The Japan Association for Language Teaching

Tokyo Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Tokyo Chapter)

Tokyo Chapter Events in 2003

Events archive by year:
2008 [3]; 2007 [6]; 2006 [3]; 2005 [9]; 2004 [6]; 2003; 2002 [3]; 2001 [4];

Sunday, March 16th, 2003

Faulty Bridges: Strengthening the Interplay Between Theory and Classroom Practice

Speaker: Marshall Childs
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., March 16th, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: Sophia University (JR Yotsuya Stn), Kioizaka Building, room 104. Please ask the guard for directions when you enter the gate.
Description: Applied Linguistics, the field that is supposed to bridge theory and practice, has not been a good bridge. It has offered relatively few valuable insights to guide classroom practices. The lecture will describe ways of broadening and deepening the interplay between theory and practice. The speaker, Marshall Childs, is The Daily Yomiuri's "Practical Linguist."

Sunday, March 23rd, 2003

E-rater Software

Speaker: Megumi Kawate-Mierzejewska
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., March 23rd, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: Sophia University (JR Yotsuya Stn), Kioizaka Building, room 104. Please ask the guard for directions when you enter the gate.
Description: Dr. Kawate-Mierzejewska will describe the "e-Rater" software which is used to grade student essays written for the TOEFL. This presentation introduces Criterion Online Writing Evaluation, offered by the Educational Testing Service. The Criterion software offers teachers and students instant scores on essays, rich linguistic feedback, discourse competency data, and a comprehensive classroom management system.

Sunday, April 27th, 2003

Recent Developments in Monkasho's English Educational Policy

Speaker: Kensaku Yoshida
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., April 27th, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: Columbia University Teachers College, Suidobashi Campus (Suidobashi Station or Jimbocho Station)
Description: As a member of one of the research groups created for the "Strategic Plan to Educate Japanese Who Can Use English," as well as a member of the Super English Language High School Assessment and Advisory Committee - two of the most recent Monkasho projects to revise English education in Japan - Kensaku Yoshida will present his views on the Monkasho intiatives. He will also detail his views on what he believes to be some of the factors that must be considered in bringing about positive changes in English education in Japan.

Sunday, October 19th, 2003

Presenting Different Opinions

Speaker: Richard McMahon
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., October 19th, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: Columbia University Teachers College, Suidobashi Campus (Suidobashi Station or Jimbocho Station)
Description: On Sunday, October 19th, the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) Tokyo Chapter hosts Richard McMahon, author of Presenting Different Opinions (Nan'un-do Publishers). McMahon outlines steps for developing good presentations and follow-up discussions through practical activities based on accompanying texts and the learners' own knowledge. He examines and demonstrates methods for effective planning, performance and evaluation of learners' presentations. These methods are applicable to both high school and college classes. Due to limited seating, those planning to attend please RSVP contact person Stephen Ross, JALT Tokyo Chapter president, at tokyoross3@yahoo.com.

Saturday, November 29th, 2003

Rules, Patterns and Words: A Pedagogic Description of Language

Speaker: Dave Willis
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., November 29th, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: British Council Tokyo Centre, Kagurazaka 1-2, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tel: (03) 3235-8031, Nearest Station: Kagurazaka (Tozai Subway Line)
Description: Dave Willis will show how grammar and lexis, contrary to traditional notions, are indeed related. He will look at the implications of this interrelationship for language teaching. A small reception will be held after the presentation to toast the speaker and the 4 Corners Tour.
About the speaker: Willis has worked in ELT for almost forty years. He worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in Ghana, Cyprus, Iran and Singapore as well as the UK. He recently retired from his job as a Senior Lecturer working on MA TEFL/TESL programmes at Birmingham University, but continues to be active in ELT writing and running consultancies. He has written extensively on discourse analysis, task-based learning and pedagogic language description. His latest book Rules, Patterns and Words: Grammar and Lexis in English Language Teaching will be published by Cambridge University Press in December of 2003.

Sunday, December 14th, 2003

Annual General Meeting and Elections

Speaker: various candidates
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., December 14th, 2003)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Tokyo
City: Tokyo
Venue: Sophia University, Ichigaya Campus, Yonban-cho 4, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Ichigaya or Kojimachi Station. map
Description: Tokyo JALT will hold its Annual General Meeting and Elections on Sunday, Dec. 14th. To receive a list of those standing for election, or to nominate a candidate, please contact Chapter President Steve Ross at tokyoross2@yahoo.com. Also, those planning to attend please RSVP to the Chapter President so that the appropriately sized room can be reserved.

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The Japan Association for Language Teaching
Urban Edge Bldg 5F, 1-37-9 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0016, Japan
Tel: 0352885443