Sophia University Junior College Professor Akiko Kano
The teaching materials (PowerPoint/PDF) introduced in the interview article can actually be downloaded and used. After completing a simple registration form using the materials download form below, you will be directed to the download page. (Once you register, your input will be saved for future use.)
As a professor of English at Sophia University Junior College, I am involved in English education. Utilizing my 30+ years of experience in the field of early English education, I conduct elementary school foreign language (English) classes and teacher training across the country. I also supervise and instruct English classes taught by junior college students in a total of 160 classes per year. Foreign language (English) education in elementary schools is a new and young field that began in 2008. The current generation of teachers has no experience teaching English at elementary schools, and compared to other subjects, they do not share the same image of "English" as elementary school students. Furthermore, there are difficulties in providing instruction that is tailored to the wide range of developmental stages of elementary school students.
Q. What was the moment when the font switch was turned on?
The moment my font switch was turned on was when I realized the importance of selecting a typeface according to the situation, purpose, and cognitive development stage of the target audience while creating English teaching materials. The font used in English texts changes readability depending on the situation. When adults read dense English texts, Roman typefaces are easy to read. However, when creating teaching materials with a character size and amount appropriate for elementary school students, I feel that UD Roman fonts are much easier to read.
Q. What Morisawa UD fonts do you use most often and in what situations do you use them?
For my university work, I often use "BIZ UDP Reimin" for Japanese text. It's easy to use because the characters per line are compact. For teaching materials and slides aimed at elementary school students, I use "UD Digital Textbook Font" for Japanese text, and "UD Digikyo Latin" or "UD Digikyo Writing" for Latin text. However, when I transfer it from my computer to another platform, the characters become garbled depending on the other party's font environment, so I make it a PDF. I would be happy if these fonts become more widely used as a standard in educational settings, so that they can be used regardless of different versions of the Windows OS or different OSs or devices, such as Mac or iPad.
Q. Morisawa is also considering supporting teachers in creating teaching materials. Do you have any good ideas?
We are creating alphabet cards that teachers can easily print and use. The cards show uppercase and lowercase letters on four lines, and are made in black and white so that schools can simply print and cut them out.
Textbooks often come with alphabet cards at the back, but since there is only one of each letter, it's better to print them out and make lots of them. Also, when children memorize words, they sometimes memorize the overall silhouette rather than the shape of each individual letter. It would be interesting to have fonts and cards that show lowercase letters in blocks, such as letters that fit within the x-height like "a" and "o," letters that protrude above the x-height like "l" and "h," and letters that protrude below the x-height like "p" and "g"!
*This time, under the supervision of Professor Kano, we are providing alphabet cards and block cards mentioned in the story, as well as card data that can be used in PowerPoint, as teaching materials to English teachers to support their lessons. Please access them using the "Download Materials Form" at the beginning of this article.
Q. What do you expect from Morisawa's UD fonts in the future?
Due to the effects of COVID-19, all university classes are now online rather than in person, and I am simultaneously connecting with students from all over the country, from Okinawa to Hokkaido, via Zoom to give lectures and assign assignments. Since I can't visit elementary schools to teach, I'm getting my students to create video streams and worksheets digitally, which I'm preparing to provide to elementary schools. Students are creating great videos using smartphone software, but the captions aren't very readable, so I'd like to see an environment where they can use UD fonts, which are easier to read even for scrolling subtitles. Due to the effects of COVID-19, more teachers are creating video teaching materials, so I think there's demand for them! I can really see how hard Morisawa is working when I see that the slides of teachers who are keeping their eyes peeled at seminars and study groups have started to use UD fonts. Please continue to do your best for the sake of children's learning.
You can also watch the video interview with Professor Kano below.
The first step in education for the future: A new UD digital textbook suitable for teaching English characters in elementary schools.
Thank you, Professor Kano, for participating in this interview.
Adapted materials using Akiko Kano's English teaching materials (alphabet cards and block cards)
Sakura Tanaka, a teacher at Miki Higashi Junior High School in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, introduced us to an adapted teaching material called "Sand Letter Cards" that utilizes "Block Cards."
Examples of using alphabet cards: The uppercase letters are used as a sheet without being cut out. The cut-out lowercase letters are placed on top of the uppercase letter sheet. The uppercase and lowercase letters are printed on different colors of paper to make it easier to understand.
Examples of using block cards: [Sand letter card]
This is a teaching material for teaching letters using multiple senses. The aim is to see the letters (sight), read them aloud (auditory), and feel the shape and stroke of the letters by tracing them with your index finger (or index and middle finger) (tactile).
The base paper is made of glossy photographic paper to prevent it from becoming soggy from the glue. The letters are printed on the right for right-handed users and on the left for left-handed users, ensuring that the card is held firmly in the hand.
Top left (h): A letter consisting of vertical lines and curves Top right (i): Character consisting of vertical and horizontal lines Bottom left (k): A character consisting of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines
Top left (a): Character consisting of a counterclockwise circle and a vertical line Top right (b): Characters consisting of vertical and clockwise lines Bottom left (c): Characters made up of counterclockwise circles Bottom right (f): Other
Glitter pen and dot stickers to start writing
I changed the colors of the glitter pens according to the characteristics of the letter shapes (see the figure below, "Classification by Shape"), but once the glue dried, the differences in the colors became indistinguishable. Therefore, I color-coded them with stickers in the upper left corner. You can also use felt cards or tin cards to color-code them.
Some students don't know where to start writing, so I use dot stickers.
※ Professor Teshima Ryo's "The future of English writing instructionWe have made some changes to match the letter shapes on the block cards (UD Digikyo Writing), based on the lowercase letter classification described in the book.
The memory mechanism has three steps: phonological encoding, retention, and retrieval. Even if you simply say, "I can't remember English words," it is necessary to first identify which step you are having trouble with.
Proposal from Morisawa: If you would like to classify cards by the position of the four lines, just like with block cards, please refer to the following.
*If you are arranging it into a felt card, please use the "Felt Transfer Data." It can be used with both alphabet cards and block cards. There are two types, "Classification by Shape" and "Classification by Position," so please choose which one to use. How to make it is a suggested teaching material by Professor Mutsumi Iijima Stage 2Please refer to "How to make a felt card."
Please let us know about your adapted teaching materials and the reactions of your children at home and at school. Email: public-biz@morisawa.co.jp (Teaching materials: Takada and Suda, Public Business Division)
