ELT Calendar

Sunday, January 28th, 2007

The ABC of Student Speaking
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Catlin Evans, Brian Evans and Adam McCahon
Organization: Iwate-Aomori Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Short description: The ABC team (Adam/Brian/Catlin) will explore the often problematic question of student speaking and suggest ways to increase the quantity and quality of student use of spoken language.

Professional Development Workshop: Supporting Young Practitioners
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Mentored workshop
Organization: East Shikoku Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
Short description: This will be the first of a two-part series of events aimed at supporting young teachers and researchers in our chapter who have limited experience in publishing and presenting.

Answering children's educational needs: Story-based curriculum
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker: Nena Nikolic
Organization: Fukui Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Short description: Story-based teaching is considered the most natural with young learners in particular. In this workshop we shall look at the importance of stories in a child's overall development, and their approriateness in foreign language education.

The New TOEIC (r): Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Grant True
Organization: Gunma Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
Short 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.

1. Using song lyrics for reading content words with young learners; 2. Cartoons, global issues and young learners
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: 1. Richard Barber, Toyo Gakuen University; 2. Sarah Louise Birchley, Toyo Gakuen University
Organization: Chiba Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Short description: Presentation 1 will demonstrate how, after getting to grips with the meaning of a song, young learners do various activities to read the form. Step-by-step, they work together to build up to reading the content words in the lyrics.

Teaching Debate and Structured Discussions in EFL Classes
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Mark Neufeld
Organization: Sendai Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Short description: In the first hour of the presentation Mark will discuss the teaching of debate in the college EFL classroom. For those unfamiliar with the nuts and bolts of debate, we will look at the format of parliamentary-style debate and the vocabulary and methods involved in teaching and conducting it.

Activities for Upper Grade Kids in Elementary School English
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Tom Merner
Organization: Kagoshima Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Short description: The main goal of English Activities in Elementary School is to develop the children's positive attitude to try and communicate with others. There are various efforts in trying to develop activities and lessons to realize this goal.

ABAX