Akita Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Akita Chapter)

Akita Chapter Events in 2008

Events archive by year:
2008; 2007 [6]; 2006 [8]; 2005 [8]; 2004 [9]; 2003 [10]; 2002 [8]; 2001 [7];

Saturday, May 24th, 2008

Lesson Planning: As Easy As Pie!

Speaker: Lesley Ito
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., May 24th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen for one-day members, 500 yen for students
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: Lesley Ito, owner of BIG BOW English Lab in Nagoya will present a simple and easy-to-use "Pie Chart" system for consistently creating high quality, balanced lesson plans and for keeping a manageable record of what has been taught throughout the year. Teachers who use the "Pie Chart" system will be able to easily create a curriculum that incorporates all four skills and school owners who employ teachers will be able to maintain high quality control in all classes.

Lesley Ito's bio:

Originally from Florida, Lesley Ito is an EFL teacher, private language school owner and teacher trainer in Nagoya with over 15 years of experience.

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Debate and Structured Discussions in the EFL

Speaker: Mark Neufeld
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., June 21st, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen for one-day members, 500 yen for students
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: In the first hour of the presentation I discuss the teaching of debate in the college EFL classroom. For those unfamiliar with debate, I examine the format of parliamentary-style debate, along with the vocabulary and methods involved in teaching and conducting debates in an English class. Then I open the discussion up to those attendees who have taught debate so that we can share our experiences and opinions.

In the second part of the presentation I describe a technique I've developed over the last six years or so that I call "Structured Discussions". The technique can be taught to high school and college students with high-beginner to advanced English ability, and can be used in oral English or integrated skills classes. It incorporates many of the skills associated with debate, but does not require the learning of specialized vocabulary or debate procedures. It can be done in pairs or small groups, and can be easily tailored to the students' needs and interests. The activities leading up to actual structured discussions include brainstorming, outlining, and practicing conversation management skills. Students get a chance to read, write and speak target vocabulary and grammar in a structured and systematic way, and I've found that by the end of a unit even weaker students are able to handle discussions lasting 15 minutes or longer.

Biography:

Mark Neufeld has an M.A. in Education (Emphasis in ESL) from the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado, U.S. He is an assistant professor at Sakura no Seibo Junior College in Fukushima, where he has taught English for 15 years. Before that he taught at Sakura no Seibo High School for two years and at Berlitz Language School in Tokyo for 4 years.

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

What Do Your Students Really Think of Your Classes? � Achieving More Effective Course Evaluations

Speaker: Susan Duggan
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., July 26th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen, 500 yen for students
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: Description:

Do you know what your students really think of your classes? Can you know this from conventional course evaluation forms? Are the course evaluation forms which many colleges and universities make their students fill out giving teachers accurate and meaningful feedback? If not, what can we do about it?

This workshop has two parts. In the first part, the presenter will bring up problems of standardized course evaluation forms with evidence from interviews with students. 　As students filled out a course evaluation form, they were asked, "What does this item mean?" and "Why did you choose that number for your answer?" Participants are invited to comment on and discuss the surprising results.

In the second part of the workshop, participants will consider how to improve course evaluation forms and how to attain more efficient feedback from students about classes. The presenter will offer models and aids for meaningful course evaluation. Participants may use these to improve on course evaluation forms or think of alternative methods of evaluation. If you have a course evaluation form which you would like to discuss or work on, you are welcome to do so.

By the end of the workshop, participants should be able to think more critically about course evaluation, and determine more confidently the best way to elicit their own students' opinions and observations on their learning.

Biodata:

Susan Duggan has been an English teacher at Iwate Prefectural University since 2005 and also teaches "Preparation for Study at a University in an English-Speaking Country" at Iwate University, "English Education for Children" at Morioka University and German to the general public. After working as a high school teacher of English and German in Britain, she came to Iwate in 1991, where she worked in public and private high schools for thirteen years, first as an ALT and then as a high school teacher.

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

An Introduction to American Sign Language

Speaker: Carlos Budding
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., September 27th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen for one-day members
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: This workshop is primarily intended for those individuals who have a desire to learn some basic information regarding American Sign Language (ASL). The workshop will have 2 foci: first to understand a little of the history/theory of ASL, and second to learn some basic signs.

In the first part of the presentation, participants will be exposed to some of the basic linguistic theories that apply to American Sign Language (ASL). Ideas of what makes a sign, and what linguistic rules govern how a sign is made will be presented. Participants will also learn a brief history of how ASL came about in The United States and what challenges ASL is facing in a time of globalization.

During the second part of the presentation, participants will be exposed to a typical �gsign class�h, that is a class taught completely in silence and using only ASL, gestures, and some writing. Students will be taught the manual alphabet, numbers, and some signs intended for basic communication.

Brief Educational and Professional Biography

I began learning ASL at the age of 16. Prior to becoming a teacher, I was a Sign Language Interpreter working primarily in the educational setting for almost 10 years. I earned two Master�fs Degrees, one in Linguistics from Gallaudet University, and the other in Education from George Mason University. As a teacher, I taught ESOL to deaf and hearing students in the US and I was also an adjunct instructor at George Mason University teaching assessment for language teachers. Currently, I am a lecturer working at Akita International University where, aside from teaching English to highly motivated and intelligent students, I also co-teach in a club teaching both ASL and Japanese Sign Language (JSL).

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

English Story Cycle: What, Why and How

Speaker: Anthony S. Rausch
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., October 25th, 2008)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen for one-day member
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: This presentation will introduce English Story Cycle as an approach to elementary school English in Japan. The presentation will detail what the English Story Cycle idea is, why it is appropriate for elementary school English in Japan, and how to conduct English Story Cycle, either as the basis for the overall curriculum or as a meaningful add-on to any other curriculum. Handouts will be provided, along with materials for a mock English Story Cycle sequence and samples of story books that have been used.

Note 1: Although the books that will be introduced are published by the major textbook publishing companies in Japan, the presenter has no financial interest in the materials.

Note 2: To the degree possible, materials and presentation will be offered bilingually, in English and Japanese.

Speaker: Anthony S. Rausch is a member of the English Department of the Faculty of Education at Hirosaki University. He has taught English in a variety of circumstances and at a variety of levels for over 15 years. His current interests are elementary school English education and teacher training.

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