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English as a Lingua Franca in Japan pp 113–132Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

An Analysis of Accommodation during English Team Teaching in a Japanese Primary School: From an ELF Perspective

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Abstract

This study investigates how homeroom teachers (HRTs), assistant language teachers (ALTs), and pupils interact with one another in order to enhance mutual understanding, using accommodation strategies (Cogo in English as a lingua franca: Studies and findings. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 254–273, 2009) such as code-switching and repetition in English lessons in a Japanese primary school. It especially focuses on the use of code-switching between English and Japanese and repetitions by the HRTs in English as a lingua franca (ELF) interactions with the ALT and the pupils. The study has found that code-switching and repetitions are utilized in primary team-taught English lessons to (1) get attention from the pupils by the HRT, (2) achieve their clear understanding by the HRT and the ALT, (3) confirm what they have said by the HRT, and (4) encourage them by the HRT and the ALT, creating co-instruction between the HRTs and the ALT. Based on the results, the study will discuss how HRTs can conduct team-taught English lessons more effectively with ALTs in Japanese primary schools.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    They are also called as “Foreign language activities”.

  2. 2.

    It means that pupils take the English activities classes once a week.

  3. 3.

    However, not all ALTs are hired by the JET Program. For example, some cities hire ALTs through private companies, and some cities directly hire ALTs by themselves. Thus, the way of recruiting ALTs depends on each city (Fukatsu-Shino, 2010; Sutherland, 2011, p. 49).

  4. 4.

    A transition period for English as a formal subject has already started in 2018.

  5. 5.

    I helped each pupil as a volunteer assistant teacher, e.g., when he/she prepares for activities in English lessons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Ayano Shino

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  1. Ayano Shino
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Correspondence to Ayano Shino .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, Kanda University of International Studies, Chiba, Japan

    Mayu Konakahara

  2. International College of Arts and Sciences, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

    Keiko Tsuchiya

Appendix: Transcription Conventions

Appendix: Transcription Conventions

e:r the:::

Lengthening of the preceding sound

():

A stretch of unclear or unintelligible speech

((T shows picture)):

Nonverbal actions or editor’s comments

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Shino, A. (2020). An Analysis of Accommodation during English Team Teaching in a Japanese Primary School: From an ELF Perspective. In: Konakahara, M., Tsuchiya, K. (eds) English as a Lingua Franca in Japan. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33288-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33288-4_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-33287-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-33288-4

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