Category: Talk

  • Out of Class Student-Directed Task Based Teaching & Learning – Tim Murphey –

    I just got word of this talk coming to Iwate University on Saturday,  December 13, 2014.  While it is not an Iwate JALT spondored event, I wanted to pass it along.

    The Iwate Association of English Education presents

    Out of Class Student-Directed Task Based Teaching & Learning

    Tim Murphey （神田外語大学教授）

    Place: Iwate University Faculty of Education, Room E22

    岩手大学教育学部　総合教育研究棟（教育系）E22号室

    Time: Saturday December 13, 13:15 – 15:15

    Description: We all give tasks in class regularly for students to carry out and learn from. This workshop will look at how we can also give tasks to students to teach the material they are learning to others (friends, family, etc) and create more and better learning of things that we want them to learn. Research shows that they also learn better social skills and many other things we cannot imagine when giving them such homework. Several sets of materials and projects will be described and demonstrated and of course, to walk my talk, your job will be to teach/share this information with others (friends and family and co-workers) in your own social networks.

    For inquiries, please contact James Hall (jhall@iwate-u.ac.jp).

    お問い合わせは、ホール　ジェームズまでjhall@iwate-u.ac.jp）

     

    Tim Murphey’s Biography:

    Tim Murphey (MA University of Florida, PhD University of Neuchatel, Switzerland) finished his PhD on Song and Music in Language Learning in 1989, part of which can be found in his Oxford University Press book Music and Song (1992). Tim is the author of many books and journal articles. Among which are “Group Dynamics in the Language Class” (Cambridge University Press) coauthored with Zoltan Dornyei in 2003 and his popular Language Hungry! (McMillan Languagehouse 1998, Helbling 2006) for students and teachers. Tim presently teaches at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan. He loves teaching, juggling, skiing, and finding positive ways to enjoy learning and teaching.

     

    Tim’s Home page: http://www.kuis.ac.jp/~murphey-t/Tim_Murphey/Welcome.html
    Tim’s Students on YouTube:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwsZ0KiHhRg
    Tim’s Professional Development Journal     http://peerspectivesonline.org/
    To Get Tim’s Novel “The Tale that Wags”: Go to

    http://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/22663?osCsid=36d851fc5ddd8a72d77c2ac2ab47fefa

  • Content-Focused Language Instruction – Brent A. Jones

    IMG_0017Over the past few years, content-based instruction has become an increasingly popular topic in language education, especially at the secondary and post-secondary level. However, what exactly is content-based learning and more importantly, how can it translate into tangible results for students?

    On October 26, 2014, Iwate JALT welcomed Brent Jones, director of Language Programs for both the Management Course and Study Abroad Course at Konan University, Hirao School of Management. Brent was gracious enough to give us a couple of hours of his time and explain how he has implemented content-based learning in his school. Brent is in a unique position, having started a brand new curriculum at Konan University, and monitored its progress.

    Brent shared with us some of the challenges of getting a content-focused curriculum off the ground, as well as its benefits. He stressed that the content itself takes priority over language, as students will be motivated to learn the English skills they need while they complete their projects.  Brent also spoke of reading that students can explore to further change and develop their L2 language skills.

    We’d like to thank Brent for talking to us about his experiences at his University.  Brent and Iwate JALT would especially like to thank The JALT College and University Educators Special Interest Group (CUE-SIG) who helped sponsor Brent‘s talk at this Iwate JALT event.

    Reported by Jason Hill

    All photography ©2014 Jason Hill

  • Being Hired at National University Corporations – Martin E. Pauly

    IMG_7065-EditOn September 28 we were visited by Martin E. Pauly,  a Professor Emeritus in the Research and Support Center on Higher Education for the Hearing and Visually Impaired at the Tsukuba University of Technology.  He gave a talk on how one goes about getting hired at a University in Japan, and what they need to watch out for.

    Martin spoke of his experiences being hired and working for the Tsukuba University of Technology and his discussions with fellow professors. He was careful to mention that the hiring process in Japan is a very long and complicated process, especially for those departments looking for new professors. There are many bureaucratic obstacles that lie in the path of a job applicant, and they must be as patient and cooperative as possible.  He also spoke of the different contracts that Universities offer applicants. Martin stressed that a job seeker needs to be aware of the length and type of contract offered, as many these days are not permanent.

    Martin also shared some stories with us of what a person should not do while employed at a University in Japan, and what a person can do to increase their chances of landing that dream job. While the system has changed and it has becoming more challenging, there are still many opportunities out there. We want to thank Martin again for taking the time out of his busy schedule and joining us this past Sunday.

    Reported by Jason Hill

    All photography ©2014 Jason Hill