching (TBLT).
In Chapter 1, I ran a review by checking my long teaching from the viewpoint of teaching methods.
In Chapter 2, I did literature survey in order to ensure advantageous ideas for TBLT. Some researchers, Benati (2013), Ellis (2003), Long (2015) and others, and Japanese researchers, Izumi (2009), Matsumura (2012, 2015) and others approve and recommend TBLT. There are also some data of the effectiveness of TBLT.
In Chapter 3, I conducted a few questionnaires to the senior high school graduates I taught, and also to freshmen of M University with an additional descriptive study during the semester of April-July in 2015.
The fact is that many teachers in senior high schools still teach English through GTM even today. The problem is that the dominating teaching method is the easiest for teachers to practice. It is also said to be teacher-friendly. However, by introducing TBLT to English teaching, it is certain that the students' need and motivation will be improved. This was proved by my questionnaires. TBLT will be student-friendly.
I presented the following pyramid-style figures which illustrate the main methods in present situation and effective methods for better English teaching. My suggestion is that an effective English teaching method at base is TBLT with extra GTM and PPP.
I believe that TBLT is a promising method. If TBLT becomes popular in the first step of English class in every senior high school, students will be sure to become practical English users.