Ibaraki Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Ibaraki Chapter)

Ibaraki Chapter Events in 2006

Events archive by year:
2008 [4]; 2007 [6]; 2006; 2005 [7]; 2004 [6]; 2003 [6]; 2002 [5]; 2001 [8];

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

Electronic Dictionary vs. Paper Dictionary: How Differences in Dictionary Interfaces Affect English Language Learning

Speaker: Natsue Nakayama, Kyoai Gakuen College
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., February 19th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Hitachi
Venue: Ibaraki Christian University, Hitachi Omika
Description: Recently, handheld Electronic Dictionaries (ED) are becoming popular in Japanese schools. On the other hand, there are still some teachers who doubt the effects of an ED and recommend the use of Paper Dictionaries (PD).

In this presentation, the presenter will review some past comparative studies of ED and PD, and analyze the effects of types of dictionary interfaces on English language learning.

Sunday, April 16th, 2006

Presentation Title: The Enneagram and Interpersonal Peace Workshop

Speaker: Lawrence Metzger
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., April 16th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Mito
Venue: Ibaraki University, Mito
Description: The workshop involves taking two small tests in English or Japanese to determine one's main character trait with one or two sub-traits that cumulatively profile intrapersonal characteristics with implications of direct influence on interpersonal behavior. The Enneagram involves a series of reflective exercises which bring out the conflict areas in each person's character and which can become balanced through further integrative exercises to achieve inner peace which positively impacts interpersonal relations and societal peace. Topics covered in the workshop will include; Personality Variants, Ego Defenses, Exorcising negative influences, Tools for Personal Growth, Intrapersonal Dynamics

Saturday, June 17th, 2006

Politics of English Teaching in Japan

Speaker: Robert Aspinall
Time: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Sat., June 17th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): 2,500 yen (overnight)
Fee (One-Day members): 2,500 yen (overnight)
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Daigo
Venue: Ibaraki University Seminar House in Daigo, Okukuji Prefectural Nature Park
Description: Despite success in many areas of education policy, the Japanese education system has been criticized at home and abroad for poor levels of communicative foreign language teaching. There has been a consensus on the need to improve performance in English teaching in particular among actors in the policy making process. There has also been a considerable demand for private English language classes throughout Japan for some time. Focusing on government efforts to improve English language teaching since the mid-1980s, this article proposes that obstacles to the improvement of foreign language teaching can best be understood through an analysis of the social norms, values and expectations relating to teaching and learning that permeate school and university classrooms in Japan. The paradigm of small cultures (Holliday 1999) is used in order to show how common characteristics of the learning environment in Japan influence the interactions of groups of learners and teachers in ways that inhibit effective communicative foreign language teaching practice.

Sunday, June 18th, 2006

Teachers Unions in Japan (and chapter members' presentations)

Speaker: Robert Aspinall (1) & Chapter Presenters (2)
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Sun., June 18th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): 2,500 yen (overnight)
Fee (One-Day members): 2,500 yen (overnight)
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Daigo
Venue: Ibaraki University Seminar House in Daigo, Okukuji Prefectural Nature Park
Description: 1) The splitting into two of Nikkyoso (the Japan Teachers Union) in 1989 was a highly significant event for the union itself and the organisations andinstitutions with which it was closely connected. This book uses this event as a means of exploring both the internal structure of the union itself as well as its location within the Japanese political and education systems. Several theoretical models, by scholars such as Schoppa, Rohlen, and Muramatsu and Krauss are used in order to carry out this analysis. The schism occurred at a time of change within Japanese education, politics and trade unionism. So, in the process of analysis, various shortcomings caused by the historically contingent nature of these models are identified and modifications made.

The book seeks to explain why the schism took place and why it took theform that it did. It examines the events of the schism at three levels: national, prefectural and local. It concludes that the main single cause of the schism was the decision to affiliate the union with the new national federation, Rengo.

The book also looks at the change in direction of post-schism Nikkyoso education policies and analyses these policies in the light of the broader debate on education taking place in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s.

It is argued that the confrontation between union and government that characterised much of the postwar debate on education in Japan is now much reduced, and is being replaced by a more pragmatic approach that focuses on specific educational problems rather than on ideological differences. Schoppa model of education policy-making is modified in order to take account of these developments.

Finally, the book examines the schism within the context of the realignment taking place within Japanese politics in the 1990s. It is argued that the changes undertaken by Nikkyoso were necessary in view of the changing political environment, and that the collapse of the Japan Socialist Party illustrates the dangers of a failure to adapt to the new times.

2) Presentations by Chapter Members

2.1 Teacher & Student Motivation and Sociocultural Influence by Phillip Otake

-- Please contact Martin Pauly, Program Chair, if you are interested in presenting in the session. Each presentation lasts 30 minutes(including Q&A) --

For detailed info. and updates, read the chapter webpage http://www.kasei.ac.jp/jalt/.

Sunday, October 22nd, 2006

Storytelling in Language Teaching (A.M. Program)

Speaker: Charles Kowalski, Oberlin College
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Sun., October 22nd, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Tsukuba
Venue: Tsukuba Gakuin Universtiy, Tsukuba (formerly Tokyo Kasei Gakuin Tsukuba Women's University)
Description: Everyone loves a good story! Kowalski will show how to bring the power of oral storytelling into your classroom. He will examine the benefits that storytelling can bring and help you develop your own natural storytelling talent. Then he will present classroom activities to make stories easily understandable by all learners.

The afternoon program will start at 2:00.

Versatile Video iPods as Classroom Tools (P.M. Program)

Speaker: Bill Pellowe, Kinki University
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sun., October 22nd, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Tsukuba
Venue: Tsukuba Gakuin Universtiy, Tsukuba (formerly Tokyo Kasei Gakuin Tsukuba Women's University)
Description: All of the activities demonstrated by the presenter could be done by teachers who do not have video iPods, but the presenter will claim that the video iPod is actually an affordable alternative to other technologies such as laptop computers. Using only a video iPod, the presenter will demonstrate a number of ways that this new tool can be used during lessons to deliver material to the classroom, whether that material is a basic stimulus, a supplemental support, or the main content of the lesson. This includes using videos, slides (which are more commonly associated with laptops and PowerPoint), photos and audio, including podcasts, the latest online trend. To save time, participants will not be asked to "be students" during the activies; instead, the activities will simply be modeled. A detailed handout with web-based supplementary materials will be provided.

Chapter Business Meeting will follow (4:15 - 5:00).

This is the second part program of the one-day meeting (9:30-17:00)

Sunday, December 10th, 2006

1. Enhancing Language Learning Awareness: an Orientation Workshop for College Students; 2. JALT--History, Relations with Domestic & International Organizations, Challenges

Speaker: Steve Brown, JALT President
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., December 10th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Ibaraki
City: Tsuchiura
Venue: Chuu-Kozashitsu No.1, Kennan Shogai Gakushu Center (Ulara Bldg. across from Tsuchiura Station)
Description: This is a presentation for teachers. It reports on a workshop done with incoming students at a college English department. The presenter will let participants (teachers) try out a couple of things to see how effective they might be (or not) in their own situation. The second part will be a good chance to learn about the functioning and prospects of the organization.

After the meeting we will adjourn to a nearby restaurant for our annual Xmas Party/Bonenkai. Don't forget to bring an inexpensive gift to exchange.

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