The Yomiuri ShimbunHow to engage children’s interest? The abilities of teachers who will use new textbooks in class are key to that.

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has announced the results of the screening of elementary school textbooks to be used from next spring. They are based on the new teaching guidelines, which advance the idea of “proactive, interactive deep learning.”

Students will form their own opinions after reading data from tables, charts and graphs. Each student will analyze data and then hold discussions with classmates based on results of their analysis. The new Japanese and arithmetic textbooks contain descriptions that promote such activities.

It is hoped the new textbooks will be used to foster children’s thinking and expressive abilities.

English textbooks appeared for the first time, as English will become a formal subject for fifth- and sixth-grade students. Conventional “foreign-language activities” have focused on listening and speaking to familiarize students with English. However, with the new textbooks, students will also learn writing and reading.

It can be said that early English education is beneficial in that it gives children wide ranges of options for the future. It will also contribute to fostering human resources who can play active roles internationally. However, having children learn English at an early stage becomes pointless if it produces children who dislike English.

English textbooks that passed the screening contain contents that familiarize elementary school students with the language through activities such as self-introductions and producing a table of birthdays. While students should be given careful attention so that they do not fail to understand, it must be kept in mind that fun lessons should be conducted.

Eye on digital society

A matter of concern is the abilities of teachers. In many classrooms, homeroom teachers who have no experience of teaching English will teach the language. It has been pointed out that some teachers lack enthusiasm.

English textbooks contain many items that involve having students listen to audio materials. It may be wondered if teachers who are not good at English will avoid having dialogues with students and rely on machines to conduct lessons.

It is an urgent task to enhance teacher training. Boards of education must work with universities and English educational institutes to strive to increase teachers’ abilities.

The ministry has increased the number of people it is recruiting as teachers specialized in teaching English. But the number is far short of what is needed. It is important to actively secure assistant language teachers and outside human resources with excellent English skills.

New textbooks also take a step forward on how to respond to digital society. Scanning QR codes in textbooks with tablets and other devices will allow students to watch videos. Actual footage, such as on “how to use a compass,” would help children understand.

At the same time, textbooks for ethics and social studies touch on insidious bullying on social media as well as points of caution over quoting information from the internet.

Incidents involving young people, triggered by ill-considered postings, have occurred one after another. Negative aspects of the internet should be taught from the level of elementary school.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2019)Speech

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