ELT Calendar

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

The 2006 Oxford University Press Kids' Club Tour in Osaka - Growing Up with Oxford - Putting Great Ideas Into Practice
Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Speaker: Ritsuko Nakata, Setsuko Toyama, Craig Wright, Yoriko Taniyama, Kathy Kampa and Charles Vilina, Patrick Jackson
Organization: Oxford University Press Kids' Club
Location: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Short description: The Oxford Kids' Club Tour 2006 - In conjunction with the Daily Yomiuri 50th Anniversary. Join authors and teacher trainers Ritsuko Nakata (Let's Go), Setsuko Toyama (English Time), Kathy Kampa and Charles Vilina (Magic Time), Patrick Jackson (The Potato Pals), Craig Wright (Dolphin Readers) and Yoriko Taniyama (The Oxford Reading Tree) as they show you how to put great ideas for Reading, Songs, Chants and Lively Communication for a wide range of student ages into practice in This tour also sees the launch of the Third Edition of Let's Go - Japan's most popular course for kids! Admission is free BUT pre-registration IS required for this event.

One-Day Certificate in Teaching English to Children (Tokyo)
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Speaker: David Paul
Organization: Language Teaching Professionals
Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis
Short description: Many thousands of teachers have attended David Paul 's One-Day Certificate course and many thousands have come away excited and re-energized about teaching English to children.

The Longman / Maruzen Kid's Tour in Niigata - A Magical English Journey
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Mari Nakamura, Katherine MacKay, Eunice Miyashita
Organization: Pearson Japan
Location: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
Short description: Coming to Niigata! Japan's most popular Kid's Tour is back. Not to be missed, the 2006 Longman Kid's Tour 'The Magical English Journey' comes packed with everything the busy kids teacher needs.

The Longman / Maruzen Kid's Tour in Hiroshima - A Magical English Journey
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Mitsuyo Ohta, Lesley Ito, Junko Yamanaka
Organization: Pearson Japan
Location: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Short description: Coming to Hiroshima! Japan's most popular Kid's Tour is back. Not to be missed, the 2006 Longman Kid's Tour 'The Magical English Journey' comes packed with everything the busy kids teacher needs.

Electronic Dictionary vs. Paper Dictionary: How Differences in Dictionary Interfaces Affect English Language Learning
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Natsue Nakayama, Kyoai Gakuen College
Organization: Ibaraki Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Short description: Recently, handheld electronic dictionaries are becoming popular in Japanese schools. On the other hand, there are still some teachers who doubt the effects of an electronic dictionary, and who recommend the use of paper dictionaries.

The Role of Popular Music in the EFL Classroom; and Preparing Students to Study at English-Speaking Universities
Time: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Maggie Lieb and Linda Martine
Organization: Himeji Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
Short description: Popular Music in the EFL ClassroomEffective teaching and learning relies heavily on student interests and motivation. It's no secret how much high school and university students love popular music.

Content-Based Instruction Workshop: Windows on Teaching Young Learners
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Mitsue Allen-Tamai
Organization: Yokohama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Short description: Mitsue Allen-Tamai will briefly introduce the current English educational situations of Japanese young learners, as well as the serious educational problems or challenges that Japan is now facing.

Ecotourism and the Environment: Concepts, Definitions and Diagrams
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Paul Cunningham, Rikkyo University
Organization: Gunma Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
Short description: Over the last several decades there has been a growing interest in the natural environment, the ways in which we interact with it, and the various impacts that we have upon it.

Abraham and Albert - The ELT Implications Of Two Western Pedagogical Theories
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Speaker: Sean Mehmet
Organization: Nagano Chapter (formerly the Shinshu Chapter) of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
Short description: Part 1: Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is now a full five decades old. So, over the past fifty years, what have educators gleaned from this theoretical framework? Specifically, this interactive, practical presentation will address ten points that language educators could implement to help learners journey down the path to self-actualization.

Factors Affecting Nikkei Brazilian Parents' Language Choices for Children at a Brazilian School in Japan
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Toshiko Sugino (Dept. of Foreign Language. National Defense Academy)
Organization: Okayama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
Short description: According to a 2004 Immigration Control Office survey, Nikkei -Brazilians account for nearly 300,000 of the 2 million registered foreign nationals. In a city where the largest number of Nikkei-Brazilians reside, some parents choose Portuguese-mediated Brazilian schools over Japanese public schools for their children�s education.

Changes and Challenges in EFL Education in Japan
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Shinichi Izumi, Sophia University
Organization: Saitama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Short description: Whether and how to teach grammar has long been a contentious issue for foreign language educators. On the one hand, the traditional approach treats grammar as the main focus of teaching, and spends a great deal of time explaining and/or drilling the 'grammar points of the day.

Two presentations: (1) Using your iPod in the classroom; (2) Using podcasts - even without an iPod!
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Bill Pellowe (Kinki University)
Organization: Hiroshima Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Short description: (1) Discover the advantages of using an iPod in the classroom, for listening materials as well as visuals. (2) The latest trend online is podcasts.

What Mothers Want, and How to Handle Mothers as a Manager
Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Speaker: Will Letham and Hiro Sakamoto
Organization: ETJ Kyoto (English Teachers in Japan)
Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Short description: This Kyoto ETJ meeting will be held at the Kyoto Prefectural Community Center (www. kpic.

Amnesty International Dance Party, Benefit Concert
Time: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Speaker: Ali-Mo
Organization: Amnesty International, Group 78 Tokyo
Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis
Short description: The funky band Ali-Mo will Rock at "What the Dickens" (Tel: 03-3780-2099) in Ebisu on Sunday, 19 Feb. Doors open at 6:00 p.