English in elementary school teaching materials collection 2013 the jet p rogr amme

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ENGLISH IN
ELEMENTARY 
SCHOOL
TEACHING 
MATERIALS 
COLLECTION 

 
2013
 
THE
JET
P
ROGR
AMME

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7
English
in
Elementary
School 
Introduction 
An increasing number of ALTs are being asked to visit elementary schools. In 2011, MEXT 
introduced compulsory Foreign Language Activities for fifth and sixth grade at the elementary level. 
Eigo Note 
was provided as a textbook for use in these compulsory classes and replaced by 
Hi, 
Friends! 
in 2012.
Foreign language classes through the fifth grade level of elementary schools are part of a larger goal 
to familiarise children with foreign languages, lifestyles and cultures, rather than focusing on 
teaching a foreign language in a formal way. They are not supposed to be preparation for junior 
high school, and the use of katakana should be avoided. Unlike junior and senior high schools, 
there are no set textbooks for younger elementary students, and the emphasis of foreign language 
education is placed on the listening and speaking of simple terms that students know from their 
daily lives as opposed to written forms. English should be taught in a fun and natural way, using 
activities such as songs and games. Some communities may not be ready to introduce English at an 
earlier age than this, but would like their children to be more internationally minded and have 
introduced “International Understanding” education for younger learners.