Tag: JALT

  • Upcoming: April 23 – Preparing for the global marketplace: How can we best prepare our learners? – Richmond Stroupe

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    Date and Time: Sunday, 23 April 2017– 1:30pm – 4:30pm
    Speaker: Richmond Stroupe
    Location: AIINA Rm 602 (map https://goo.gl/maps/kEQo5UV2jPr)
    Fee for JALT members: Free
    Fee for one-day members: 1,000 yen (500 yen for students)

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    There will be an open mic session after the presentation.

    In the 21st century, prospective employers of our graduates are no
    longer satisfied with solely higher levels of English language
    proficiency, but also require additional skills that shape a
    well-rounded global citizen. As part of the global community, our
    learners will be required to be autonomous and confident and be able
    to think critically. In addition, our learners need to be able to
    effectively manage large amounts of information, use technology
    efficiently, understand the cultural perspectives of others, and work
    collaboratively and in leadership positions. All of these skills need
    to be incorporated into language programs that increasingly are
    providing content through English medium instruction, increasing the
    expectations placed on students and instructors alike. This workshop
    will provide opportunities for teachers to discuss the obstacles they
    face when trying to support learners as they develop these skills, and
    to discuss effective approaches to overcoming these obstacles.
    Participants in this workshop will also have the opportunity to
    discuss specific strategies and effective suggestions that teachers
    can use on a daily basis within any curriculum with students at any
    level to help them achieve the skills necessary for success within the
    global community.

    Bio

    Richmond Stroupe is the current Chair of the International Language
    Education: TESOL Graduate Program at Soka University in Tokyo, Japan.
    He has worked with university and professional language-learners from
    Asia since 1989, and his academic interests include curriculum
    development, teacher training and professional development, and
    enhancing learners’ critical thinking skills.

  • Upcoming – Oct 30 – Tsugaru Innovation in Language Education Symposium

    Hi everyone. Our October event will not be in Morioka. We will be up in Hirosaki, Aomori at Hirosaki University for a special event called the Tsugaru Innovation in Language Education Symposium. Here is the information below.

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    PDF Here

    Prior to the Symposium – Hirosaki University will have a Workshop on New English Education using ICT, SALC and Active Learning Methods from 12:00 ~ 12:55

    Every one is welcome to join! 

    12:00 ~ 12:25 Megumi Tada – In and Out of the Classroom – Exploring and Maximizing Student Potential Using LMS & SALC

    12:25 ~ 12:50 Shari Joy Berman – Innovative Active Learning and Project-based Techniques for Quintessential Flipped Classroom.

    The Symposium will have the following schedule:

    13:00 Start – Opening Remarks (Colin Mitchell)
    13:15 ~ 14:00 Speaker 1: Peggy Ishikawa  (15 minute Q&A)
    14:00 ~ 14:15 Coffee/Tea Break
    14:15 ~ 15:00 Speaker 2: Edo Fosythe  (15 minute Q&A)
    15:00 ~ 15:15 Coffeetea Break
    15:15 ~ 16:00 Speaker 3: Mike Smith (15 minute Q&A)
    16:00 ~ 17:00 Closing Remarks and Invitation to visit and tour the English Lounge (Hirosaki U.’s SALC)

    Please check out the TILES main page for a abstracts and bios.

    I’ve place all this information on a TILES page here. It will always be there for reference in case you cannot find this post.

  • Upcoming: Sept 25- David Gann – Sustainable Language-based Critical Thinking Instruction

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    Date and Time: Sunday, 25 September – 1:30pm – 4:30pm
    Speaker: David Gann
    Location: AIINA Rm 817 (map https://goo.gl/maps/kEQo5UV2jPr)
    Fee for JALT members: Free
    Fee for one-day members: 1,000 yen (500 yen for students)

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    I hope everyone had a great summer. I’m back from a short sojourn to  Canada and the U.S. Now that I’ve returned, we can get down to business for the fall season. Here is our September event. I’m looking forward to this one.

     

    Sustainable Language-based Critical Thinking Instruction

    The presenter will report on the first in his multi-step course design for aiding students in the development of critical thinking competence and dialectical discourse. These steps include (1) intake of explicit instruction in argument analysis delivered via podcast; (2) completion of two types of online text reconstruction exercises specially designed to facilitate noticing of (a) salient textual features associated with various premise-conclusion constructions; and (b) dialectical discourse items used in professional, academic and civil discourse; (3) online discussion threads concerning either (a) issues raised in the textbook during Freshman English; or (b) problem solving, hypothesis testing and data interpretation during subsequent Integrated Skills courses; and collaborative writing via online documents; (4) speaking tests, during which students draw upon their recent discussion thread communications; (5) assessment based on the use of the aforementioned language items, followed by meaningful feedback; and (6) how a technological solution helped the course design and approach reach sustainability. The presenter will explain the rationale behind the various steps; pedagogical considerations that informed various technological aspects of production and delivery; how the podcast material was connected to in-class activity; and how well the course design was received by our students.

     

    Bio

    Originally from the U.S., David Gann moved to Japan and began teaching in 1996, after earning an M.A. in English literature. In 2010, he began co-producing Critically Minded Podcast. That same year he also co-founded JALT Critical Thinking SIG. Since 2012, he has taught as Assistant Professor at Tokyo University of Science, where he has continued to develop materials for critical thinking instruction. In 2013, he completed a second M.A. in Educational Technologies and TESOL at the University of Manchester. His main interests include critical thinking instruction, CALL and learner autonomy.