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[Vince]

Study explores deafening silence in Japan’s English-language classes
by William Hollingworth

Kyodo

Jan 2, 2017

LONDON – English-language teachers in Japan often complain about being met by a wall of silence when they ask students to talk in class.

But until now there has been little, if any, academic research into the reasons why Japanese pupils are particularly afflicted by a reluctance to speak in a second language.

Jim King, an expert in linguistics at Leicester University in central England, has been looking into this phenomenon and recently presented his findings in London to an audience of Japan experts and educationalists.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/01/02/national/study-explores-deafening-silence-japans-english-language-classes/

[Vince]

I haven't seen the book, but the conclusions in the article are hardly a surprise. One thing I didn't see in my time as an EFL teacher was cliques that discouraged the class from speaking.

[scrying]

There isn't a single thing mentioned that hasn't been already noted, repeatedly, by everyone who has ever taught or is currently teaching here.