![Picture](/uploads/4/8/4/2/48429353/7768857.jpg?247)
The Textbook called ‘Hi friends!’ is used in Japanese preschool English course for students in grade 5th and 6th. This textbook has two levels accordingly students grade. This is the only textbook which officially approved and selected as the course textbook by the Ministry of Education, Culture Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Appeal to students’ interests
The appearance of the text book is well designed to inspire students interesting. For example, the cover and all pages used colourful pictures and these pictures relates to students’ daily life such as school materials, foods, sports, and animals. Thus students are encouraged to be interested in how to say familiar objects in English.
The contents are also well designed to draw on students’ interests in English and to match their language level. First, it has appropriate number and range of vocabulary in each. Since the course is implemented once a week, introducing too many vocabularies in one section is not practical. The number of vocabulary dealt in a section gradually increased accordingly the course proceeds. All vocabularies are introduced by phonologically, so it could stimulates students’ phonological sensitivity.
The contents are also well designed to draw on students’ interests in English and to match their language level. First, it has appropriate number and range of vocabulary in each. Since the course is implemented once a week, introducing too many vocabularies in one section is not practical. The number of vocabulary dealt in a section gradually increased accordingly the course proceeds. All vocabularies are introduced by phonologically, so it could stimulates students’ phonological sensitivity.
Next, the textbook contains several activities which provide students with oral exercises. In EFL context, students normally don’t have much chance to speak in English in their daily life so that these activities are good opportunities for them to be familiar with spoken English.
Finally, the textbook includes not only Japanese culture but also several countries such as Australia, South Korea, and Italy, thus it meets the course aim that learn various cultures through English. It also enables students to know that English is spoken in various ways.
Overall, ‘Hi friends!’ is well designed in terms of appealing students’ interests of learning English and understanding different cultures.
Overall, ‘Hi friends!’ is well designed in terms of appealing students’ interests of learning English and understanding different cultures.
Reference
CHIeru 2013, Hi friends!, image, CHIeru co. Ltd. viewed 7th April 2015, <http://www.chieru.co.jp/products/flash-eng/e-02_print.html>.
Ogu 2012, Hi friends! lesson 6, image, Hi friends! no zissen kiroku, viewed 7th April 2015, <http://ogruminiu.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/hifriends1lesson6120121026.html>
Sakari 2013, Hi friends! 2 12december, image, Shougakko Eigo Souko, viewed 7th April 2015, <http://www.chieru.co.jp/products/flash-eng/e-02_print.html>
Sakko Inc. 2013, E card, image, Eigo-card.com, viewed 7th April 2015, <
http://www.eigo-card.com/store/index.php/cPath/158>
CHIeru 2013, Hi friends!, image, CHIeru co. Ltd. viewed 7th April 2015, <http://www.chieru.co.jp/products/flash-eng/e-02_print.html>.
Ogu 2012, Hi friends! lesson 6, image, Hi friends! no zissen kiroku, viewed 7th April 2015, <http://ogruminiu.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/hifriends1lesson6120121026.html>
Sakari 2013, Hi friends! 2 12december, image, Shougakko Eigo Souko, viewed 7th April 2015, <http://www.chieru.co.jp/products/flash-eng/e-02_print.html>
Sakko Inc. 2013, E card, image, Eigo-card.com, viewed 7th April 2015, <
http://www.eigo-card.com/store/index.php/cPath/158>