Mitsue Allen-Tamai is a professor emerita at Aoyama Gakuin University in Japan and has been teaching at Temple University Japan (TUJ) since 2000. She has contributed to the development of teaching materials for young Japanese EFL learners at the national level and has been invited to speak at numerous in-service training seminars across the country. Her research focuses on the literacy development of young learners. From 2021 to 2024, she served as President of the Japan Association for the Study of Teaching English to Children. She is currently a Board Member of the Institute for Language and Mind. 

Recent publications:

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2025). New Horizon (junior-high school textbook). Chie Editors  M. Allen-Tamai and K. Ano. Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2025). Nurturing Language and Mind through Stories: Story-Based Activities and English Education. Tokyo:Gakubun-sha.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2025). Literacy Instruction in Early English Education for Young Children: Theories and Evaluation of an English Program Aimed at 21st-Century Literacy Development. Tokyo: Gakubun-sha.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2025). The Phonics Series for Listening, Speaking, and Reading English (vo. 1~4). Tokyo: Kokudo-sha.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2024). Ms. Ellen Baker's First English Class. Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2024). New Horizon Elementary (elementary school textbook). Eds. M. Allen-Tamai, K. Ano, and N. Hamanaka. Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2024). The Sea Turtle (English Picture Book Series, Vol.4). Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2024). Engagement in Story-Based Activities and Their Impact: The Role of Stories in Primary School English Education. JATEC Journal. No. 43. 33-49.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2020). New Horizon Elementary (elementary school textbook). Eds. M. Allen-Tamai, K. Ano, and N. Hamanaka. Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2019). Literacy Teaching for Elementary School Students. Tokyo: Tokyo Shoseki.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. & Izumi, M. (2019). Literacy Instruction and Can-Do Assessment in Elementary School English Education. JASTEC (The Japan Association for the Study of Teaching English to Children) Journal. No. 38. 1-13.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2018). Learning English from fairy tales: A story-based curriculum for EFL learners. In F. Copland & S. Garton (Eds.) TESOL VOICES Young Learner Education. TESOL press.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2013). Story Trees. Tokyo: Shogakkan and Shueisha Production

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2012). Phonological awareness and development of word knowledge among young Japanese learners of English, The Journal of Asia TEFL Special Issue, 1-28.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2011) Stories and Activities for English Education. Tokyo: Shogakkan and Shueisha Production.

  • Allen-Tamai, M. (2010). Teaching English at Primary Schools—From Theory to Practice. Tokyo: Taishu Kan

Education:  EdD, Temple University