I’ve had quite a few people writing in to say they’ve been asked to do a winter workshop for the teachers in their school this week. Most people have been saying that normally they’d do Genki English (of course!) but the school has requested they do the new Eigo Note textbook and do I have any advice.
I don’t really as personally I can’t stand the book any more! But I did write some ideas and activities down when it first came out: Eigo Note Ideas
I do intend to update the page more since I started looking at it seriously last year, but I don’t think I’ll get it done for a while. But have a look, there might be some things you can use or at least things in English to watch out for. Or does anyone here have any advice?
P.S. Last Summer I made videos of all the common questions that Japanese teachers ask at workshops like these, they might be useful! https://genkienglish.net/teaching/primary-english-faq-videos
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Het Richard!
Thanks for directing me to the Eigo Noto outline. It will help me narrow down what I demonstrate at the seminar. You are a real lifesaver —- again!
I came across your site about a month ago, and its been pretty helpful. You`ve really developed a great program. Unfortunately though, we are in Japan. Common business practice in this country is to always buy raw materials from the same company, and sell the finished product to the same company. As such there are a select few companies who develop the educational material. Even though your product is great, the Japanese government would never buy it for mainstream use because they prefer to do business with the company that they are already doing business with.
From what I`ve read on your website, you`ve been successfully marketing it in China in Thailand. I wish you good luck there. But in Japan, Eigo Noto will be the standard. And you`re gonna have to adapt your curriculum around it. Sorry if it comes across as negative, but I think it`s true.
Hi Rob,
You are right in a certain way. Although it’s probably not for the reasons you mention. Up until a few years ago Genki English was by far and away the most popular way of teaching in elementary schools in Japan, and there are very few schools who don’t have the materials.
Unfortunately many teachers don’t communicate to their BOEs, and then MEXT about what materials they use so Genki English becomes “songs and games” and doesn’t show up enough on the radar. The trick, as it’s always been, is to communicate to MEXT more about what really works in the classroom.
In the long run the Eigo Note can’t be the standard , it’s just far too bad! But hopefully it will at least partially raise the bar for those teachers who haven’t tried teaching English yet.
I agree with Richard. Eigo Note won’t be the standard, especially if it stays as is. It is too hard to teach and if students don’t buy into it, neither will the teachers. I think if you can convince teachers to use GE as a curriculum (and not just songs and games) it can easily find a place within the Japanese market. Richard has some great new songs on the owner’s forum that I think will work out great for the 5th and 6th years.
GE materials are quite reasonable. You definitely get a lot more for your money they most of the other materials I see available.
A lot of BoEs are trying to find out what works. This may be a good time to push at a higher level….
Well in Kitakyushu, Eigo Noto is standard as of next year, and I`ve been told it will be standard throughout all of Japan starting in 2011. I`ve only been here a year but from what I understand, the national government decides what the entire country teaches, and the teachers see it as one of their main duties to comply.
Eigo Noto isn`t great, but with a little creativity and supplements from programs like yours, I think the kids can enjoy it. I think it will be the teachers job to make this happen. A good teacher can make the kids look forward to reciting the days of the week.