An analysis of accommodation during english team teaching in a Japanese primary school: From an ELF perspective

Abstract

This study investigates how homeroom teachers (HRTs), assistant language teachers (ALTs), and pupils interact with one another in order to enhance mutual understanding, using accommodation strategies (Cogo in English as a lingua franca: Studies and findings. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 254-273, 2009) such as code-switching and repetition in English lessons in a Japanese primary school. It especially focuses on the use of code-switching between English and Japanese and repetitions by the HRTs in English as a lingua franca (ELF) interactions with the ALT and the pupils. The study has found that code-switching and repetitions are utilized in primary team-taught English lessons to (1) get attention from the pupils by the HRT, (2) achieve their clear understanding by the HRT and the ALT, (3) confirm what they have said by the HRT, and (4) encourage them by the HRT and the ALT, creating co-instruction between the HRTs and the ALT. Based on the results, the study will discuss how HRTs can conduct team-taught English lessons more effectively with ALTs in Japanese primary schools.