Chapter 5. Japan has four seasons: Nihonjinron and native-speakerisms at the eikaiwa gakkou by Martin Cater
Abstract
Focusing on his experiences and research on the apparent interaction between native-speakerism and nationalism, Martin Cater addresses how learner beliefs in eikaiwa can be shaped by larger influences from the ELT industry and Japanese society. He discusses how native-speakerism and the Japanese nationalist ideology of nihonjinron can be seen in the stated beliefs of Japanese English learners and how these ideas are sometimes promoted by eikaiwa schools. However, he also gives examples from his personal experience of how these problematic ideologies can be disrupted through grassroots action by teachers.
About the Contributor
Martin Cater has been living and teaching in Japan since 2004. During this time, he has been a Senior Teacher at a metropolitan branch of a large eikaiwa chain, a teacher at private and national universities, an examiner, and a private English tutor. He holds a Trinity LTCL DipTESOL certificate and an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK. His research interests include native-speakerism, language teaching methodology, and learner autonomy.
Citation
Cater, M.(2020). Japan has four seasons: Nihonjinron and native-speakerisms at the eikaiwa gakkou In D. Hooper & N. Hashimoto (Eds.), Teacher narratives from the Eikaiwa classroom: Moving beyond “McEnglish.” (pp. 64-72). Candlin & Mynard.
Focusing on his experiences and research on the apparent interaction between native-speakerism and nationalism, Martin Cater addresses how learner beliefs in eikaiwa can be shaped by larger influences from the ELT industry and Japanese society. He discusses how native-speakerism and the Japanese nationalist ideology of nihonjinron can be seen in the stated beliefs of Japanese English learners and how these ideas are sometimes promoted by eikaiwa schools. However, he also gives examples from his personal experience of how these problematic ideologies can be disrupted through grassroots action by teachers.
About the Contributor
Martin Cater has been living and teaching in Japan since 2004. During this time, he has been a Senior Teacher at a metropolitan branch of a large eikaiwa chain, a teacher at private and national universities, an examiner, and a private English tutor. He holds a Trinity LTCL DipTESOL certificate and an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK. His research interests include native-speakerism, language teaching methodology, and learner autonomy.
Citation
Cater, M.(2020). Japan has four seasons: Nihonjinron and native-speakerisms at the eikaiwa gakkou In D. Hooper & N. Hashimoto (Eds.), Teacher narratives from the Eikaiwa classroom: Moving beyond “McEnglish.” (pp. 64-72). Candlin & Mynard.
Information About the Book
Title: Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond “McEnglish”
Editors: Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto
Publication date: February 2020
Read more...
Title: Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond “McEnglish”
Editors: Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto
Publication date: February 2020
Read more...