Curriculum Trends and Bilingual Education Issues and Reforms in the United States as a Reference for Response to Demographic Changes in Japan

摘要

This report assesses curriculum trends and the changes in classroom demographics in the United States and how the government has responded by reforming bilingual education through the NCLB act which ultimately repealed programs such as NABE. The author believes that bilingual education in Japan also needs to be assessed as demographic changes continue in Japan. International students are part of the author’s Environmental English Communication course in the Faculty of Environmental Science at Nagasaki University. Knowledge of education issues, trends and reforms is relevant for Japanese education institutes as demographic changes continue throughout the country. Governmental imposed changes in education standards and curriculum in the United States and the advantages and disadvantages of the NCLB act serve as a model for Japan.