Factors Influencing English Education in Japanese High Schools: A Survey of Teacher Perceptions

It is often pointed out that, in Japanese high schools, English teachers depend almost entirely upon the Japanese grammar-translation approach. The practicality of a language is often neglected, so high school English education cannot meet the demand of the times, i.e. internationalization or students’ needs (conversation). This paper investigates seven factors which influence teachers’ decisions as to how to teach English. Through the questionnaire responded to by ninety Japanese teachers of English, the following hierarchy of influential factors was revealed: 1) class size, 2) student characteristics, 3) textbooks, 4) quality of teachers, 5) college entrance examinations, 6) curriculum, and 7) educational philosophy. This paper incorporates implications and suggestions for Japanese teachers to change their perceptions toward these seven factors in order to improve their teaching methodology and, ultimately, English education in Japan.

Thesis Author: Kawakami, Hiroshi

Year Completed: 1993

Thesis Chair: Lynn Henrichsen