Computers in Japanese Schools

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a critical and evaluative look at the use of computers in public junior high schools in one of the world?s most high-tech countries, Japan. It shows that, as the new millennium dawns, Japan is slowly but surely beginning to harness the technologies now available to help give its younger population a competitive advantage in what is set to become the ?information age?. The paper uses the case study of a British English language teacher, Lyle De Souza, who pioneered the use of advanced technologies to help learning in general and the teaching of English as a foreign language (TEFL), in particular.

From the Paper:

"A recent development in computing has been that of speech recognition software. This software recognizes speech and can even be programmed to perform actions accordingly. Typical uses include dictation or navigation within operating systems. For a word to be recognized correctly the user must speak as closely to "standardized English" as possible. The system is designed to cater to different types of English but correct pronunciation is all-important. At Shiun JHS, De Souza used IBM's Simply Speaking Gold that claims 99% recognition rate if used correctly. This software is invaluable in the training of speech contest students. It is a change for the students from the pressure of continuously practicing with teachers and also frees up some time for teachers."

More papers on Computers in Japanese Schools:

• Term Paper # 94484 : "Technology and the Internet in the Japanese School System"
• Essay # 59489 : "Computers in the Classroom"
• Comparison Essay # 20657 : "Teacher-Student Relations In Japanese Schools"

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