Fukuoka Chapter

(Read the archived description for the Fukuoka Chapter)

Fukuoka Chapter Events in 2006

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

Saturday, January 28th, 2006

What can I do with an iPod in the classroom?

Speaker: Robert Chartrand, Kurume University, Institute of Foreign Language Education
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., January 28th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: Digital audio players have revolutionized the way people listen to music. Have educators taken advantage of this technology to enhance language-learning methods in their classrooms? The presenter will discuss how to incorporate an iPod into the classroom as well as reporting on how other educators are turning this technology into innovative educational tools. Participants will have an opportunity to experience learning in this environment through demonstration lessons by making use of this MP3 player.

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

Understanding Nonverbal Communication

Speaker: Dr. Fred Anderson, Siebold University of Nagasaki
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., February 18th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka YMCA, 3F Sanwa Bldg 1-10-24, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Description: Nonverbal communication is estimated to account for as much as 70 per cent of what we communicate in face-to-face interaction. However, it is more difficult to analyze than verbal communication, and tends to be more subconscious, and thus is often more difficult to come to grips with. In this lecture/workshop, we will examine various aspects of nonverbal communication-including the use of gestures, space, time and other aspects-and consider how it contrasts with (or complements) verbal communication. We will also discuss possible ways of integrating the study of nonverbal communication into the foreign language curriculum.

Saturday, March 25th, 2006

Understanding and influencing learners' motivational changes

Speaker: Dr. Mark Sawyer, Kwansei Gakuin University & Temple University Japan
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., March 25th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: In this presentation, Dr. Sawyer will discuss (1) the relationship between motivation and student behavior; (2) Dornyei & Otto's model of the temporal dimension of motivation; (3) his own data on the fluctuations of Japanese learner's English motivation over 8 years of formal instruction; and (4) what all this suggests we can do to raise and maintain our students' motivation.

Saturday, May 20th, 2006

Two Events with Dr. Deryn P. Verity, Osaka Jogakuin College

Speaker: Deryn P. Verity
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (Sat., May 20th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): see the description for details
Fee (One-Day members): see the description for details
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Two locations; see the description for details.
Description: Please note: The two events are at different locations, the afternoon presentation will be on the main campus of Fukuoka Jo Gakuin in Osa, Minami-ku and the evening presentation will be held later the same day at the Satellite branch of Fukuoka Jo Gakuin in Tenjin. The afternoon presentation will be free for all attendees. The evening presentation will be free for JALT members and 1,000 yen for non-JALT members.

Afternoon Presentation

Title: Exploring Professional Development through Language Awareness

Presenter: Dr. Deryn P. Verity, Osaka Jogakuin College

Date: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Time: 1:30-3:30PM

Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin College University, Osa 3-42-1, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-shi (http://www.fukujo.ac.jp/university/map/index.html) *parking available on campus

Room: 421

Cost: FREE (and open to the public)

Abstract:

Teachers of English face the double challenge of having to keep both pedagogical and linguistic skills up to date. Being aware of how language intersects with technique can help language teachers focus their own professional development. In this talk, I will address the issue of metalanguage for low-proficiency learners. Theory suggests that even beginners need to be able to talk about language in order for language acquisition to occur most efficiently. Child learners of English should not be burdened with extensive grammatical terminology, but there is a place for talking about goals, motivation, and language elements even to young learners. Some practical activities will be previewed, and a brief theoretical introduction to the sociocultural approach to language acquisition will be presented.

Bio:

Deryn Verity has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Delaware. Currently teaching at Osaka Jogakuin College, she has also taught English and graduate courses in teacher education at Osaka University and other institutions in the United States, Thailand, Poland and Japan. For the past two years, she has traveled to Morocco and Jordan to participate in a series of teacher-education conferences, sponsored by the US State Department and Fulbright Commission. Her primary interests in the field of teacher education lie in language awareness for teachers, activity theory, and pedagogy.

*This event is sponsored by Fukuoka JALT in cooperation with Fukuoka Jo Gakuin

For more info, please contact Jack Brajcich at jackb@jcom.home.ne.jp or Matt Armstrong at rrymx384@ybb.ne.jp

*****

Evening Presentation

Fukuoka JALT Chapter meeting, May 2006

Title: Using Whole Discourse Tasks for Language Teaching

Presenter: Dr. Deryn P. Verity, Osaka Jogakuin College

Date: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Time: 7:00-9:00PM

Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus, (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi

Cost for JALT members: Free; for non-JALT members: 1,000 yen

Abstract:

The word "context" is used everywhere in the field of language teaching and learning, but what does it really mean? "Whole Discourse Tasks" require a learner to operate within several types of context at once; even low-proficiency learners can be helped to create contexts for their utterances. This seminar will introduce 3 different ways of looking at the importance of context in language teaching: discourse context, social context and psycholinguistic context. The focus will be on tasks that ask students to move beyond the word and sentence level of structure into levels of discourse, social setting and pragmatic function. Some practical examples of such tasks will be introduced, and seminar participants will be asked to create the outline of a whole discourse task as well. A very basic introduction to the Vygotskyan-oriented theory of language acquisition will be provided as a basis for the discussion of the importance of context in language use.

For more info, contact Jack Brajcich at jackb@jcom.home.ne.jp or Matt Armstrong at rrymx384@ybb.ne.jp

Sunday, June 11th, 2006

Temple University / Fukuoka JALT Applied Linguistics Colloquium

Speaker: Two Main Speakers and 16 short presentations
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sun., June 11th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: This colloquium includes two main presentations (see below) and 16 short presentations by second language teachers and second language acquisition researchers on various topics. Presentations will include three types: 1) activities for the language classroom, 2) reports on completed research, and 3) reports on work in progress. All short presentations will be 20 minutes with a 5-minute question and answer period.

Morning Main Presentation (10:00-10:55AM):

Speaker: Dr. Marshall Childs

Bio: Dr. Childs is an American from Oregon. Dr. Childs first came to Japan as an IBM assignee in 1985. In 1990, when IBM told him to go back to the U.S., he quit IBM in order to stay in Japan, and began teaching English. Curious about the nature of language learning, he entered Temple University Japan in 1991, and graduated with an Ed.D. in 1997. He now teaches at Temple and writes a monthly column, The Practical Linguist, for The Daily Yomiuri.

Description of presentation: Pragmatics in the Language Classroom

The main argument is that classroom teaching should be designed according to pragmatic principles. This means that students should be encouraged from the beginning to adopt a communicative attitude and to make habit of demanding to understand and to be understood. This is a different approach from learning ABOUT the language, the approach that is common in classrooms and textbooks. Practical considerations preclude the immediate adoption of full-fledged pragmatics in the classroom. budgets, textbooks, teacher availability, teacher training, and – above all – the expectations of administrators, bureaucrats, parents and students, all act as sources of enormous inertia. What can the conscientious teacher do to introduce at least some pragmatics into the classroom? An accurate vision of what might be done and an understanding of the forces working toward change can help the classroom teacher. Working within available materials and opportunities, the teacher can enjoy some success and inspire some students.

11:00AM-4:00PM: 16 Short Presentations

11:00-11:25, Room A : A Comparative Study on Please in English and Japanese, Yukiko Arita

11:00-11:25, Room B: A Comparative Analysis of Direct Oral Translation as a Vocabulary-Teaching Technique, Stuart Gale

11:30-11:55, Room A: Using Pre-Tests in the EFL Classroom, Paul Westrick

11:30-11:55, Room B: English Education for an LD and Slight Autism Student with Special Needs by Observation of the Team Teaching Class, Ryoko Katsuki

12:00-12:55 Lunch

1:00-1:25, Room A: Considerations of Practicing Paraphrase, Rory Britto

1:00-1:25, Room B: Teacher Proficiency Orientation at Kyushu Sangyo University, Trevor Holster

1:30-1:55, Room A: Is Anybody Listening? Re-evaluating the Japanese High School Curriculum, Christopher Murphy

1:30-1:55, Room B: Eiken Classes Do Not Have to be Boring: A Game for Vocabulary Building and Grammar Practice, Miki Tokunaga

2:00-2:25, Room A: Putting Theory into Practice: Combining Multiple Intelligences with Drama, Michael Dailey & Bob Cvitkovic

2:00-2:25, Room B: Weblogs for Self-Expression and Community Building, Richard S. Lavin & Joseph Tomei

2:30-2:55, Room A: Is Near Nativeness Attainable for Post Critical Period Learners?, Bob Cvitkovic & Max Praver

2:30-2:55, Room B: What Do You Know about Grad School?: A Task-Based Exploration Project for Japanese University Upperclassmen, John Young

3:00-3:25, Room A: Lesson Plans for Career Development: Activities for College English Classrooms, Akiko Tsuda

3:00-3:25, Room B: Connectionist Theory and Its Implications for Teaching Reading and Phonics, Jeff Stewart

3:30-3:55, Room A: Culture of Learning in the University Classroom, Eve Sockett & Michael Rodgers

3:30-3:55, Room B: Language Testing Alternatives: Testing for Students (and Teachers) who dislike Tests, Matthew Armstrong

Afternoon Main Presentation (4:00-5:00PM):

Speaker: Steve Cornwell, Ed.D., Osaka Jogakuin College

Bio: Dr. Cornwell is a graduate of the Ed.D. program at Temple University Japan and is Editor of the JALT Journal. In addition to his editing work, he has been an Editorial Advisory Board member for JALT publications, has served on the Publications Committee for TESOL, Inc. and has reviewed manuscripts for various publishers including Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and MacMillian Education.

Description of presentation: The Ins and Outs of Getting Published

Whether studying for a masters or a doctorate; conducting quantitative or qualitative research, or working as a teacher or administrator, one thing that almost all of us working in education have in common is the need to publish. Many of us live in a publish-or-perish world, and even if we do not feel the pressure to publish, publishing offers a chance to engage with our colleagues about our work. This presentation will help writers understand the publishing process from selecting a journal and submitting an article to receiving reviewer's feedback and handling revisions. It will discuss what reviewers look for, show samples of feedback authors receive, and provide advice on what to do if you don't agree with the editor. It will describe specific publishing opportunities available through the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT). The format will allow for lots of questions.

Saturday, September 16th, 2006

Building Student Confidence through Intercultural Performances

Speaker: Dr. Joseph Shaules
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., September 16th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: This presentation will focus on helping students gain confidence using English. To do this, the presenter will argue that students need to face "performance pressure" while expressing a point of view in English. This is said to build students intercultural identity - the ability to be oneself in English. During the first half of the presentation some key ideas will be discussed. These include: 1) the difference between communication and conversation, and 2) the difference between nervousness and insecurity. There will also interactive activities which focus on teaching skills, including: 1) asking effective questions and finding motivating topics, and 2) learning to structure activities to give students time to reflect and prepare, and then a space to "perform" their communicative task. There will be sample activities demonstrated and sample materials given out. The emphasis throughout the presentation will be on fun and interaction, and applying the ideas and tasks presented to one's own teaching situation.

Bio:

Joseph Shaules is an educator and author specializing in language education and intercultural communication. He holds a Masters Degree in TESOL from the School of International Training and a PhD in Intercultural Communication from the University of Southampton. He held a tenured position at Rikkyo University for 10 years and was responsible for curriculum planning and materials development there. He has written numerous textbooks, including Identity (Oxford University Press), Impact Values (Longman) Different Realities (Nan-un'do), Insights (Nan-un'do). He co-presented the NHK television program Crossroads Cafe for six years. He is currently the director of the Japan Intercultural Institute (http://www.japanintercultural.org).

Saturday, October 21st, 2006

The New TOEIC (r): Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges

Speaker: Grant Trew
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., October 21st, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: The TOEIC (r) is the primary tool for assessing English proficiency in Japan and a good score has become a common prerequisite for job and academic placement and advancement. Because of its importance, TOEIC (r) test preparation courses have become a standard part of both College/University and private language teaching curriculums.

This workshop aims to clarify the changes to the test, highlight the impact and implications and for both test takers and teachers and present some approaches to overcoming the problems Japanese learners are likely to face.

During this workshop the presenter will give examples of the new format and use interactive tasks to highlight some of the key challenges test takers will face. Participants will then be introduced to activities that can used to prepare students to improve their scores.

It is intended that participants will leave the workshop with a better understanding of the changes and how these are likely to affect their students and programs, and also with a stock of techniques to better deal with these changes.

Grant Trew, an expert in testing and a long-time instructor of exam technique, has recently authored the Official Oxford University Press Japan Teacher's Guide to the TOEIC (r) Test. All participants will receive a free copy during the presentation written in the language of their choice.

Note: Fukuoka JALT will also hold officer elections on this date.

Saturday, November 11th, 2006

Teaching English to Young Learners

Speaker: Dr. Mitsue Allen-Tamai. Bunkyo Gakuin University
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sat., November 11th, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): Free (2:00-5:00 Saturday)
Fee (One-Day members): Free (2:00-5:00 Saturday)
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: Temple University Japan Distinguished Lecturer Seminar at Fukuoka

The first three hours of this seminar are co-sponsored by Fukuoka JALT and are free and open to the public. The entire weekend seminar is free for M.Ed., M.S.Ed., and Ed.D. alumni of Temple University Japan; the fee for other weekend auditors is 12,000 yen.

This weekend seminar will provide an introduction to theory and practice in the teaching of a second language to young learners, dealing especially with English education for Japanese children. It will begin with a brief overview of the current situation concerning the implementation of English activities in Japanese public elementary schools and will move to a discussion of the most important points in teaching English to young learners.

The objectives of the course are 1) to develop an understanding of first and second language acquisition in young learners and 2) to develop a working knowledge of methodologies and classroom practices for teaching a second language to children.

Course topics will include 1) developmental psychology, 2) learning theories, 3) the critical period hypothesis, 4) language development, and 5) literacy development, as well as some practical issues such as 6) a content-based learning approach, 7) total physical response, 8) songs and chants, 9) storytelling, and 10) games.

Schedule: Saturday, November 11, from 2:00 - 5:00 (free and open to the public) and 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 12, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 until 5:00 p.m.

For more event information contact Jack Brajcich at jackb@jcom.home.ne.jp

Saturday, December 2nd, 2006

Oral Communication Strategies for Japanese EFL Learners

Speaker: Dr. Yasuo Nakatani, Nakamura Gakuen University
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., December 2nd, 2006)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: This workshop explores the applicability of Oral Communication Strategies (OCS) in order to improve Japanese EFL learners' proficiency. First, Dr. Nakatani will describe and demonstrate how OCS can be used to apply principles of language learning in order to help learners to develop their interaction skills. Participants will then experience a scenario activity which facilitates learners' use of OCS firsthand. A discussion on the effective organisation of the strategic training will follow, with helpful hints on how to design, create effective lessons in your classroom. Participants will have the chance to brainstorm ideas for creating their own.

Bio: Dr. Yasuo Nakatani is Associate Professor of the Faculty of Business, Marketing and Distribution at Nakamura Gakuen University, Japan. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied English Linguistics at the University of Birmingham, U.K. He was the visiting scholar in the Department of Educational Studies at University of Oxford in 2002. He earned his MA in Applied English Linguistics at Macquarie University and TESOL Certificate at Georgetown University. He has published his papers in The Modern Language Journal 2005 and 2006. He is the co-author of Language Learner Strategies: 30 years of Research and Practice (Oxford University Press).

This presentation will be followed by a dinner social.

For more event information contact Jack Brajcich at jackb@jcom.home.ne.jp

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