Eigo Note

So as part of the current educational reforms, the 5th and 6th years at elementary school now have an English textbook. Previously the only real English lessons elementary school kids had was when the ALT’s visited. Now their homeroom teachers are expected to teach them too. I don’t think this is set in stone just yet and a lot of teachers are already freaking out. It’s a bit like training to be a brain surgeon and then being told you’re going to do a heart operation twice a month!

Anyway the textbook that has been made is called “Eigo Noto” which translates to English Notebook. The kids are not tested on what they learn but it is supposed to prepare them a little more for English classes at junior high school.

A lot of people do not like these books but I think they could have been a lot worse. The textbook also comes with an interactive CD-ROM and it’s a good way to get them excited about a class. The first lesson for the 5th years is all about saying hello in different languages so even I have been learning something. The 6th years have been learning the alphabet and this “find the letter” game has been very popular with the kids, especially when using the computer.