Chapter 6. Educational Ecosystems in Classrooms: What Makes Good Soil for Multilingual and Transcultural Empowerment?
Maki Yazaki
Abstract
This chapter is a reflection of Maki's experiences growing up in Hawaii and Kanagawa as a multilingual and transnational student and later an educator. The chapter unfolds in two parts. The first part recounts the author's educational and professional journey. It explores how different school environments shaped her identity and academic growth through both positive and difficult situations. The second part presents teaching practices and classroom strategies inspired by those experiences. Key themes include identity, belonging, teacher and peer support, and strength-based education for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.
About the author
Maki Yazaki 矢崎真紀 is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University. She is also a part-time lecturer at Sophia University, teaching a course called “Learning and Teaching in the CLIL Approach.” She has also experienced teaching junior and senior high school students in Japan. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii and Kanagawa, she obtained a BA in foreign studies and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University. She has written several articles related to language learning and teaching and co-authored the MEXT-authorized textbook, FLEX English Communication (Zoshindo).
Citation
Yazaki, M. (2026). Educational ecosystems in classrooms: What makes good soil for multilingual and transcultural empowerment? In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 123–146). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/6
This chapter is a reflection of Maki's experiences growing up in Hawaii and Kanagawa as a multilingual and transnational student and later an educator. The chapter unfolds in two parts. The first part recounts the author's educational and professional journey. It explores how different school environments shaped her identity and academic growth through both positive and difficult situations. The second part presents teaching practices and classroom strategies inspired by those experiences. Key themes include identity, belonging, teacher and peer support, and strength-based education for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.
About the author
Maki Yazaki 矢崎真紀 is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University. She is also a part-time lecturer at Sophia University, teaching a course called “Learning and Teaching in the CLIL Approach.” She has also experienced teaching junior and senior high school students in Japan. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii and Kanagawa, she obtained a BA in foreign studies and an MA in TESOL from Sophia University. She has written several articles related to language learning and teaching and co-authored the MEXT-authorized textbook, FLEX English Communication (Zoshindo).
Citation
Yazaki, M. (2026). Educational ecosystems in classrooms: What makes good soil for multilingual and transcultural empowerment? In A. Minematsu, R. Ikeda, & M. Yazaki (Eds.), Beyond kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan after growing up between languages and cultures (pp. 123–146). Candlin & Mynard. https://doi.org/10.47908/47/6
Information About the Book
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Title: Beyond Kikokushijo: Teaching English in Japan After Growing Up Between Languages and Cultures
Editors: Edited by Aiko Minematsu, Risa Ikeda, and Maki Yazaki Publication date: September 20th, 2026 Read more...Read more... |