The Japan Association for Language Teaching

Niigata Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Niigata Chapter)

Niigata Chapter Events in 2002

Events archive by year:
2008 [2]; 2003 [3]; 2002; 2001 [9];

Sunday, April 14th, 2002

Team Teaching and Japanese Learners' Motivation

Speaker: Miyazato Kyoko, Hakuoh University
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., April 14th, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: Niigata International Friendship Center
Description: Miyazato will present her study that investigates the motivation of Japanese learners in classes taught both by native speaker teachers of English and Japanese teachers of English. Two hypotheses for the dynamics taking place in these classes will be put forth, with a discussion of what may motivate and demotivate learners in a team-teaching environment.

Sunday, May 12th, 2002

Read with Me and I Will Read: Activities that Work with Elementary School Children

Speaker: Setsuko Toyama and Julian Whitney
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., May 12th, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: International Friendship Center
Description: Both presenters have been using picture books as a teaching resource for a number of years and have found them to be motivating and enjoyable. They will describe a three-stage process for using picture books in the English classroom. A variety of activities will be presented. If teachers come as children, willing to participate, they will leave with a number of exciting lessons for their Young Learners of English.

Sunday, June 23rd, 2002

Adapting Textbook Activities On the Spot

Speaker: Rebecca Arthur, Poole Gakuin University
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (Sun., June 23rd, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: Niigata International Friendship Center
Description: Despite the many benefits of using a textbook, there are bound to be mismatches between what the textbook has to offer and what the students need. In this workshop a variety of ways to adapt textbook activities so they are more suitable will be presented and practiced. These adaptations can be done on the spot, with almost no preparation. These adaptations can be made to activities of almost any level.

Sunday, September 8th, 2002

Starting the New Term Off Right

Speaker: Angela Ota
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Sun., September 8th, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: Niigata International Friendship Center
Description: Angela Ota shares her ideas on starting the new term out right by

  • creating class atmosphere,
  • keeping track of student marks,
  • getting acquainted, and
  • getting the students started with useful English.
These ideas are especially useful for large classes, but there should be something for everyone teaching young adult to adult learners.
About the presenter:Angela runs her own English conversation School in Gosen, and teaches part time at Gidai and Joho universities.

Sunday, October 6th, 2002

Non-Teaching Made Easy

Speaker: Chris Hunt, Wise Hat
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., October 6th, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1000 yen, students 500 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: Niigata International Friendship Center
Description: "Less is more" is a very famous expression. But the inverse, "More is less," is probably more applicable for the effective teaching of children. The more we teach, the less children will learn. Conversely, children can learn naturally and energetically once we learn to stop teaching them. This workshop examines some ways of non-teaching. As George Bernard Shaw once quipped, "He who can does, he who can't teaches". So come and learn how to stop teaching and start being.

Sunday, November 10th, 2002

Critical Thinking / Problem Solving

Speaker: Lori Haga
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., November 10th, 2002)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1000 yen, students 500 yen
Prefecture: Niigata
City: Niigata
Venue: Nagaoka Shimin Center
Description: A practical workshop on how to motivate students through Critical Thinking, Mind Maps and Problem Solving. How do we get students to express an opinion? How do we create a safe atmosphere where they can think and speak without ridicule? How can we motivate them to want to think in English? Practical hints on how to encourage Positive Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills in a non-threatening environment, through discussion of topics relevant to students lives and interests.

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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