Textbooks and teaching method

Author: Edutraveller
Date written: 2003/05/26 15:01:50
Last edited: 2003/05/28 22:42:33
Keywords: Naganuma School, Tokyo School of the Japanese Language, Shibuya Japanese language school, Naganuma, Study in Japan

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Teaching principles and methods

Naoe Naganuma believed strongly in applying the latest technology to the teaching of Japanese. The Tokyo School of the Japanese Language has inherited both the principles that underpin his teaching methods and the philosophy that guides them.

• The duty of the teacher is not to push his or her thoughts on the student, but rather to encourage and facilitate the student to learn for themselves.
• Students develop Japanese language skills first by listening, then by understanding and finally by speaking. Once this base has been firmly established, students can develop reading and writing abilities through an analogous process of reading/understanding/writing.

Teaching methods

Naoe Naganuma based his methods on the revised direct method first theorized and developed by the linguist H.E. Palmer. This method is based on using only Japanese in the classroom. By adopting this rule and reserving the use of other languages (such as English, Chinese or Korean) for explanatory supplements to be studied at home, the effectiveness of class teaching is heightened. In recent years, the school has responded to diverse student needs and the advent of computers and other new media by developing new educational theories and practices alongside the revised direct method.

In the early stages of tuition, speaking and listening skills are emphasized in getting to grips with Japanese: students are not first introduced to the kana syllabaries. The process is one of concentrating first on listening, then enunciating words, understanding their meaning, and then speaking. In other words, in the first step of the process, the vocalization of sounds is linked to their meaning. Next, students move on to asking and answering questions, followed by studying written characters. By adopting this order of learning, it acts as a short cut towards the mastering of Japanese grammar. Those who have been used to learning foreign languages through a focus on reading and writing should drop their prejudices before giving the Naganuma method a try. One thing is for sure: it produces results, fast.

Stress is also placed on learning Japanese written characters (both kana and kanji). From an early stage in the course, students learn to read and write words with which they are already familiar. The relative importance of reading begins to rise as students are guided to focus on kanji comprehension, a critical part of more advanced study. The writing component is seamlessly integrated into the course. This is made possible by a fully consistent syllabus and course design, a series of textbooks that move smoothly from beginner to advanced level, together with a skilled teaching staff and a well-balanced class system.

Classes are adjusted according to the length of time that students have available to them. Those students who plan to study for a longer period of time attend classes where, as a rule, only Japanese is spoken. Such students are expected to study grammar and vocabulary on their own time, using supplementary texts available from the school written in English, Chinese or Korean. When students are on short study courses, to make the best use of the short time available, English is sometimes used to explain concepts in class or to answer students' questions--if it is judged that it this is a more effective method. Such an approach helps to boost the intellectual understanding of students, aiding their progress. This kind of approach is also generally helpful with many adult students when learning Japanese.

Applying teaching to courses

The features of the Beginner course are given here as an example of how the Naganuma method is applied.

Point 1: listen, then speak

Students begin by listening. Without looking at the textbook, students focus on listening, repeating and speaking.

Point 2: teacher rotation

From Beginner through to Advanced level, as a rule two or three different teachers are assigned to each class. This means that students do not get too used to the peculiarities of one particular teacher. They also get the chance to hear different Japanese people, each with their various accents, speech patterns and ways of talking. This better mimics real life.

Point 3: introduction, followed by practice and more practice

In the "introduction" phase of a lesson, students are asked questions about things they have already learnt, and also get to learn new words, expressions and gramMarch In the "first practice" phase, students take in what they have learnt correctly and practice saying these things smoothly. In a subsequent "second practice" phase, students get to apply what they have learnt, increasing their vocabulary in the process.

Point 4: regular progress evaluation

The school gives students a number of tests on a regular basis to evaluate their progress. Tests are given at the end of each week. Once certain chapters of the textbook have been completed, part tests (covering grammar and writing)and unit tests (covering grammar, writing, oral comprehension, reading and conversation)are given. This rigorous process helps ensure that any mistakes are quickly rectified and individual weaknesses are realized and taken into account.

Point 5: tried-and-tested teaching materials

The school mostly uses the in-house developed Naganuma New Modern Japanese Series. This textbook is targeted at those learning general Japanese. Text situations are taken from everyday life in Japan, with words and expressions selected on the basis of their frequency of use and general familiarity. The material is ordered to maximize learning efficiency. A range of supplementary materials is available, including vocabulary lists, grammar primers, written notes, study exercises, cassette tapes and cards for learning kana and kanji.

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