INTERNATIONALIZATION AT TAKEFU HIGASHI HIGH SCHOOL

This article details innovations in the English curriculum at a rural high
school in centtal Honshu. The report discusses the role of the native
speaker Assistant English Teacher (AE'Ij, texts written by the school,
and the use of extracurricular activities in strengthening students' use of
English. In Communication Practice. students practice a range of communicative
skills starting with basic skills like good eye contact, and
eventually begin debating in the second year. The program has been
successful in developing the speaking and writing abilities of the
students in the target language. While some students have difficulty
keeping up with the pace of the program, most are able to carry on
conversations with native speakers of English, and can discuss complex
problems.