Answers to your Questions

I asked a friend of mine to answer some of your questions to current teachers. She is an English teacher at a high school in Hokkaido. Here are the questions and her answers:

Question from:
http://kee-na-o.blogspot.com/
Which do you think is more important to teach, English grammar orcommunication in English?

Answer
I think both grammar and communication in English are important. As you know, if you want to communicate in English fluently, you cannot do without grammar knowledge. but, if teachers think much of grammar ( exercises ), students regard English not as a tool for communication but as subject like math or literature. I suppose the balance is a key to encourage learners to play an active role in international stage.

Question from:
http://centerof-ricefield.blogspot.com/
I think it is difficult to teach foreign language. What are difficult thingswhen you teach English?

Answer
When I come across the sentences that I cannot translate into Japanese exactly.
Japanese and English are different. Sometimes I cannot translate and express the subtle nuance.

Question from:
http://popppo.blogspot.com/
When you teach English,what is the most of difficult point?

Answer
There are lots of difficult points. 関係代名詞・関係副詞・直接話法・間接話法etc..
The poorer the students are, the more difficult to teach is.
オーラルコミュニケーションを教えるのもとても大変です。教科書が使いにくい。

Question from:
http://nyanji.blogspot.com/
"Is it nessesary for English teachers to go Study abroad?"

Answer
I don't think so. If you have experience studying abroad, I think it is better. That's because you can tell the students the cultural differences. However, I don't think it is necessary to study abroad.
大事なことは、外国人とわけへだてなくコミュニケーションできるかどうかだと思います。日本にいても、外国人とよく交流し、文化の違いを感じたり、人間はみな同じなんだということを感じたりできればよいと思いますよ。私は英語教師ですが、私は留学経験がありません。すみません、時間がないので途中から日本語で書きました。