On Recognition and Production in English Teaching　－Toward More Efficient Classroom Activities－

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways of improving the present English teaching situations in Japan from junior high to college level, which are far from meeting the expectations of the Japanese society that cries for upgrading quality of English teaching as a means of international communication. We support the idea of reducing the amount of English language instruction as a whole, which would surely have some impact on quality. English language education in senior high and college should be made optional both de jure and de facto, but at the same time much more strict with regard to aims and levels so that the students of English could work for tangible results. This paper also stresses the need of improving the students' listening ability which is the basis of four skills, pointing out the importance of keeping the balance between reading and speech instruction. We are against the theory of K. C. Diller who emphasizes the exclusive use of the foreign language in the classroom. Finally we suggest some feasible methods and techniques in the classroom that will develop communicative competence of the students through creative activities