2020年から日本の小学校では英語が必修科目となりました。しかし、日本の英語教育は依然としてアジア諸国に比べて遅れています。授業が適切に構成されていたとしても、グローバル人材を目指す生徒にとって、日本語と英語の両方で教科内容を学ぶことは大きなメリットとなります。

同時に、日本の教室はより多様化しています。家族とともに日本に移住した多くの外国人児童は、母国では問題なく授業についていけたにもかかわらず、日本語のみの授業についていくのに苦労しています。場合によっては、これが不登校や精神的苦痛につながることもあります。

世界言語である英語をもっと授業に取り入れ、より今の社会や学校にあった環境を作れるように、今私たちにできることを進めていきたいと思います。

Dear Educators and ALT Candidates,

Are you a current ALT or an aspiring teacher interested in supporting elementary school math or science classes in Japan?

We are pleased to announce that the Gogaku Kentei Kyokai (Language Proficiency Testing Association / LPTA) is now accepting applications for the ALT+ Certification Test in Elementary School Math and Science, specifically designed for foreign teachers and ALT candidates.

This certification is a valuable opportunity to:
_Showcase your subject knowledge and language skills
_Boost your qualifications as a multi-subject ALT
_Access broader career opportunities in Japanese schools

Why Your Role Matters More Than Ever

Since 2020, English has become a required subject in Japanese elementary schools. However, English education in Japan still lags behind other countries in Asia. Even when classes are well-structured, students who aspire to become global citizens benefit greatly from learning subject content in both Japanese and English.

At the same time, Japan’s classrooms are becoming more diverse. Many foreign children who move to Japan with their families struggle to keep up with Japanese-only instruction — even though they had no problem following lessons in their home countries. In some cases, this has led to school refusal and emotional distress.

Moreover, Japanese teachers are known to have among the longest working hours in the world. To alleviate this burden, some schools are hiring retired educators or cram school teachers to handle select subjects. This creates an incredible opportunity for foreign educators like you to step in — especially those with subject expertise in math or science.