Titles

The relation between language tasks and communicative competencies in “Let’s try” and “We can!”

The researcher categorizes the language tasks in the textbook to determine the extent to which they cover communicative competencies. However, she has encountered some strange tasks that are difficult to categorize.  

The practice of interactive learning of school classrooms in Japan

The study of how to teach word order

He wants to connect teaching word order with language acquisition.

How do teachers evaluate communicative abilities through testing?

The working styles of Japanese and Americans

What is the sources of stress for non-Japanese living in Japan?

The Smartest Kids in the World

This is about education from the perspective of teachers, students, and researchers.

Chapter 1: PISA and the researcher who developed it, Andreas Schleicher. He was studying physics at university but his father was an education professor. His father said that you cannot measure human qualities. So, Andreas thought there was nothing scientific about education. However, he loved to go to other classes and just listen to the lectures. One of the lectures was an education lecture. The professor’s name was Thomas and he called himself an education scientist. That is how Andreas became interested. The professor asked Andreas to help him with his research. He thought there was something different about Andreas.

After graduation became a scientist for OECD. Then, he started a program for international student assessment in 2000. This became PISA, and the test measures advanced thinking and communication skills. These are skills necessary to thrive in the modern world such as the ability to think critically and solve new problems. These skills will prepare people for life. Other tests measure memorization, preparedness for school tasks.

From the authors’ view the most successful countries fit into three categories:

  1. Like Finland: A system built on trust in which kids achieve higher order thinking without excessive competition or parental meddling.
  2. Like South Korea: pressure cooker model. Kids study compulsively.
  3. Like Poland: country on the ascent. Poland has poverty issue much more than US but Poland has reformed the education policy recently. Students have to decide quickly about their academic future.
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