Extrapolating from an Inquiry into Curricular Issues Concerning the Adoption of English as Medium of Instruction in a Japanese University Situation

Glenn Toh

doi:10.5294/5474

Autores/as

Glenn Toh Autor/a Tamagawa University Center for English as a Lingua Franca

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5294/5474

Palabras clave:

contenido académico, medio de instrucción, ideología, política

Resumen

Las universidades japonesas últimamente han comenzado a enseñar contenido académico en inglés en lugar de japonés. En este artículo, se examinan los asuntos curriculares e ideológicos relacionados con el hecho de tener el inglés como medio de instrucción (IMI) en una universidad japonesa, para pasar luego a examinar sus conexiones con las fuerzas político-culturales en Japón, incluyendo las agendas neoconservadoras. La discusión está enmarcada dentro del contexto de la educación universitaria japonesa, que enfrenta las siguientes problemáticas: (1) el bajo número de estudiantes matriculados y la solvencia institucional; (2) la reforma curricular en respuesta a la necesidad de una renovación institucional. A partir de una investigación narrativa crítica en un contexto de trabajo que involucra dos cursos universitarios, uno de Introducción a la Psicología y otro de Inglés con Propósitos Académicos (IPA), se explora, a su vez, la naturaleza profundamente ideológica del discurso que afecta la comprensión profesional del lenguaje, la construcción del significado y el currículo. También se aclara que los ‘cambios’ resultantes de la adopción de IMI son solamente superficiales y que el papel y el estatus del inglés, en realidad, permanecen restringidos.

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Biografía del autor/a

Glenn Toh, Tamagawa University Center for English as a Lingua Franca

Glenn Toh has taught English as a Second Language, English for Specific Purposes and English for Academic Purposes as well as lectured on teacher training courses in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, Japan and Singapore. He is interested in issues relating to language, ideology and power.

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