English Language Education in Japan

Edited by two experienced educational sociolinguists with over two decades of teaching experience in Japanese universities, this volume aims to fill the gap in the literature on how educators, curriculum developers, and textbook writers in Japanese contexts are navigating the recent geopolitical, economic, technological, and sociocultural changes affecting the world.

Featuring contributions from both emerging and established scholars, this volume is divided into four sections: the incorporation of multilingualism into the Japanese EFL classroom, digitization and innovation, diversity and representation in educational materials, and initiatives to promote intercultural exchange inside and outside the language classroom. By addressing these issues, the book provides practitioners knowledge and strategic orientations that can inform their engagement with ongoing transformations within a system in which possibilities for change may emerge, but only contingently and unevenly. The volume offers refreshing perspectives on the evolving landscape of language teaching and learning, engaging with specific topical areas and offering practical pedagogical insights regarding bridging the ever-elusive theory-practice divide.

This is an essential volume to read for educators, teacher trainers, policymakers and researchers in the field of English education, as well as those interested in innovative practices taking place in the Japanese English education system. Though the volume is centred on the Japanese context, international readers will definitely benefit from a comprehensive examination of not only how the interplay between global and local forces can shape English language policy and praxis but also the practical challenges stakeholders experience when attempting to navigate these complex changes and the structural and cultural constraints that affect them.