As we are moving into summer a lot of students might be gearing up to take the Eiken test.

Which means that a lot of times we as foreign teachers might be asked to tutor or assist them with it.

For those who do not know the Eiken test has an in person or online interview test. This interview test consist of a reading comprehension section, picture describing section and two opinion questions. 

While most students can do the reading comprehension with not much issue. The biggest hurdle for them comes from picture describing and opinion questions. One method I like to use to help tutor students on passing these two sections is breaking down what exactly they need to answer in order to hit all the points. 

With the picture description, the best method I tell the students to do is start with the prompt sentence, then describe how many people are in the panel, what actions they are doing and (if there are) stating the dialogue. Repeat this process for each panel. To help the students keep track of these three points I provide them with a checklist, so they can check off if they were able to properly hit all three points. By having the students use this checklist when they are practicing at home, it can put them into the habit of answer like so for the test.

Next the opinion questions. This section is usually the section that most students struggle with. A lot of students will tend to over-complicate the answer to the question. However, if you look at the sample answer that the test gives, it’s very basic. In order to successfully answer these questions again the student has to hit three main points. First, answering yes / no or agree / disagree. Second, their reason. Finally lastly, an example to support their reason. I find that the best way for students to practice this without over-complicating it is to strictly follow a checklist. Also making sure that they use simple English to answer. 

If the student has their cellphone on them, you can have them record themselves answering the opinion question and then having the student listen back on it. This will make pointing out what they did good in and what needs improvement much easier for the student to know.

If you are looking for more information about Eiken and how to teach it at a private secondary school in Japan, please check out these videos by our former Chief of English Services and Senior Advisor Peter Ackerly:

As we are going into the new school term, for any teachers in elementary school an activity I loved doing with the students when I taught at elementary school was business card exchange.

It’s a good way for the students to introduce themselves to each other and to by pass the awkwardness of a new class and new classmates.

For this activity the students need a piece of paper, some colored markers, and scissors. On the teacher’s part you just need to prepare a list of professions and a sample dialogue. Normally I start by teaching the students about different professions. To make it fun I would add in really obscure professions. This can range from normal jobs like doctor, teacher etc to more out there jobs like famous actor, president, astronaut, athlete etc. Be sure to give the Japanese name of these jobs so that the students can easily understand.

First, I would have the students practice the pronunciation of the jobs and to check understanding of what kind of job it is.

Second, give the students time to make their own business card. Their card should have their name, what their job is, and any other information that the student wants to add. Students can also decorate their cards anyway they want.

Third, to get the students to practice the name of the jobs and speaking, I make sure that the students make 3-4 different business cards each with a different job.

Fourth, beforehand I would have a sample self introduction dialogue that would allow the students to say their name, their job, how long they’ve worked at their job, age, and birthday.

Fifth, students would walk around the classroom and using the sample self introduction and their own business cards, speaking and exchanging cards with their classmates.