How is a Japanese language teacher experiencing the commodification of education?

Abstract

In this paper, we explore how Ms. Ikeda (pseudonym), who worked at a Japanese language school in Hong Kong, experienced the commodification of education. As a part-time instructor, Ms. Ikeda followed the institutional policy that tries to commodify its Japanese language education by overemphasizing learners’ satisfaction. Thus, she was experiencing a dilemma about what she wanted to do, what her learners wanted to do, and what the institution wanted her to do. From our research findings, it is clear that the commodification of education poses a risk of producing educational practices that are biased to learners’ superficial interests. We need to include the teachers’ perspective in order to overcome the problems of the commodification and consumption of Japanese language education.