English to Become Official Course From 5th Grade in Japan

Tokyo — A panel of the education ministry unveiled its proposed curriculum guidelines Monday, including a plan to teach English as an official course from the fifth grade at elementary level to better prepare students for an international environment.

The panel also proposed that English activities, centered on listening and speaking skills, should be taught from the third grade, earlier than the fifth grade under the current system.

The new envisioned guidelines for elementary and high school education, hammered out by the panel of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, are designed to allow students to focus on “how to learn” instead of “what to learn.” (PNA/Kyodo) RMA/SSC