In this thesis, I argue that English education in Japan is failing to teach learners English. An outdated educational paradigm that is too focused on written understanding and test-based English,...Show moreIn this thesis, I argue that English education in Japan is failing to teach learners English. An outdated educational paradigm that is too focused on written understanding and test-based English, and educational policy that fails to modernize this paradigm create a problematic base for learners and teachers alike. Teachers feel unequipped to teach communicative skills and have to deal with a lack of motivation in the classroom. Learners do not feel a drive to learn English, yet there is a cultural crisis surrounding a strongly felt but undefined need to learn English. These factors contribute to the issue of Japan's lacking English skills.Show less
