Nagasaki JALT:

(1) Testing the new TOEIC Speaking and Writing Test; (2) Writing Fluency: What is it, and is it necessary?

Date: Saturday, July 31st, 2010 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speaker: Terry Fellner, Saga University.

Description:
For our fifth event of the year, presenter Terry Fellner returns to Nagasaki to offer us two presentations. In the first, he notes that standardized tests such as ETS' paper-based TOEIC Listening and Writing Test have significant pedagogical implications for many high school and university courses. In 2006, ETS introduced the computer-based TOEIC Speaking and Writing test, in part, as a response to criticisms that the traditional paper-based TOEIC Test did not provide a fair evaluation of test takers' productive communication skills. What possible implications may this test hold for teachers? The presentation attempts to answer this question by first providing a brief overview of the Speaking and Writing Test developed and administered by ETS. The presentation will then examine which linguistic features are intended to evaluated by the test, which ones are improperly assessed, and will discuss some of the linguistic, cultural and pragmatic features and implications teachers need to be aware of in order to better prepare their students.

In the second presentation, he examines the concept of writing fluency as it is used today. Writing fluency is normally determined by counting the number of words a writer produces within a specified time period. But what exactly is this concept? The presenter proposes using an alternate definition, which contends that writing fluency is more accurately determined when word counts along with lexical frequency are measured together. The presenter concludes by discussing the importance of writing fluency in the development of general and academic writing skills.

After these two sessions, we are planning to have a post-meeting dinner party at Attic Restaurant, Dejima Wharf, 1F. This begins at 6 PM, and we have already reserved a certain number of seats inside, near the window, better to see the Minato Matsuri fireworks (if you choose to stay until 8:50 PM, when the "hanabi" begins.) The cost of the dinner is Y2980. One drink is free, others cost extra, and payable per person. If you would like to attend this dinner, you MUST confirm by 7/16. Send e-mail with your name and contact information to our Facilities Chair, Karen Masatsugu, at karen@kwassui.ac.jp She can also be contacted via the Officers' list on our Nagasaki JALT and Friends Facebook site page. Hope to see you there!

Because of the festival weekend, car parking might be limited in the area of Dejima Koryu Kaikan, the Art Museum, and Dejima Wharf.

Organization: Nagasaki Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Nagasaki JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1000 yen

Venue: Dejima Koryu Kaikan, 4F (large white building next to the Art Museum, and Dejima Wharf)

Location: Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

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Contact Nagasaki JALT

Website: www.nankyujalt.org

Luc Roberge
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