KYOKO FUJIMOTO (FACULTY OF LETTERS)

ENHANCING ENGLISH TEACHER EDUCATION: THE IMPACT OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN PRE-SERVICE TRAINING : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This research paper investigates the efficacy of collaborative learning environments in fostering the development of teaching techniques among pre-service English teachers in a Japanese university context. In 2023, the author facilitated the “English Education Practical Seminar,” engaging junior students hoping to become high school English educators. Within this framework, students conducted 20-minute trial lessons, after which fellow students provided feedback and constructive advice, cultivating a dynamic learning environment conducive to skill enhancement. The diverse English abilities and backgrounds of the targeted students contributed to lively class discussions and promoted a deeper understanding of the diversity of high school students they will teach. The paper comprises three primary segments. Firstly, it outlines the core objectives of the course alongside an examination of the realities of English education in Japan. Secondly, it shares insights gleaned from a survey which elicited student feedback following the completion of the course. Lastly, it concludes with an analysis of the effectiveness of collaborative learning methodologies in nurturing teaching skills. The contextual limitations of this practical report notwithstanding, the author offers a viable approach to bolstering the quality of English teacher training. Attendees will gain valuable insights into leveraging collaborative learning to empower the next generation of English educators.

I have been teaching and mainly training pre-service English teachers at Aichi Shukutoku University in Japan for a year. I had been teaching English at high school for about 20 years before joining my current institution. I have a master's degree in English and American literature.