ELT Calendar

Saturday, January 27th, 2007

Talking about English Education from Different Perspectives
Time: 12:45 PM - 5:40 PM
Speaker: Various Speakers
Organization: Nara Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Short description: Joint Seminar: Tenri University, KELES (Kansai English Language Education Society) Nara Chapter, Nara JALT? Forum Opening Addresses 12:45 - 1:15pm Presentation 1) 1:15 - 1:55 pm "Nurture Students through English Guidance" by Yoshio Dei (Nara Education University Attached Junior High School) Presentation 2) 2:00 - 2:50 pm "Breaking the Barrier" by Nobuyuki Matsushita (Osaka Prefectural Katsuyama High School) Symposium 3:00 - 4:30 pm, conducted by Nara JETs: "Rarely Discussed Benefits of Teaching English" by Chetan Rama (Mitsuemura ALT, South Africa), Robert Vassar II (Tenri City ALT, USA), Nina Watson (Unebi High School ALT, England) Lecture 4:30 - 5:40 pm "Beyond 'Communicative English Education" by Osamu Takeuchi (Kansai University) Snack Party 5:40 - 7:00 pm For further details or to register, please contact Hidetami Nakai of Tenri University at h-nakai@sta.

Briefing Sessions on a Postgraduate Program on Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Teruyuki Zushi
Organization: Institute of International Education in London
Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis
Short description: The Institute of International Education in London will hold briefing sessions on a postgraduate program on teaching Japanese as a foreign language that the organization offers in the British capital.

The New TOEIC Test: Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Speaker: Grant Trew
Organization: Kobe Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Short description: The TOEIC Test is the primary tool for assessing English proficiency in Japan. The change to the test format in May 2006 has significant implications both for students and educators, who will need both an understanding of the changes and appropriate preparation to deal with them.

Identity and Proficiency: Meaningful Approaches to Learning and Assessment
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Speaker: Trevor Holster, Siebold University of Nagasaki
Organization: Fukuoka Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Short description: Language proficiency is central to both teaching and assessment, yet proficiency testing and communicative teaching typically address not proficiency, but behavioristic notions of linguistic performance, failing to address whether learners are authentic users of language and constraining them to mimicry rather than language use.