Perhaps the Biggest Contribution a JET (or other native English speaker) Could Make to Language Learning in Japan
Sadly, my own ability to translate into Japanese isn't up to snuff for this task. But I definitely believe that this could be a monumental first phase in changing language learning in Japan for the better:
STEP ONE: Translate these three articles into Japanese:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacing_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitner_system
STEP TWO: Post them on the Japanese localization of Wikipedia, with appropriate links.
STEP THREE: Spread the word via the Internet (forums, blogs, Facebook posts, etc.) that the translation exists. Make sure every JET and ALT you know gets the message.
STEP FOUR: email the Japanese Wikipedia links to Japanese Teachers of English / print the pages and hand them to JTEs
We talk about these techniques for our own learning all the time - "this is how to learn Japanese." But do we stop to think that this is also a really good way to learn English?
STEP ONE: Translate these three articles into Japanese:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacing_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitner_system
STEP TWO: Post them on the Japanese localization of Wikipedia, with appropriate links.
STEP THREE: Spread the word via the Internet (forums, blogs, Facebook posts, etc.) that the translation exists. Make sure every JET and ALT you know gets the message.
STEP FOUR: email the Japanese Wikipedia links to Japanese Teachers of English / print the pages and hand them to JTEs
We talk about these techniques for our own learning all the time - "this is how to learn Japanese." But do we stop to think that this is also a really good way to learn English?
