Tag: Activating Extensive reading

  • Activating Extensive Reading – Thomas Bieri

    On Sunday, April 26 Thomas Bieri, an EFL instructor at Nanzan University in Nagoya, and coordinator for the JALT Extensive Reading Special Interest Group(ER SIG)  came to Morioka and gave a presentation on extensive reading. Bieri spoke about hoIMG_0099w teachers at  junior high school through University can use ER as an effective tool for increasing English reading competency in students. What really set Bieri’s talk apart from other extensive reading presentations was the way he actually defined what extensive reading was in contrast to other forms academic reading such as intensive reading.

    Bieri explained many of the fundamentals of extensive reading and put emphasis on the fact that graded readers should be the choice of the students at a level that is easy for them to read.  He outlined some activities that teachers can use with readers during class time and looked at ways in which teachers can evaluate student progress through web tool such M-reader.

    Bieri stressed that extensive reading can also be a social activity in the classroom, with students sharing their favorite materials.  Finally, he gave a list of useful companies and links for useful material and readers.  Bieri’s talk was very informative and Iwate JALT would like to thank him for coming to Morioka.  They would also like to thank the Extensive reading SIG for sponsoring his visit.

    Reported by Jason Hill

    All photography ©2015 Jason Hill

  • Upcoming – April 26, 2015 – Thomas Bieri – Activating Extensive Reading

    Location: AIINA, ROOM 602
    Date April 26,  2015
    Time: From 1:30pm – 4:30pm(13:30-16:30)
    Cost: Free for JALT members. ¥1000 for non-members. ¥500 for full-time students.
    Contact: iwatejalt@hotmail.com or jasohill@gmail.com phone/fax: 019-663-3132

    Extensive reading has recently become a well-known technique for language study and many programs and individual instructors have been incorporating it into their language teaching practice. However, many educators may not have confidence that they fully understand what ER is or how they can take advantage of the benefits. To help build that knowledge and confidence, this presentation and workshop will include a general introduction to the principles of extensive reading, particularly as defined by Day and Bamford (1998, 2002) and a brief discussion of how practices may differ from these principles. There will also be an explanation and demonstration of a variety of types of materials available. We will continue with a demonstration and practice of several classroom activities related to extensive reading and discussion of ways of managing and tracking student reading.

    Bio: Thomas E. Bieri is an EFL instructor at Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan, with over 25 years’ experience working in higher education, including positions in the USA, Australia, and Japan. He is the Coordinator of the Extensive Reading SIG and the Associate Member Liaison for the Computer Assisted Language Learning SIG of the Japan Association for Language Teaching.  He holds a BA in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Southern Queensland, and a graduate certificate in Educational Technology from Michigan State University.