Editorial

It's been a tough year for language schools. Companies have been cutting back on English classes, individual students have been questioning whether they can afford to study English, and even parents have been forced to economize on English lessons for their children.

There is also every indication that, despite the increasing importance of English in the world, the trend is for Japanese people to be less interested in the English-speaking world. The trend is for fewer Japanese people to travel to English-speaking countries and for students in Japan to be less interested in studying overseas. An important exception to these rather negative trends is that both Japanese parents and the Japanese government are placing more and more importance on English education for children.

And now we have swine flu. Although the government's reaction to swine flu has been commendable in many ways. Of course, everything possible must be done to protect lives, and it's better to err on the side of caution rather than risk a tragic pandemic. At the same time, the negative effects on the economy could be more than is immediately obvious.

Language schools may be particularly badly hurt. Schools that close will often not be able to receive tuition from students, students and potential students are more likely to decide to study English at home, and the trend towards insularity is likely to increase as more people perceive overseas travel as dangerous.

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• Adults
• Barbara's editorial (3)
• David's editorial (27)
• Kids
• Steven's editorial (4)
• Teacher development (1)
• Theron's editorial (4)

• Revealing hidden voices
• Teaching and Learning: It's all about the People
• The Balance Between Online Privacy and Online Access
• Pursuing a fluency based methodology
• Pressing Issues in EFL Japan
• The last chance to take the one-day certificate course
• The Connected Teacher
• The difficulties of teacher on the job training (OJT)
• Fluency in EFL
• The regeneration of the language school industry in Japan

• Pressing Issues in EFL Japan
    - Bob Sanderson
    - Michael Stout
    - Steven Herder
    - Steven Herder
    - Chuck Sandy
    - Steven Herder
    - Barbara Sakamoto
    - Steven Herder
  
• Pursuing a fluency based methodology
    - steven Herder
  
• The Connected Teacher
    - Marisa Pavan
    - Barbara Sakamoto
  
• Fluency in EFL
    - David
    - Barbara Sakamoto
    - Steven Herder
    - Phil
  
• The difficulties of teacher on the job training (OJT)
    - Phil
    - Theron Muller
  
• The regeneration of the language school industry in Japan
    - Steven Herder
    - David Juteau
    - Paul
    - James Hart
    - Mark
    - Vick L. Ssali
  
• Giving a presentation
    - Mike Bagosy
  
• Online Adventures of a Not-So-Techie Teacher
    - Theron Muller
    - Barbara Sakamoto
    - Anna Pires
    - Barbara Sakamoto
    - Michael Gorman
    - carla arena
    - Barbara Sakamoto
    - Barbara Sakamoto