ELT Calendar

Sunday, April 24th, 2005

Introductory Certificate Course in Teaching English to Children (Aomori)
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Speaker: David Paul
Organization: Language Teaching Professionals
Location: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
Short description: One-day course in teaching elementary school children. Course components: 1.

Dyslexia - I've heard of it. But what really is it?
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Thomas Warren-Price, Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School
Organization: Iwate-Aomori Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Short description: This presentation will help you develop an awareness of Dyslexia (and Dyspraxia). Dyslexia is a condition that affects people from all educational and social backgrounds.

Two presentations by Tim Murphey
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Tim Murphey, Dokkyo University
Organization: Ibaraki Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Short description: Tim Murphey will give two presentations. The first is entitled Activities to Get Students to Appreciate Mistakes and Risk More in Conversation.

Distance Study - Getting Qualifications from Home
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Speaker: Amanda Harlow and Sanae Kawana
Organization: Hokkaido Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Short description: Going back to college to earn extra qualifications and doing it as a distance student are double challenges not taken on lightly. They entail considerable financial and time investment.

Using dance movement and drama to increase bodily awareness
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Evangelos Diavolitsis
Organization: Nagoya and Gifu Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Short description: One of the biggest problems facing EFL teachers is the students' fear of making mistakes and their lack of expression when speaking English. With music and props we will learn the parts of the body which keep us afraid, the means to release this energy to encourage greater vitality, creativity and enthusiasm in the Japanese classroom environment.

Teaching Children Workshop
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Peter Schinkel, Essential English School in Sapporo
Organization: Hokkaido Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Short description: The first half of this workshop introduces JALT Junior Hokkaido as JALT Hokkaido's voice for Teachers of Children. The workshop gives teachers of children an opportunity to say what they would like from JALT Junior Hokkaido and help plan its future direction.

STEP goes international: Eiken USA and STEP BULATS
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Todd Fouts and Martin Nuttall
Organization: Gunma Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
Short description: STEP Eiken is creating new opportunities for Japanese students to study abroad. This presentation will cover recent changes to the test design and a number of new ways in which Eiken qualifications are being recognized overseas.

Double Session: Goal Setting for the New School Year, and My Share - Activities that Work for Me
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Various speakers
Organization: Sendai Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Short description: In part one, participants will reflect on their teaching and ways they want to become more effective in the next year. This will be followed by a My Share session in which members share ideas and activities they find useful.

The Psychology of Difficult Students
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Curtis Kelly
Organization: Nara Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Short description: Every college teacher must face students who are bored, indifferent, and even hostile. While there are no simple solutions for dealing with such students, four theories in psychology related to motivation, moral development, and learning provide fascinating insights.

Three Interesting Approaches for Improving the Quality of Your English Lessons
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Robin Manning, Tim Buthod, and Eleanor Kane (all from Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University)
Organization: Hiroshima Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Short description: Three speakers will give mini-presentations, each exploring a successful curriculum that has been tested in his or her class. Robin Manning will present successful task-based reviews and assessment utilizing BINGO, movies, and other enjoyable themes in English Communication classes.

Post-Hanami Social
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Speaker: All Members Welcome
Organization: Kagoshima Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Short description: It's the season for hanami. Come view cherry blossoms with Kagoshima JALT.