Selected research on second-language teaching and acquisition published in Japan in the years 2000–2006

Abstract

This review presents selected research on language education published in English in Japan from 2000 to 2006. In an attempt to show the academic diversity and intellectual depth of current research agendas in Japan, it looks at the following areas: LANGUAGE POLICY, in which recent government mandates are outlined, including a stronger focus on English education in elementary school; TEAM-TEACHING situations that are commonly found at the high school and junior high school level; TESTING and PLACEMENT, focusing on entrance exams and placement exams which can be a driving force behind many classroom practices and continue to be the focus of considerable criticism; BILINGUALISM, which is receiving more and more attention in Japan as the number of returnees, children of bi-cultural families and other English-speaking Japanese nationals increases; WORLD ENGLISHES, reflecting the reality that many adult Japanese speakers of English interact with speakers from Outer and Expanding Circle countries; INTERLANGUAGE PRAGAMATICS, which is attracting more and more researchers interested in cross-cultural differences and interlanguage development; MOTIVATION, which continues to receive a great deal of attention and has been examined in a more nuanced approach of late; WRITING, in light of its importance in many educational settings; and GENDER and its interconnectedness to EFL learning and use.