Oxford Teaching Workshop in Fukuoka

The Oxford Teaching Workshop Series is coming to Fukuoka on Sunday March 13th. Why not take advantage of the 1000 yen highway or cheap return train and bus tickets to enjoy a very worthwhile day out!! Details at:

Overview: http://www.oupjapan.co.jp/kidsclub/otws2011/index.shtml

Schedule: http://www.oupjapan.co.jp/kidsclub/otws2011/schedule.shtml

 

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ETJ Expo

The ETJ Expo comes to Fukuoka this Sunday. The location is Seinan Gakuin University with presentations from 10:00 to 18:00. Schedule is avilable here:

2010 Kyushu ETJ ExpoSunday

2010 Kyushu ETJ ExpoSunday I will be there all day (I’m doing one presentation after lunch!)

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Oita English Language Teaching Seminar 2010

Thank you to everyone who came to the event yesterday – I hope you enjoyed the presentations and went home with some new ideas for your classes. Big thanks to all the presenters too.

Simon’s Presentation Notes:

Oita English Teaching Seminar 2010 handout

Oita Godo Shinbun report on the seminar

OkiNet2010

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第1回大分ELTセミナー！

Sunday May 23rd :  5月23日（日曜日）

Oita Prefectural Art College: 大分芸術短期大学

１０：００～１６：００

Details to follow.

6  Presentations

Book Displays and Sales

Information here!!:

Oita%20English%20Language%20Teacher%20Training%20Seminar%202010

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ETJ-Oita / Oita JALT End of Year Workshop

The final workshop of 2009 will be held on Sunday November 29th at Compal Hall, from 18:30-20:30.

This will be a biggy!! 2 rooms and 4 presentations, 2 presentations will run at the same time so you can choose which one to attend!

Presentation Info:

Using Literature to Teach “Empathy” to Medical Students

“Empathy” is an important term in medicine, but it is an abstract concept that is difficult to define, even for native English speakers. This presentation reports on a course that was taught to fourth-year Japanese medical students. The goal of the course was to deepen students’ understanding of “empathy” using English readings of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. This presentation outlines the methods and materials used, and the results of a student questionnaire that was given at the end of the course.

Sean Chidlow is a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at Oita University. His field of research is the Medical Humanities. Specifically, he is interested in the methods of using literature to teach concepts that are relevant to the field of medicine.

 

Using mind maps to promote critical thinking in writing and debating

In advanced English classes where debate, discussion and research papers are used as assessments, students need critical thinking skills in order to succeed in these tasks. This presentation will examine the adoption of a mind mapping software, rationale, that was introduced into and Advanced English II class at APU in order to enhance students writing, and debating skills. Building on the literature of the value of critical thinking mind maps, the authors examine how electronic mind-mapping can be used effectively in the classroom to promote student’s debating and writing skills.

Lindsay Mack is a lecturer at APU where she teaches Advanced English classes. Her research interests include: critical pedagogy and academic writing.

 

Testing your tests – do they achieve what you want them to?

Teachers of all persuasions incorporate some kind of testing into their classrooms. BUT, …… do the students and teachers always get the maximum benefit from these. The presentation will look at the difference in style and approach for placement, assessment, diagnostic and achievement tests and will suggest a number of approaches designed to motivate students

Simon Weedon is co-founder of ‘E’ English School, and teaches at Meiho Junior/Senior High School. He is Coordinator of ETJ-Oita and is a monthly columnist for The Daily Yomiuri.

 

Classroom Activities for Eigo Note and Beyond

With the introduction of English as a set class for 5^th and 6^th Grade Elementary School students, teachers are now faced with a unique opportunity, and also a challenge. The presentation will feature a range of immediately useable classroom activities for participants to take to their own classrooms.

Etsuko Minami is Vice Principal of Higashi Wasada Elementary School in Oita City. She is an active ETJ Committee Member with a keen interest in promoting English education at Elementary School level.

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September 27th Event

Another successful Sunday night!! Over 20 people attended the second ETJ/JALT workshop in Oita and were treated to presentations on using songs effectively, and a selection of tried and trusted games for Elementary School students.

Neil Millington, a lecturer at APU, gave a very useful presentation on using songs as the basis for a number of activities. These are the presentation note. Also, go to http://groups.google.co.jp/group/etjoita  (the documents section) to download a sample lesson plan “Beach Lesson Plan”:

‘Using Songs Effectively’

Presented by Neil Millington

1. 1.      Using songs as a warm up or introduction to a topic or theme.

Write down the titles of a few children’s songs that you know

 2.      Language Learning

Songs, rhymes, and chants play an important role as far as the development of language in young children this is also true for Second Language Learning.

a)      Listening                                                 f)  Repetition

b)      Speaking                                                 g) Real life

c)      Vocabulary Learning                h) Memory

d)     Grammar                                                 i)  Fun

e)   Culture                                                       (Murphey 1992)

1. 3.      Classroom tasks for children learning a foreign language

• have coherence and unity for learners
• have meaning and purpose for learners
• have clear language learning goals
• have a beginning and an end
• involve the learners actively

(Adapted from Cameron 2001:31)

 4.      Three stages

preparation                                     core activity                        follow up

 (Adapted from Cameron 2001:33)

1. 5.      Developing a song into a task

 6.      Being creative with songs

 References

Brewster, J., Ellis, G. & Girard, D. (1992) The Primary English Teacher’s Guide Harmonsworth: Penguin

 Cameron, L. (2001) Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge: CUP

 Moon, J. (2000) Children Learning English Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann

 Murphey, T. (1992) Music and Song Oxford: OUP

 Phillips, S. (1993) Young Learners Oxford: OUP

 Useful links

 Words to popular songs

 http://www.esl-kids.com/songs/animalfair.html

 Videos and words with advice

 http://www.supersimplesongs.com/cds.html

 British Council – Songs for Kids

 http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs.htm?mtklink=kids-songs-kids-popular-offers

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Next Event

日に日に涼しさも増し、日も短くなって参りましたが、皆様いかがおすごしでしょうか。 下記にて大分JALTとETJの合同イベントを開催いたしますのでお知らせいたします。 

We are pleased to announce that the next Oita JALT/ETJ event is on Sunday, September 27th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. 

Oita JALT/ETJ Event: Presentation ‘Using Songs Effectively’ presented by Neil Millington and ‘Introducing useful games for Elementary School students’ presented by Simon Weedon and Ed Kellerman

PRESENTATION: Using Songs Effectively  Songs are frequently used in English Language Teaching classrooms all over the world and are a part of a multitude of young learner language programmes. This presentation aims to look at why songs can be considered valuable pedagogical tools. Then, using several classic and original songs for children, the presentation aims to explore how songs can be used most effectively. 

Neil Millington is a lecturer at APU Ritsumeikan University where he teaches Fundamental and Intermediate English classes. His teaching interests include Task-Based-Learning and Teaching Young Learners. 

PRESENTATION: Introducing games for Elementary School students  Games can bring a whole new dimension to classes and can be very motivating for young learners studying English. There are not too many Elementary School students that do not enjoy playing games, however the use of games needs to be weighed against their education value. The presenters will introduce some tried and trusted language learning games that are suitable for Elementary School students. 

Simon Weedon is the Co-owner of E English School in Oita. He has lived in Japan since 1996 and is an ETJ-Oita Coordinator and Daily Yomiuri columnist. 

Ed Kellerman is co-owner of Albion English School, Head of Oki-Net and a veteran of kindergartens and Elementary Schools in Oita. 

DATE & TIME: 27th September 2009, 6:30pm-8:30pm

PLACE: Compal Hall (Room 309), Oita City. 大分県大分市府内町１丁目５−３８  09…  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=compal+hall+Oita+Japan&sll=37.0625 FEE: JALT members Free / Non-members 500 Yen  We hope to see you there!

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New Documents Uploaded

I’ve added three of my recent Daily Yomiuri articles for teachers to use in class. They are in WORD format and can be downloaded from the Document page:  http://groups.google.co.jp/group/etjoita

High school teachers see workload growing / Japan win delights fans in Los Angeles /  Avoid overreaction in face of new flu.

Enjoy!!

 

Simon

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Simon’s Presentation – July 26th

Imagine you are a tour guide in _Haltwhistle_. Describe the local are to your partner – include information on famous places and people, local food and local weather.  l  Was this possible? l  If not, why? “SCHEMATIC Considerations” Can MY students do the task in their first language?

Please describe how to: a)    Change a lightbulb (using Japanese ) or b)Make a paper origami crane (using English)  l  Was this possible? l  If not, why? “SYSTEMIC Considerations” Do MY students have sufficient vocabulary and grammar to do the task?

Find a person you don’t know. Now, describe your first kiss –*Where were you? *Who were you with? *What did it feel like? *Is it a good or bad memory?  Would you feel comfortable doing this task? Would YOUR students feel comfortable? INTERPERSONAL Considerations Will ALL students be comfortable doing the task?

MEMORY CHAIN: Use the following verbs: “bought”, “ate”, “drank” “I went to TOKIWA and ………. “  How much practice did you have with the target language? (a lot) QUANTATIVE PRACTICE Will MY students get enough repetitive practice with the target language? How natural was the language use? (not very)

QUALITATIVE PRACTICE Will the students use the language at the right time and in the right way??

Lesson Planning;

Design activity – check using the principles outlined – make any necessary changes –

REFLECT after lesson on what went well / what didn’t work

BLOG: http://etjoita.com CONTACT: etjoita@gmail.com

 

 

Write the most appropriate word in the space

WRITING

This      _______            my brother.

He         _______            10

He         _______            black hair

He         _______            150cm tall

He         _______            soccer a lot!!

He         _______            very good!

 

SPEAKING: Make a sentence!! e.g

TEACHER                                    STUDENT

My brother                                                   This is my brother

10 years old

Black hair

150cm tall

Soccer a lot!

Very good

 

Write the　most appropriate word in each space:

Yesterday __ went to the park _________ my friend. ___ lives in Beppu but

 

____ originally ______ Tokyo. ___ had lunch ____ 1 ___ the grass. It was

 

really nice being outside, and ____ too hot. In August __ September the

 

weather is too humid and ____ can’t ___ anything without sweating!! ___

 

5pm __ were a bit tired so __ went to Youme Town to meet some other

 

friends. _____ had school so _____ couldn’t come to the park. ____ of

 

them suggested going __ karaoke – she knows a really good _____ ______ is

 

near the shopping center. ____ ____ _ great time!!

 

Pity it’s school tomorrow!!!

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Document Access

All documents can be found at the ETJ Oita Google Group

 (全部のドキュメントはWORDファイルでダウンロード出来ます。下のリンクをクリックしてください）

http://groups.google.co.jp/group/etjoita

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