Temple University Japan:

University Entrance Examinations in Japan: What Should They Be in the Future?

Date: Saturday, March 23rd, 2002 Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Speaker: James Dean Brown, University of Hawaii

Description:
The purpose of this seminar by James Dean Brown is to explore some of the pros and cons of the university entrance examinations in Japan and to explore some of the potential changes that could be made. During the last fifteen years, a number of articles have discussed the quality and appropriateness of Japanese university English language entrance examinations. In those articles, criticisms were leveled and the exams were defended, but only a very few proposals for constructive change were ever offered. In this seminar, we will work together to understand the strengths and weaknesses of university entrance exams by exploring five main topics:

• testing purposes,
• effects,
• roles,
• responsibilities, and
• perspectives.

We will explore solutions to the existing problems within the larger context of university entrance exam washback on English language curriculum in four categories:

• test design strategies,
• test content strategies,
• testing logistics strategies, and
• test interpretation strategies.

Naturally all of this discussion will be framed within the larger framework of Japanese education and society.
A reading packet of articles from various perspectives on this issue will be used to help seminar participants think about developing a short (5-10 page) statement of their views on what should happen with the English language entrance exam in Japan.
This is part of TUJ's Distinguished Lecturer Series. Note that each seminar is actually 2 days long, apx. 7 hours per day. The first three hours of each seminar are free and open to the public. To attend both days of the weekend seminar costs 10,500 yen for the general public (free for M.Ed. and Ed.D. alumni of Temple University Japan; 65,000 yen for credit towards an M.Ed. at Temple U.). Please see the TUJ Osaka web site for full details.

Organization: Temple University Japan

Cost: TUJ Members: free for M.Ed. and Ed.D. alumni of Temple University Japan
Non-members: free (first three hours)

Venue: Temple University Japan, Tokyo Center, 2-8-12 Minami Azabu; Minato-ku, Tokyo

Location: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Temple University Japan

Website: www.tuj.ac.jp/tesol/seminars/