A Historical Study of Educational Policy, Methods, and Practice in English Teaching during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) in Japan

Abstract

This thesis concerns the teaching practice of English as a foreign language in middle schools in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), and its relation to Western relation to Western theory about modern language teaching methodology. The focus is on the distinctive features of Western methodology, resultant national standards of English teaching, and actual practice in the classroom. Attempting to make connections between the three elements by 'speech primacy' - the principle of the Natural Method - forms a key task of the study. This entails a range of concerns to explore a historical development of Western modern language teaching reforms, to analyse the issues and imperatives faced by policy makers, and to look into actual practice in middle schools.