A Case Study of an In-service Teacher Training Programme

In line with the Action Plan to Cultivate Japanese with English Abilities promulgated by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), prefectural boards of education throughout Japan launched a five-year plan in 2003 that provides for English teachers to undergo intensive training. This paper will analyse the in-service training programme as it was proposed by MEXT and implemented at local level. Interviews with participants reveal some problems arising from the coercive nature of the programme, from the diverse backgrounds and experience of the participants, and from the difficulty of changing school practice. Recommendations for improvements will be made based on studies of similar initiatives