Teaching English in East Asia: A Teachers Guide to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Learners (Springer Texts in Education)

Front Matter....Pages i-xvii The Foreign English Teacher in East Asia....Pages 1-23 East Asian Educational Settings....Pages 25-46 East Asian Learners....Pages 47-71 Teachers in East Asia....Pages 73-94 Teaching Speaking/Listening in the East Asian Classroom....Pages 95-119 Reading English in the East Asian Classroom....Pages 121-146 Writing English in the East Asian Classroom....Pages 147-166 English Outside of the Classroom....Pages 167-184 Preface 7 The Goals of This Text 9 Regional Considerations 10 Chapter Previews 10 Contents 15 1 The Foreign English Teacher in East Asia 18 Abstract 18 1.1 The Types of Teaching Jobs in East Asia 22 1.2 Japan 24 1.3 Korea 26 1.4 Taiwan 28 1.5 China 30 1.6 The Post-WWII Development of English Education in East Asia 32 1.7 The Rise of the Native Speaker as Teacher 35 1.8 Discussion Questions 38 References 39 2 East Asian Educational Settings 41 Abstract 41 2.1 Confucian Educational Principles 42 2.2 The History of English Education in China 45 2.3 English Education in Japan 47 2.4 English Education in South Korea 50 2.5 English Education in Taiwan 52 2.6 English Education in Hong Kong 53 2.7 Educational Commonalities Across East Asia 55 2.8 Discussion Questions 59 References 60 3 East Asian Learners 63 Abstract 63 3.1 How Do East Asian Students Approach Learning? 65 3.2 Differences in Information Procession 69 3.2.1 Individualism Versus Collectivism 70 3.2.2 Power Distance 71 3.2.3 Uncertainty Avoidance 71 3.2.4 Masculinity Versus Femininity 72 3.2.5 East Asian Educational Dynamics 72 3.3 Writing Systems 74 3.4 East Asian Writing Systems 74 3.4.1 Learning to Read in Chinese 77 3.4.2 Learning Strategies for Syllabic Scripts 79 3.4.3 Alphabetic Scripts 80 3.4.4 Considerations on Blending Orthographies 82 3.4.5 Korean Script 83 3.4.6 Learning Strategies for Korean Script 84 3.4.7 The Emerging Profile of an East Asian Learner 85 3.5 Discussion Questions 85 References 86 4 Teachers in East Asia 88 Abstract 88 4.1 East Asian Language Teaching Styles 89 4.2 Teacher-Centered Classrooms 89 4.3 Positive Regional Shifts in Pedagogy 93 4.4 Test-Centered Curricula 94 4.5 Book-Centered Curricula 95 4.6 The Pressures of Implementing Elementary School English 98 4.7 Problems with Reliance on ALTs 101 4.8 Foreign Versus Local Teacher Dynamics 103 4.9 Discussion Questions 106 References 107 5 Teaching Speaking/Listening in the East Asian Classroom 110 Abstract 110 5.1 A Brief History of Language Pedagogy 112 5.2 The East Asian Response to Western-Developed Pedagogical Trends 118 5.3 How Can We More Effectively Teach English Listening/Speaking to East Asian Students? 121 5.3.1 Instructional Techniques for East Asian Learners 123 5.4 A Study in Contrasts: Two Speaking Lessons 126 5.4.1 Lesson Plan #1 126 5.4.2 Discussion of Lesson Plan #1 128 5.4.3 Lesson Plan #2 131 5.4.4 Discussion of Lesson Plan #2 132 5.5 Discussion Questions 133 References 134 6 Reading English in the East Asian Classroom 135 Abstract 135 6.1 A Model for Word-Level Processing 139 6.2 Processing in East Asian Scripts 141 6.2.1 Chinese 141 6.2.2 Japanese 144 6.2.3 Korean 148 6.2.4 Higher Level Processing Issues 150 6.2.5 Remediation Strategies 151 6.3 A Study in Contrasts: Two Reading Lessons 152 6.3.1 Lesson Plan #1 152 6.3.2 Discussion of Lesson Plan #1 154 6.3.3 Lesson Plan #2 156 6.3.4 Discussion of Lesson Plan #2 157 6.4 Discussion Questions 158 References 159 7 Writing English in the East Asian Classroom 161 Abstract 161 7.1 English Essay Structure 165 7.2 East Asian Essay Style 167 7.3 A Few More Stylistic Differences in Writing East Asian Languages 168 7.4 Remediation of Specific East Asian Writing Style Issues 172 7.5 A Study in Contrasts: Two Writing Lessons 173 7.5.1 Lesson Plan #1 173 7.5.2 Discussion of Lesson Plan #1 175 7.5.3 Lesson Plan #2 177 7.5.4 Discussion of Lesson Plan #2 178 7.6 Discussion Questions 179 References 180 8 English Outside of the Classroom 181 Abstract 181 8.1 Interactional Modifications and Communicative Strategies 183 8.2 Social Factors Affecting Discourse Type 185 8.3 Body Positioning 188 8.4 Conversational Distance 188 8.5 Facial Expressions 189 8.6 Physical Contact 190 8.7 Conversational Structure 190 8.8 Conclusion 193 8.9 Epilogue 195 8.10 Discussion Questions 197 References 198 This book investigates the current EFL market in East Asia, focusing on K-12, university, and cram school English education in Japan, China, and Korea. It explores prevailing educational practices by both Asian learners and teachers of English, contrasting them with Western practices, and illuminating why Western pedagogical methods have often encountered tremendous resistance from teachers, administrators, parents, and students in the East Asian classroom context. After establishing this cultural contrast of pedagogical norms, the book presents a series of practical means for adapting Western teaching practices and philosophies to better suit the learning styles of East Asian students and the cultural context and practical realities of the East Asian classroom, offering both Western teachers working in East Asia and native East Asian teachers realistic plans for turning theory into successful practice. These plans are divided by subsections, focusing on the linguistic subskills being taught: listening/speaking, reading, and writing. Each section includes two contrasting lesson plans to demonstrate how the educational theories and practices promoted by the author can often be implemented by making relatively simple changes to existing practices that incorporate a fuller understanding of how to actively assist students in developing new learning styles and behaviors.