The book is a collection of integrated papers describing the many facets of teaching EFL in the particular educational and cultural context in Japan. Overviewing the language teaching situation in Japan, the book sheds light on the social conditions in which the teaching of EFL takes place and illustrates the interactions of the language teaching theories with the specific demands of a local context and educational tradition. The book is therefore of interest to EL teachers throughout the world as well as to teachers of Japanese students anywhere in the world. The book surveys language management problems in Japanese ELT, shows the historical roots of language teaching in Japan, points out cross-cultural aspects of ELT, addresses the teaching of major language skills (i.e., listening, pronunciation, speaking, reading, writing) along with the issues of FL content, methods, media, assessment, teacher training and development. The volume contains implications for teachers of English in Japan, for the teaching of English to Japanese students in other parts of the world, and suggests the directions for change within the country in accord with current Second Language Acquisition theories.THE SPECIAL FOCUS of the book intends to bridge the gap between applied linguistic studies and teaching practices; to introduce language teachers to some theoretical issues currently discussed in the field; to provide socio-cultural and teaching practice hints helpful for language teachers of Japanese students inside and outside Japan. KEY FEATURES: The book explores both the Western and Japanese language teaching traditions, demonstrates the differences between the two, and considers the possibility of a useful synthesis. The viewpoints of foreign and Japanese EL teachers are represented. The contributions are written by Japan-based scholars (foreigners and Japanese) who are both theoreticians and practitioners in the ELT field. The book discusses some important trends in ELT, like CALL, Content teaching, cross-cultural issues, action research, and cooperative learning.PURPOSES OF THE BOOK: 1. to contribute to the development of ELT research and methodologies by showing their applications and modifications in local contexts, 2. to provide guidelines to ELT teachers regarding methodologies and research currently employed in Japan (to demonstrate to the outside world where Japanese ELT stands), 3. to provide some minimal theoretical framework for language teaching in Japan (to help practicing teachers to update their knowledge in the field of applied linguistic research and ELT methodologies and to show how their daily practical concerns are reflected in ELT literature), 4. to provide material for foreign teachers of Japanese students within and outside Japan to help these teachers to understand their students' EL background and requirements better. Contents:PART ONE. THE SOCIO-CULTURAL BACKGROUNDCh. 1. English in Japan: An overview.Jiri V. Neustupny and Shin'ya Tanaka (Obirin University, Japan). Ch. 2. Lessons from the past: Traditions and reforms.Richard C. Smith (Warwick University, UK)Ch. 3. A Japanese learner of English: myth and reality.Stephen M. Ryan (Eichi (Sapientia) University, Japan), Veronika Makarova (Meikai University, Japan)PART TWO. ELT SKILLS.Ch. 4. Teaching and learning grammar in the Japanese context. Kenichi Yamakawa (Yasuda Women's University, Japan)Ch. 5. Variables affecting listening fluency of Japanese learners of English.Akiyo Hirai (Tsukuba University, Japan)Ch. 6. Pronunciation teaching: Challenges, curriculum design, computer aids.Barbara Bradford (London University, UK), Veronika Makarova (Meikai University, Japan), Stephen Lambacher (Aizu University, Japan) ........ (please go to http://home.t-online.de/home/LINCOM.EUROPA/8523.htm)