JALT West Tokyo Chapter
2009: Past Events
1
Third TESOL Action Research Mini-Conference
Professional Development for EFL Teachers: More Astonishing Research
Aston University, in collaboration with JALT West Tokyo and Tokyo Chapters, Abax, and Toyo Gakuen University invites you to an evening of presentations exploring task-based learning and communication.
Date
Friday 24 April 2009
Time
5:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Speakers
Andrea Little, Terry Fieldsend, Sarah Haas, Andy Boon, Alastair Graham-Marr
Fee
Free to all
Venue
Toyo Gakuen University, Hongo Campus (Tokyo), Building 1, Room 1302.
Access
To open an access map, click here.
Contact
To pre-register and guarantee a seat, email Andy Boon at <andrew.boon@tyg.jp>
17:45-18:00
Doors open
18:00-18:45
Form-focused tasks using semantically enhanced input
Andrea Little - Aston University
Terry Fieldsend - Aston University
Andrea Little and Terry Fieldsend will describe a small research project using realia (a miniature apartment) to target prepositions. Using Samuda's (2001) design framework, the research investigates whether tasks which illuminate areas of meaning (semantically enhanced tasks) might be effective in leading learners to notice a “gap” in their language, seek language input on a highlighted form, and then apply that form with a greater degree of accuracy and control as a result of their increased appreciation of that particular meaning-form relationship.
18:45-19:00
Break
19:00-19:45
The value of non-evaluation in the research and writing process
Sarah Haas - Aston University
Andy Boon - Toyo Gakuen University
It is well-established that giving/receiving feedback is an important part of the research/writing process. However, feedback is often synonymous with evaluation. This is not surprising, given that the established discourse of higher education is evaluative—ideas are moved forward by criticism and debate. However, in certain stages of research, evaluative feedback may not always be the most preferable. While not denying the importance of constructive criticism, Sarah Haas and Andy Boon will discuss how non-evaluative interaction may facilitate understanding for the individual teacher/researcher.
19:45-20:00
Break
20:00-20:45
Communication strategies: Why training is helpful
Alastair Graham-Marr - Tokai University; Abax
We often observe that, all other factors being equal, some people communicate better than others. Communication strategies are often the difference. Learning to use communication strategies is a matter not so much of education but of training. We all use and understand such strategies to varying degrees in our first language. The key is having enough experience to transfer these skills over to our second language. Alastair Graham-Marr will look at some of the L1 cultural interference issues with respect to the acquisition of strategies and suggest an explanation for differing research results between Asian and European studies.
20:45-21:00
Closing remarks
2
Professional Development Symposium
Input and Output: Toward Integration
We present a two-part workshop, a dozen presentations, and poster sessions, in cooperation with JALT Yokohama and Tokyo Chapters, Pragmatics SIG and Tokai University.
Date
Sat 25 April
Time
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
There will be a two-part workshop led by John Fanselow.
Fee
JALT members and Tokai University faculty: free
One-day members (i.e. non-members): 1,000 yen
Venue
Tokai University, Shonan Campus near Tokai-Daigakumae Station
(Odakyu Line), or a 30-minute bus ride from Hiratsuka Station
(JR Tokaido Line).
Access
To open an access map, click here.
Contact
<westtokyojalt-owner@yahoogroups.com>
Headlining Workshop: From a Distance
John Fanselow - Akita International University
In From a Distance, often sung by Bette Midler, the world appears beautiful, full of harmony and hope. At first glance, many of our textbooks, handouts, and quizzes appear well structured, comprehensible, and in line with some popular theories of learning. On closer examination, though, we can discover how our first glance shows only part of the picture just as a closer examination of the world reveals a bit less beauty, harmony and hope than the lyrics in From a Distance suggest.
But the words from a distance, ironically, provide us all with a perspective to analyze our materials and what we do with them in ways that strip away our emotional attachment to materials and practices we have grown attached to. All too often we are so close to what we do that we cannot detach ourselves and analyze materials and practices.
During the workshops, I will remind you of ways you analyze other aspects of your lives with detachment—from a distance—and how to apply this day-to-day analysis of what we do outside of our classrooms to what we do inside of our classrooms.
John Fanselow's main interests are observation and the analysis of interactions, both inside and outside of classrooms. Beyond Rashomon and Let's See, two of his seminal articles in the TESOL Quarterly, have been reprinted in many anthologies. He has served as second vice president and president of TESOL International, and president of New York TESOL. In 1987, he started the off-campus TESOL M.A. Program in Tokyo for Teachers College, Columbia University. Presently, he is a visiting professor at Akita International University.
Featured Session: How to teach listening and reading effectively in the classroom
Satoshi Tanaka - Tokai University
Featured Session: Language output: language input: A few universals
Alastair Graham-Marr - Tokai University; Abax
Featured Session: Increasing academic output with a writers' group for academic writers: Procedures and benefits
Sarah Haas - Aston University
3
Fourth Joint JALT Tokyo Conference
Successful language learners and what they can teach us
Date
Sunday 11 October 2009
Time
09:45-17:30
Speakers
Chuck Sandy, Rob Waring, Yuka Iijima, Kevin Cleary, Marcos Benevides,
Sarah Louisa Birchley, Andy Boon
Fee
JALT members:
Pre-registered: 1,500 yen (Pre-registration is strongly encouraged)
Others: 2,000yen
One-day members:
Pre-registered: 2,500 yen (JALT membership and pre-registration are strongly encouraged)
Others: 3,000yen
Venue
Toyo Gakuen University, Hongo Campus (Tokyo), Building 1, Phoenix Hall
Access
To open an access map, click here.
Contact
To pre-register, email Andy Boon (Conference Chair) <andrew.boon@tyg.jp>
(Pre-registration is very strongly encouraged)
09:45-10.15
Registration
10:15-11:00
Making molehills out of mountains: Realizing learner potential and creating opportunities
Sarah Louisa Birchley - Toyo Gakuen University
Andy Boon - Toyo Gakuen University
The presenters will provide an overview of "What the 'Good Language Learner' can teach us" (Rubin, 1975) and detail the theory behind the design of a new second-year EFL course (ALPS - Academic Learning and Professional Skills), aimed at further developing good language learners at a Japanese university. They will discuss the strengths and limitations of the course. Finally, we will hear from the learners themselves regarding their learner strategies and language learning experiences.
Andy Boon and Sarah Louisa Birchley teach at Toyo Gakuen University. Both are engaged in doctoral studies. Their research interests include educational management, teacher development, action research, and motivation.
11:15-12:00
Intensively extensive: My experience as an ESL reader
Marcos Benevides - Kansai Gaidai University
The presenter will present his experience as an ESL learner and EFL teacher to argue that successful language learners can read both "extensively" and "intensively" at the same time, given the right input. If the readings are supported by meaningful extension tasks and are inherently interesting and sustainably engaging, then even slightly demanding materials can be both motivating and instructive.
Marcos Benevides is an assistant professor at Kansai Gaidai University. He is coauthor of Widgets: A task-based course in practical English (Pearson, 2008) and Whodunit: Bridge to Extensive Reading (ABAX, to be published).
12:00-13:15
Lunch
13:15-14:00
Finding and nurturing successful learners: One teacher's experience
Kevin Cleary - Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Do you have students who read the assigned text several times over, without prompting? Who read the recommended books listed on your syllabus? Who voluntarily share interesting information they discovered on their own? The presenter will share his experience in finding and nurturing such students. He will also share his thoughts on how to find such students and help them use a combination of intensive and extensive reading to develop conversational fluency. Disclaimer: They are not university students.
Kevin Cleary has enjoyed teaching English in Japan since 1991. His research interests include technical communication by second language learners and the process of simplifying or otherwise adapting texts for language learners and for the cinema. He is the Tokyo Chapter Membership Chair and Director of Treasury for JALT.
14:15-15:00
Empowering learners through strategy focused curriculum
Yuka Iijima - Dokkyo University
The presenter will report on how strategy training has been incorporated into a university EFL curriculum, focusing particularly on listening strategy training which was contextualized in a required EGAP listening course; will report on feedback given by students; will suggest ways to integrate listening strategy training with different types of texts and language-learning activities; and will look at how to build these strategies into a curriculum to empower learners with the tools for success.
Yuka Iijima holds a Diploma in TESL from Victoria University of Wellington and an MA in Applied Linguistics from Ohio University. She is especially interested in English for general academic purposes in an EFL context and curriculum development.
15:15-16:00
Building an academic vocabulary through reading
Rob Waring - Notre Dame Seishin University
Most of what we read in real-life and in standardized tests is non-fiction. The presenter will put forward the case that students should read interesting non-fiction materials on a wide range of topics at various difficulty levels. This will involve learning an academic and technical vocabulary. One of the most effective ways to do so is by a combination of direct intentional study complemented by graded reading of academic non-fiction texts. The presenter will show how this might be done.
Rob Waring is an expert in Extensive Reading and second language vocabulary acquisition, and has presented and published widely on these topics. He is is a board member of the Extensive Reading Foundation.
16:15-17:00
Just because you are teaching doesn't mean everyone's listening
Chuck Sandy - Chubu University
Why is there so often a disconnect between what we teach and what students learn? How can we make it more likely that what's taught is actually learned and learned deeply enough to be retained? Participants will explore the answers to these questions before being introduced to techniques and activities to better connect teaching and learning so that each class has real take away value. Please click here to discuss the issue and view handouts.
Chuck Sandy is a well-known ELT author, teacher-trainer, essayist, and poet who has coauthored Passages, and Connect (Cambridge), and Active Skills for Communication (Cengage).
17:00-17:30
Coffee with the presenters
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