ELI Staff | September 20, 2013
Japanese MEXT teachers have returned to the ELI!
A team of 15 Japanese high school teachers of English have been at the ELI since July for a six-month professional development program that ends in January.
Japanese MEXT teachers
Sponsored by their Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team is preparing itself to implement a new national educational policy that all English language instruction in Japanese high schools take place entirely in English.
In addition to honing their English language skills in ELI classes, the teachers are exploring teaching methods through graduate courses, weekly workshops, classroom observations and “micro-teaching” opportunities.
These highly motivated teachers have also jumped on every opportunity to discover U.S. culture via their homestay families, service learning projects, and excursions to the major cultural centers of the region. Not only are they gaining insights into the American way of life, but through presentations at the ELI, the University, and local schools, they are enriching the community with Japanese culture as well.