English
Program Overview
Background
“Foreign language activity” will become a mandatory subject in primary schools due to the recent revisions in the Course of Study (the national curriculum guidelines). Before the new guidelines take effect in 2011, teachers’ English ability enhancement, classroom leadership and curriculum development will be a pressing issue among all national primary schools. In an effort to comply with and exceed these standards, the university has designed an educational program called “Communication Research and Development for Elementary English Program” (CReDEEP) to assist teachers and ensure a smooth transition. CReDEEP consists of the following:
Program Establishment (2 tracks)
“Elementary School English Activity Instructor” (from 2010)
“English Communication and Research Coordinator” (from 2011)Research Implementation
Research on teaching and learning standards in elementary school foreign language education both locally and abroad
Research and formulate teaching standards based on elementary school English activitiesInternational Symposium
Student Learning Outcome
Upon completion of the program, students are expected to have a high level of understanding in English language education in elementary schools. Students are also expected to be pioneers in English language education within their respective workplaces, such as language leaders in elementary school, advisors of English department in the Board of Education, or researchers in prefectural teacher training centers. Students who wish to continue to conduct research are encouraged to enter a doctoral program for further studies. This pilot program will greatly impact not only on the current teacher training program but also future programs across all the universities within the nation by setting the new criteria in the field of English language curriculum development and teaching standards. The ultimate goal of this program is to create and achieve a solid connection among all sixteen years of education (elementary school to college) through proper training of language teachers.
Elementary School English Activity Instructor
Upon completion of the program, the students are expected to possess all of the following skills:
Practical Teaching
Organize and direct communication-based English class.
Material Development
Create educational materials, in conjunction with the English Note, that are suitable for the school environment.
English Fluency
Teach class in English, with the focus on basic listening and speaking skills.
English Communication and Research Coordinator
Upon completion of the program, the students should have all the qualities of an Elementary School English Activity Instructor and fulfill the following research and development requirements:
Research and Development
- Develop and introduce activities relevant to language and communication skills to support students in foreign language learning.
- Collaborate with the Board of Education, regional/local school teachers, and/or private companies in material and curriculum development.
- Plan and conduct workshops for teacher training programs.
Internship
All students are required to complete the Elementary English Activity Internship, a comprehensive and intensive teaching practicum that will take place in one of our affiliated schools. An optional Oversea Practical Internship is also available to teachers who entered the English Communication and Research Coordinator track.
Elementary English Activity Internship (Required)
On-site training and materials development in select elementary school by applying skills and knowledge learned throughout the program.
Oversea Practical Internship (Optional)
Study abroad to sharpen the language and intercultural communication skills at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (one of our affiliated universities). Gain valuable teaching experiences through home-stay program and mentoring students at foreign elementary school and/or intermediate school.
Program Operation
The program objective is to improve English education in Japanese elementary schools. Focus will be primarily placed on language classes for students and will be integrated into other essential areas, such as child development, physical education and fine arts. Support and maintenance of foreign language activities will be made possible by providing elementary school teachers with the necessary expertise through formal training. In addition, research and development initiatives will assist in continuing program modification and enhancement.
Administration has been installed to facilitate the operation of this program. The current faculty is in charge of, but not limited to, the following tasks:
- Organize and collect teaching materials/resources
- Native speaking English teacher mentoring support
- E-learning system support
- International exchange program research and development
- Establish certification criteria after program completion
- Elementary school English curriculum research and development
Graduate Education Reform Program
Select university graduate schools, master or doctoral, offer programs which are sponsored by the Japanese government for the purpose of education and training for a diverse work force. This was advocated by the Ministry of Education in 2007, to promote innovation of the Japanese graduate school system and globalization of the learning environment. Valuable information will be collected throughout this program and will subsequently be applied to improve future graduate education. In 2009, a total of 163 education programs were submitted from universities throughout Japan. This program was among the 29 that received approval and accreditation.
What’s CReDEEP?
The acronym CReDEEP is abbreviated from the program’s official title: Communication Research & Development for Elementary English Program. The letter e accentuated by an overlying image of an arch of sunrays represents kids with a “gotcha” expression. The tri-circle logo uses three different colors, each with different representation. Green associates with the color of Hyogo University of Teacher Education, red symbolizes enthusiasm towards education, and purple implies wisdom.
