Town teaches English to its youngestBy Takeshi Sugio

Takeshi Sugio / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

YOSHITOMIMACHI, Fukuoka--This year, the government of this small town in Fukuoka Prefecture began teaching preschoolers English. It is unusual for a local government to become directly involved in the English education of its youngest children, as instruction in the language often is left to private kindergartens and English conversation schools.

"Five!" a group of preschoolers shouted when their teacher, an American named Timothy Hahn, showed them the corresponding side of a die.

The class, with seven 4-year-olds, was being held at Wakaba nursery school in Yoshitomimachi. One of them, Honoka Tate, said with a smile, "I want to speak more English."

The town government has provided English education to fifth- and sixth-graders at municipal primary schools since the 2008 school year. The government has since expanded the scope to include all students from the first to sixth grade, in the hope that students will be able to use basic conversational English by the time they graduate from middle school.

The children are taught through songs and games during lessons that last 30-45 minutes. The lessons are provided three times a week at kindergartens and authorized nursery schools in the town, while children not attending such schools can get the lessons twice a month at the local nurturing support center. Even infants can participate in the lessons by playing with balls during vocabulary practice. All of the lessons are free.

Mayor Juichiro Imatomi, who is not a fluent English speaker, stressed the importance of English in today's global environment, saying, "By surrounding kids with English when they are very young, they will have an easier time acquiring more advanced English skills when they are older."

Many parents have expressed their support for the town's English policy.

However, some experts are critical of lowering the starting age. Rikkyo University Prof. Kumiko Torikai, who specializes in teaching English, said, "Even if children learn English when they are very young, they won't be able to speak it properly without relearning the meanings and usage of words as they get older."

This town of 7,000 should pay close attention to the benefits and drawbacks of the program as it progresses.