ELT Calendar

Sunday, March 9th, 2008

Teaching Workshop Series 2008: Teaching Children Confidently and Effectively (Sapporo)
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Setsuko Toyama, Kevin Churchley, Patrick Jackson and Ritsuko Nakata
Organization: Oxford University Press
Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Short description: Learn the tips and techniques needed to teach English to elementary school students with confidence from experienced teacher and co-author of the bestselling English Time series, Setsuko Toyama.

One-day course in teaching English to children (Sendai, Miyagi)
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Speaker: David Paul
Organization: Language Teaching Professionals
Location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Short description: Topics covered: * How do children learn? * Using games effectively * Building reading and writing skills * Developing communicative skills * Integrating songs * Lesson planning * Developing international attitudes Trainer: David Paul, Author of 'Teaching English to Children in Asia', 'Communication Strategies', 'New Finding Out', 'Communicate', 'Songs and Games for Children', 'Discover English', 'Discover the World', 'Discover the Universe'.

Round table discussion and workshop: Effective activities for the new school year for babies through junior high school
Time: 10:10 AM - 1:00 PM
Speaker: Roundtable
Organization: ETJ Kyoto (English Teachers in Japan)
Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Short description: Three presenters to share their most effective activities for the new school year, for babies through junior high school. Workshop to follow in small groups so everyone can share, ask questions and network new and exciting activities.

Testing for Children: What Is Out There?
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker: Group Effort
Organization: ETJ Ehime (English Teachers in Japan)
Location: Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Short description: In an effort to find out what materials are available for testing children, the ETJ Ehime group has volunteered to research and present the following tests: JAPEC, Jido Eiken, ACET, JEL Eigo Kentei Shiken and the YLE test from Cambridge.

SELHi Project: Enriching EFL through the teaching of pragmatics
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Jeremie Bouchard (Sapporo Sacred Heart School)
Organization: Toyohashi Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture
Short description: The presentation, a combination of lecture and group discussion, will focus on a SELHi (Super English Language High School) initiative involving two English courses: Comprehensive and Interactive.

Assessing Young Learners' Language (YLL)
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Gerry Lassche, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University
Organization: Iwate-Aomori Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Short description: (Please note the change of date to March 9th from Feb. 24th.

Dynamic Presentations
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: Mike Hood
Organization: Chiba Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Short description: This workshop examines the difficulties Japanese students face as they attempt to make presentations in English. The aim is to equip teachers with knowledge and tools to better assist their students.

Peer-To-Peer Dialogue Journals
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Steve Connolly Ed.D.
Organization: Saitama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Short description: Journal writing is one of the tools used by foreign and second language teachers. The usual forms are diaries or student-to-teacher journals.

Varieties of English: Historical Forces and Sources
Time: 2:15 PM - 4:20 PM
Speaker: David Kluge, Kinjo Gakuin University
Organization: Matsuyama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Short description: Learn the origins of the English language, the forces that shaped it, and examine several varieties, including those of England, Scotland, Ireland, America, Australia, South Africa, India, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.