ELT Calendar

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Helping Learners Remember Words and Phrases: Implementing Proposals from Cognitive Linguistics
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Speaker: Frank Boers (Victoria University of Wellington)
Organization: Reitaku University Tokyo Research Center
Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis
Short description: The recent research of Dr Frank Boers (Victoria University of Wellington) concerns the teaching of L2 vocabulary and phraseology, and the potential merits of Cognitive Linguistics in that field.

Cooperative Learning Workshop and End of Year Party
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Jeff Contreras, Mike Seko
Organization: ETJ Tokyo (English Teachers in Japan)
Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis
Short description: In our second workshop focusing on Cooperative Learning, Mike Seko and Jeff Contreras will share some of their ideas. After the workshop, we will go to a nearby izakaya for our end of year party.

(1,2) Teaching Reading; (3) Research Methods
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Speaker: (1) Suzanne Bonn; (2) Atsuko Ueda; (3) Takayuki Nakanishi
Organization: Ibaraki Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Short description: We have three speakers lined up to present some innovative ideas about language teaching. Suzanne Bonn from Nanzan University will illustrate how the presenter took the concept of the Oxford Reading Circles to a new level through the innovation of Culture Circles.

Entering the conversation, joining the community: Legitimate participation in academic publishing / Annual Bonenkai
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Theron Muller
Organization: Toyohashi Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture
Short description: Part of the annual JALT Four-Corners Tour, this interactive workshop by Theron Muller is divided into two parts. The first illustrates how audience members can become legitimate participants in academic publishing by explaining different journal systems, including The Language Teacher, the JALT Conference Proceedings, and the Asian EFL Journal family of journals.

(1) Promoting Students' Foreign Language Communication Ability and General Studies;
(2) University Students' Perceptions on the Teacher's Use of L1 in English Class
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Speaker: (1) Yoshiko Miyake; (2) Harumi Ogawa
Organization: Iwate-Aomori Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Short description: Presentation 1: Yoshiko MiyakePromoting Students' Foreign Language Communication Ability and General Studies: The IPU Case StudyIn the past two years, foreign language teaching at Iwate Prefectural University has been in the process of reform.

ELT and the Science of Happiness (followed by End of Year Party)
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker: Marc Helgesen
Organization: Shizuoka Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Short description: Positive, motivated students -- engaged in what they are studying and with each other -- learn more. How do we facilitate that positive attitude in the language classroom? This activity-based session looks at ways positive psychology (TIME magazine calls it "The Science of Happiness") can be combined with clear language learning goals for active, invested learning.

(1) Teaching Portfolio; (2) International Exchanges in the Wake of the March 11th Disasters
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: (1) Emiko Hirose Horton; (2) Nara Katsuyuki
Organization: Saitama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Short description: (1) Teaching Portfolio - Showcasing your teaching skillsEmiko Hirose HortonA teaching portfolio is an evidence-based collection of the documents of your teaching performance.

1. The Plastic Brain: How Emotion, Cognition and Movement Shape Learning; 2. The Brain, the Self and the Successful Learner
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Speaker: 1. Curtis Kelly (Kansai University); 2. Cheryl Kirchhoff (Nagano Pref. College)
Organization: Nagano Chapter (formerly the Shinshu Chapter) of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture
Short description: JALT Shinshu and Cengage present a stimulating afternoon with well-respected author and speaker Curtis Kelly (EdD), a Professor of English at Kansai University.

Let's Teach Reading
Time: 2:15 PM - 4:20 PM
Speaker: Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Co-author, Let’s Go, Oxford University Press and Program Director, International Teacher Development Institute
Organization: Matsuyama Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Short description: How can we help our students move from learning to identify individual words to reading sentences and stories? In this workshop, we'll answer that question by looking at what we can learn from reading instruction history and research, and use the best of both to create an eclectic reading program ideally suited to your students' unique needs.

JALT Hokkaido Annual Year-end Meeting & Bonenkai
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Speaker: Informal Event
Organization: Hokkaido Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Short description: Informal gathering for JALT members, families, and friends. Please bring a dish to share.

Call for Papers Due December 11th (Sunday)

The First Annual JALT Vocabulary Symposium
Call for papers due: December 11th (Sunday)
Event Date: March 3rd (Saturday), 2012
Overview: The Vocabulary Special Interest Group of JALT will hold its First Annual Symposium on March 3rd, 2012 at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka.