Immersion English Program and TOEFL Junior - Mita International Junior and Senior High School International Department/Immersion Head - Makiko Nashiro

Sep 30, 2026

An immersion-based English education model for Japan’s junior high international class explains how all-English instruction and language immersion build communicative and academic competence. The program outlines its mission, three pillars and daily practices (all-English classes, academic skills, and CLIL in practice), and links each pillar to TOEFL Junior® through goal-setting, feedback, and progress reflection. It also specifies pre- and post-test activities to sustain motivation despite challenges like difficult vocabulary.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

1. Immersion Program

① Immersion Program

② Language Immersion

③ Mission of the Immersion Program

2. The 3 Pillars and Practices of the Immersion Program

① First Pillar：All English Classes ～English as a part of daily life～

② Second Pillar：Academic Skills

③ Pillar 3：CLIL in Practice

3. Pillars of the Immersion Program and its Affinity with TOEFL Junior®

① How TOEFL Junior® supports the 1st pillar of Immersion

② How TOEFL Junior® supports the 2nd pillar of Immersion

③ How TOEFL Junior® supports the 3rd pillar of Immersion

4. Pre-and Post-Test Activities for the TOEFL Junior®

Final Remarks

•Teachers who teach English at junior high schools in Japan •Teachers who are interested in teaching English in all-English classrooms •Teachers who are wondering how to connect the TOEFL Junior® exam with their classes •Other people involved in English immersion programs Immersion English Program and TOEFL Junior® Mita International Junior and Senior High School International Department/Immersion Head Makiko Nashiro Introduction p.1 1. Immersion Program p.1 ① Immersion Program p.1 ② Language Immersion p.2 ③ Mission of the Immersion Program p.2 2. The 3 Pillars and Practices of the Immersion Program p.3 ① First Pillar：All English Classes ～English as a part of daily life~ p.3 ② Second Pillar：Academic Skills p.5 ③ Pillar 3：CLIL in Practice p.6 3 Pillars of the Immersion Program and its Affinity with TOEFL Junior® p.6 ① How TOEFL Junior® supports the 1st pillar of Immersion: All English Classes p.6 ② How TOEFL Junior® supports the 2nd pillar of Immersion: Academic Skills p.10 ③ How TOEFL Junior® supports the 3rd pillar of Immersion: CLIL in Practice p.10 4. Pre-and Post-Test Activities for the TOEFL Junior® p.11 Final Remarks p.14 Danke Sehr Introduction English education in Japan has traditionally emphasized grammar-focused learning methods, leading to a situation where many Japanese English learners can write but not speak the language. Moreover, English education has been confined to the secondary-school years in traditional teacher-centered language classes, also stymying genuine language development. However, this situation is gradually changing. Recently, English education has become compulsory in elementary schools, evidence of a realization that language learning must be more immersive. This change represents an opportunity to develop and implement more radical approaches to language learning. Real reform to English education in Japan must begin with the teacher. English teachers should teach in English to maximize exposure to the target language. At the same time, students learn language best in an environment that features the target language exclusively, both for input and output. Together this represents an immersion environment . Immersion learning, without Japanese as an intermediary, is more effective for acquiring English. However, all-English classes have drawbacks. They require more time and can lead to frustration, both for students and teachers. For example, when students encounter difficult vocabulary or when teachers need to convey instructions quickly and clearly, adding a word in Japanese can provide an immediate solution. Naturally, some students and teachers feel additional stress with an English-only approach. O ver time, these feelings can lead t o disillusionment and disengagement. TOEFL Junior® can play a role in countering these feelings by developing student proficiency in English. By helping students set goals for communicative and academic skill-building, students become more apt at navigating the immersion environment. By allowing students to see the progress they have already made, TOEFL Junior ® buoys their motivation . Through a virtuous cycle of feedback, reflection, and goal-setting, TOEFL Junior® supports immersion learning. 1. Immersion Program ① Immersion Program The Immersion Program for our Junior High School International Class (IC) is a curriculum designed for students who are just beginning to learn English, regardless of their English learning experience. The purpose of this program is to“prepare students to survive and thrive in any country in the global society and to take leadership and contribute on the world stage in the future.” The curriculum is designed with the assumption that students are planning to go to an overseas university. However, I would like to emphasize here that the goal of this program isnot only to enter an overseas university. The curriculum content and goals of the program

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the Immersion Program for the junior high school international class?

It prepares students for learning in a native-level English program later in high school by building the knowledge, skills, and mindset to thrive in global contexts, not only by gaining overseas university admission.

What does “language immersion” mean in this program?

Language immersion uses the target language for instruction so students rely on context and keywords to construct understanding, even when they feel overwhelmed at times.

How is TOEFL Junior® connected to the immersion program’s three pillars?

TOEFL Junior® supports immersion by helping students set goals for communicative and academic skills, providing progress visibility, and creating a feedback-reflection-goal-setting cycle aligned to each pillar.

Sep 30, 2026

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