“Brazil, with a ‘z’ or an ‘s’?” asks a girl. “In Spanish, it’s with an ‘s,’ in English with a ‘z,’ ” another kid answers. Just another day in a bilingual class at a Los Angeles school. A sign that proclaims “Bienvenido/Welcome” is pinned ...
Past participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme recall their most memorable experiences, from the inspiring to the excruciating.
This week's query comes from A.R., who is having some problems with a less-than-cooperative former employer
Ambitious program has helped Japan meet the world, but does it have a role to play today?
English teachers Jim Hickey and Douglas Forrester were offered a two-book deal in early 2016. But within weeks, Forrester was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Having taken the daring — not reckless or avoidant — step of leaving your home country, you now have a million stories to tell.
Japanese students' ability to speak English is abysmal. Improvement will require finding native speakers as teachers.
As the Eiken Foundation tries to meet the demands of a growing number of test-takers, what do students, parents and teachers make of the tests?
Some readers' responses to last month's article by Hans Karlsson, "Is the Eiken doing Japan's English learners more harm than good?"
The education ministry's proposal to establish hub schools where foreign students can learn Japanese is a good idea, but the plan will hinge on getting good teachers.
Critics argue that the Eiken proficiency exams focus too heavily on vocabulary, grammar and the written word at the expense of fluency.
A reader writes to Lifelines about difficulties he is dealing with at work.
