English Support Lounge

The English Support Lounge at this university, about which I posted on May 18, has a new web site. Give it a look. Unfortunately it is only in Japanese, but there are a few photos attached.

Follow-up: Education gets another subject

On Wednesday, May 17, I posted on the education reform bill now being discussed in Japanese legislature, and I mentioned that one of the more controversial parts of the bill is the discussion of patriotism in education. Recently I saw a television show, NHK's "Nichiyou Touron," with a show entitled, "Basic Education Law, Why now? Patriotism: Where's the gap in education?" (My translation) There were representatives from all of the major political parties, all discussing their party's take on the bill and the wording of the section that will surely be included on patriotism.

The patriotism bugaboo is nothing new to Japan or the world. In fact some schools in Japan have already included a section of patriotism on their grade report cards. Fukuoka schools had included the evaluation in 2002, but stopped the year after because of complaints from various groups.

What I thought was even more engaging than the discussion of patriotism was the idea that education should somehow be responsible now for ending the spate of violent criminal attacks on Japan's weak, including those caused by very young people. The state is more than willing to assume more and more responsibility for the nuturing of our children, and I don't believe that it is some out of an altruistic desire to make a better world. People are vesting far too much faith in a system that has been only marginally successful in completing its fundamental mission, to teach children to read, write, and work with numbers. I would much rather see a reduction in the responsiblities that schools assume, and a restructuring of thoughts about work and family so that children can be raised by a functioning, healthy community.

English education in China

The April 15th, 2006 (p.59) print edition of the Economist ran and article, "English beginning to be spoken here: The Language Business in China." In it Gordon Brown, Britain's finance minister, is quoted as saying, "In two decades China's English speakers will already outnumber native English speakers in the rest of the world. " Interesting concept, even considering the questions it begs of what qualifies one as an "English speaker."

China is the largest market for English language services, but the government is a little worried. There is no program equivalent to the Japanese JET program and until a few years ago language schools could be punished for hiring foreign English teachers. The government's worry stems from the knowledge that with English and the industry that accompanies it comes "western ways of learning and thinking."

What is the English Support Lounge?

In a post a couple of days ago, I wrote about the goals of the Yokkaichi University English Support Lounge. marco polo wrote a comment asking what it was, and I realized that I hadn't done a very good job of keeping readers aware of what is happening. I apologize for the editorial lapse and suggest that it was caused by a lingering sense that I had to keep my mouth shut about it even after the project had been started.

The English Support Lounge (ESL) is the collaborative brainchild Gordon Rees, lecturer in this faculty, and I. We were trying to figure out ways of helping students develop their language skills in an environment outside of a classroom. We came up with this idea. The ESL is an open space that students can use in their free time to use some English, study for one of the many English exams around, to plan some travel, to apply for some of the study-abroad options that this school offers, or to just have a cup of coffee and talk to their friends in English. We will also offer some activities and lectures organized out of the ESL.

I am personally very proud of the ESL, not because we thought of it, but because it is a ground-up project, not one dictated from on high. We thought of the project, sought funding through the university, and are directing the activities right now. My point is that even though we are foreign teachers, our opinions have been valued by the school highly enough for them to build a space, fund it at least for the coming academic year, and make personnel available to help us operate the facility. To my knowledge this kind of investment in a project proposed and directed by foreign teachers is unheard of in Japan.

Education gets another subject: Patriotism

The Diet begins debate on the basic education law for the first time since its inception in 1947. One of the features that may change as a result would be the additional burden of instilling a sense of patriotism in students. Schools would be in charge of fostering public spirit, tradition, and patriotism if the law were to change as expected. You can find the links I googled here.

Patriotism is fine. I don't mean weird, flag waving, love-it-or-leave-it, Bushesque "if you criticize the war you are unpatriotic" stuff. A good healthy understanding that simply by being born in some countries, those people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths and owe it to the rest of the world to do what they do best and do it for humanity. The children of modern Japan being one of those. It's fine to be proud of the place of your birth.

I doubt whether public education is the place to instill those values, though. Public education has always been a place where ideas of patriotism are knocked around to various degrees. In America kids say, or at least said when I was a school boy, the Pledge of Allegiance. Here there is more and more of that, but the country didn't even have a national anthem or flag until recently.

Public education doesn't even do a very good job with readin', writin' and 'rithmatic. Leave the patriotism to the family or institutions like the Scouts and let schools get on with the basics.

Radio appearance

Going to record a bit on the English Support Lounge that Yokkaichi University started this year. I will present a short description of the program and a student who has visited the Lounge will come and answer some questions. This is what I intend to say. I had to write the questions myself. Of course this will be in Japanese, but I wrote everything in English. It's just easier. I'll translate the questions for the radio announcer.

Q: Who thought of the English Support Lounge or “ESL” program?
A: Of course the ESL as it exists today is the result of many people’s input, but the original idea was Gordon Rees’s of the Sogo Sesaku Faculty. He came to me with the idea some months ago and we decided to try to build this kind of facility.

Q: And is the ESL?
A: The ESL is a place where students at Yokkaichi University can come and get help with their English Language development. It is a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where students can come to enjoy a little conversation with university staff or their friends in English or about English.

Q: Does the university have an English Department?
A: No, Yokkaichi University does not have an English Department, but the school has always had a deep commitment to English Language learning. The teachers at the university are accessible and eager to work with students, and the Community College offers a variety of very popular English classes to the community. The ESL is just another method for students here at the university to improve their language ability in a way that is fun and easy on their pocket books.

Q: Where is the ESL located?
A: It is in the student lounge area, a place that is easily accessible to the students. Many of the students walk through the lounge on their way to class, or spend time there between classes. We decided to locate it there, so that students could make the lounge a part of the school routine. On the way to or from class, they can stop in for a cup of coffee and a quick chat, and between classes they can stop for some serious study or help with their homework.

Q: When is the ESL open?
The ESL is open now at a variety of times. We have a total of (X?) hours, where there is someone there who can talk to the students, answer questions that they have, or just listen to their wants and needs. The teachers and staff members who work there are all their on a volunteer basis. They all have a variety of talents that they can share with the students, all the way from extensive English language teaching experience to job hunting and international volunteer experience.

Q: What does the future hold for the ESL?
We see the ESL as a place where students can come and learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. It can be flexible in offering support for learners, can offer more hours of English language contact for students who want them, and can provide a variety of activities for fun and learning. We will be focusing on TOEIC test preparation, fun gatherings like shared meals and other kinds of entertainment in English, and more scholarly activities like speeches and learning workshops.

Trusty bike

This is my newest bicycle. I have several of them, but I have been using this one for commuting recently. My home is about 17k away from the school, but the route is scenic for the most part. Lots of rice fields and few cars The reasons I started commuting by bicycle are several, but mainly I want to reduce the amount of gasoline that I use. My immediate goals are to cut my gasoline consumption in half. I still drive one day a week. Tuesday is a long day with classes starting at 9am, meetings in the middle, and late classes until 9:40pm. Frankly, I'm cooked at the end of that day, so I drive. Otherwise my goal is to ride on all other days. Looking outside today it looks like a strong head wind for the ride home.

trusty bike Originally uploaded by Yokkaichi 1.

re: Bush meets family Applogies and clarification

I appologize for the statement that he "won't meet with any parents of American service men or women that have died in the line of duty." As nathan b. points out in the comments column for that post, it looks like he has. I meant it in a less literal way, more along the lines of Cindy Sheehan's comments of 26 September 2005.

We all know by now why George won't meet with parents of the soldiers he has killed who disagree with him. First of all, he hates it when people disagree with him. I am not so sure he hates it as much as he is in denial that it even happens. Secondly, he is a coward who arrogantly refuses to meet with the people who pay his salary.

Thank you for the correction.

Bush meets family of Japanese woman abducted by North Korea

Oh, sure. He'll meet with the parents of a Japanese abductee, but won't meet with any of the partents of American service men or women that have died in the line of duty in Iraq or attend any of their funerals.

I have a slew of invectives for you, America, but you probably already know what they would be.

KRT Wire | 04/29/2006 | Bush meets family of Japanese woman abducted by North Korea