Cursed by Accuracy: Exploring Decolonial Practices in Undoing the Native Speaker Spell
Saved in:
| Title: | Cursed by Accuracy: Exploring Decolonial Practices in Undoing the Native Speaker Spell |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Mitsuyo Sakamoto |
| Source: | IAFOR Journal of Education. 2025 13(3):339-357. |
| Availability: | International Academic Forum. Sakae 1-16-26 - 201 Naka Ward, Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0008. Tel: +81-50-5806-3184; Web site: http://iafor.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Higher Education, College Students, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Decolonization, Self Esteem, Japanese, Language Proficiency, Native Speakers, Student Writing Models |
| Geographic Terms: | Japan |
| ISSN: | 2187-0594 |
| Abstract: | Focusing on one Japanese English learner Mami (pseudonym), whose pursuit of grammatical accuracy reflects Japanese English education which emphasizes morphosyntactic precision, this case study examines how raciolinguistic ideologies manifest in the language learning experiences of Japanese university students majoring in English. Mami's experiences are contrasted with two other students in her class, those of Hayao and Ryota (pseudonyms), who have lived in non-English dominant countries. Drawing on questionnaires, writing samples, and a focus-group interview, the analysis shows how Mami's accuracy anxiety functions not simply as a cognitive or pedagogical concern but as an ontological and raciolinguistic effect, shaped by colonial histories of linguistic legitimacy, reinforced by Japanese education. Situated within scholarship on native-speakerism, English imperialism, decolonial pedagogy and raciolinguistics, the paper argues that learning environments outside the Anglophone "centre" can unsettle the association between English mastery and whiteness. By linking grammatical accuracy to colonial affect, this paper extends raciolinguistic inquiry and calls for a decolonial reorientation of English learning in Japan, one that values pluriversal encounters over proximity to so-called native speakers. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1494157 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1494157 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1494157 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Cursed by Accuracy: Exploring Decolonial Practices in Undoing the Native Speaker Spell – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mitsuyo+Sakamoto%22">Mitsuyo Sakamoto</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22IAFOR+Journal+of+Education%22"><i>IAFOR Journal of Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 13(3):339-357. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: International Academic Forum. Sakae 1-16-26 - 201 Naka Ward, Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0008. Tel: +81-50-5806-3184; Web site: http://iafor.org – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 19 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decolonization%22">Decolonization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japanese%22">Japanese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Speakers%22">Native Speakers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Writing+Models%22">Student Writing Models</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2187-0594 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Focusing on one Japanese English learner Mami (pseudonym), whose pursuit of grammatical accuracy reflects Japanese English education which emphasizes morphosyntactic precision, this case study examines how raciolinguistic ideologies manifest in the language learning experiences of Japanese university students majoring in English. Mami's experiences are contrasted with two other students in her class, those of Hayao and Ryota (pseudonyms), who have lived in non-English dominant countries. Drawing on questionnaires, writing samples, and a focus-group interview, the analysis shows how Mami's accuracy anxiety functions not simply as a cognitive or pedagogical concern but as an ontological and raciolinguistic effect, shaped by colonial histories of linguistic legitimacy, reinforced by Japanese education. Situated within scholarship on native-speakerism, English imperialism, decolonial pedagogy and raciolinguistics, the paper argues that learning environments outside the Anglophone "centre" can unsettle the association between English mastery and whiteness. By linking grammatical accuracy to colonial affect, this paper extends raciolinguistic inquiry and calls for a decolonial reorientation of English learning in Japan, one that values pluriversal encounters over proximity to so-called native speakers. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1494157 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1494157 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 339 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher Education Type: general – SubjectFull: College Students Type: general – SubjectFull: English (Second Language) Type: general – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Decolonization Type: general – SubjectFull: Self Esteem Type: general – SubjectFull: Japanese Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency Type: general – SubjectFull: Native Speakers Type: general – SubjectFull: Student Writing Models Type: general – SubjectFull: Japan Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Cursed by Accuracy: Exploring Decolonial Practices in Undoing the Native Speaker Spell Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mitsuyo Sakamoto IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2187-0594 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 13 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: IAFOR Journal of Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
