The actual and potential impacts of the CEFR on language education in Japan

Abstract

This paper examines how the CEFR has been applied in language education in Japan demonstrating positive impacts as well as difficulties and potential problems. It can be said that the CEFR has had much influence and we deal with the three main applications: for score translation, to improve foreign language education in Japan (pedagogical use of CEFR), and the establishment of Japan standards of foreign language proficiency. In the first case there are several ongoing developments how can do descriptors are also used for the score interpretation of high-stake tests. The CEFR and in particular can do descriptors are used as assessment, goal-setting and reflective tools to develop and plan curricula and courses. A number of research projects have been conducted to further produce language proficiency standards in Japan using the CEFR as a reference point. This leads to one of the more serious issues regarding the implementation in the Japanese and other contexts: it could be the case that the more it is adapted to a specific context, the greater the possibility that the CEFR will lose its validity and the original language proficiency scales will be altered in an unhelpful way.