Just a friendly reminder that there will not be an IWATE JALT meeting in November. Instead you may wish to attend the conference in Tsukuba. It is the International JALT conference and features a number of Plenary speakers and talks. Please click the logo for more information. We’ll see you on December 14 for our next local meeting.
Over 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
On 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