[EngliPatrick]

I'm currently up here in Niigata. To answer your question, I teach in three elem schools and two JHS. With today's English education situation here in Japan, teachers like me usually have much more control over elem than JHS. Especially in Japan, where rural areas tend to stick more strickly to the book. Meaning, more emphasis is placed on the crappy English textbooks rather than really trying to gain a true understanding of the English language. This has been my experiences living in two different places in Niigata. I will admit that Niigata's education system is frowned on by other prefectures but that's a different story.

My situations thus far have proved showing a competent level of teaching, JHSs still tend to stick to the book but elem schools tend to listen and be a bit more flexible.

The reason for this flexibility is obvious....elem schools aren't geared towards tests but JHSs are extremely dependent on them.

[HUE]

I taught in the public schools in Japan from 1997 to 2000, so things have changed. At that time, kids in elementary schools weren't learning English, and instead had the occasional "lesson." I was fortunate enough to work in a very small JHS, and the teachers there valued my opinion and input. Of course, when it came to the 3rd year students, particularly after the summer months, they had to largely focus on the tests. But my kids were pretty good speakers, and passed the eiken tests -- thankfully because we didn't have to be a slave to the textbooks.

Why is the education system frowned on in Niigata? I was in Fukushima miles away from anything.