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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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 Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:24 am Post subject: Chiba is top for English proficiency |
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Budgets, lack of resources to blame for English proficiency gap
A landmark new study has found a wide gulf in English proficiency among students in different prefectures, with disparities in budgets and resources largely to blame.
The education ministry study, released Monday, showed Chiba Prefecture topped the rankings with 52.1 percent of third-year junior high students registering an English proficiency equivalent to Grade 3 in the popular Eiken English test as of Dec. 1 last year.
Akita Prefecture ranked second with 48.6 percent, followed by Tokyo with 47.9 percent and Ishikawa with 47.8 percent. Kochi Prefecture ranked last with 25.8 percent.
Eight prefectures recorded less than 30 percent proficiency in the Eiken test, which is used widely in Japan, including for employment and university admissions.
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Snipped from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/05/national/students-english-skills-differ-greatly-prefectures/#.VwRxQJx94Y0
I'm at a private junior high school where our Grade 2 and 3 students do Eiken 3 and Pre-2, but it's not required. There are other measures of English proficiency... |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks, but it seems it is based on just how many students take the eiken. I don't think it is a very good survey. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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That's my point. There are other measurements used in Japanese public and private schools.
There are equivalency charts for Eiken, TOEIC and other tests, of course, but the article doesn't indicate other measures.
My school is using GTEC as the standard, and encourages students to Eiken on their own time. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, it really is too subjective. As you can study for English that appears in the Eiken. I just think it's too subjective, esp tests like the eiken. A lot of kids can do well just by listening for the keywords in the tests.
We do the Step Eiken, ie levels E through A.
How do you like the GTECs? |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| We do the Step Eiken, ie levels E through A. |
What are you referring to with levels E through A? Step (Eiken) is described here - http://stepeiken.org/grades
Most of my students reach CEFR benchmarks A and low B by JHS year 3. A few students range into mid-B by the end of JHS year 3.
GTEC format requires strong reading skills - skimming, scanning, making inferences, etc.
I prefer GTEC for selfish reasons. It has a writing component, and I find teaching writing a lot of fun. We do weekly writing lessons in preparation for GTEC. I enjoy reading the students' ideas and experiences in their compositions. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to look at the tests. I will tell you later. As I can not remember the proper full name of the Eiken tests that we do. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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