Fukuoka JALT:

(1) Increasing Gender Equality in the Classroom; (2) Freeing up Fluency in a Silent Speaking Class

Date: Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Speaker: (1) Sara Hendricks; (2) Steve Paton

Description:
(1) Increasing Gender Equality in the Classroom
Sara Hendricks

Although Japan is a world leader in industry, economics, and education, it lags significantly in gender equality. This study conducted at a university in Japan identified viewpoints on gender roles held by 141 freshman students. It tested the ability of classroom activities and discussions to change students' stereotypical views as well as any effects male versus female instructors might have on that change. The results show that most students have a high desire for personal and societal change. Results from stereotypical testing activities showed that students with female instructors showed significantly fewer stereotypical responses throughout the semester than students with male teachers. This information can be used to guide hiring decisions, curriculum development and classroom activities as educators strive to increase gender equality.

Sara Hendricks is interested in student motivation, helping under-performing students, and gender equality. She received her Master's Degree in TESOL from the UW-River Falls and has taught English in six countries--and gotten into even more arguments as to whether Taiwan and China count as separate countries!

(2) Freeing up Fluency in a Silent Speaking Class
Steve Paton

In speaking classes with English majors, Paton had become disappointed that students weren't taking advantage of the opportunity to speak, and to learn through experience. Many students were using too much Japanese, or hiding silently behind their more enthusiastic classmates.

In the second semester, Paton instigated a new, experimental assessment design that would reward active participation, rather than accuracy or "correctness". More importantly, though, he gave the students a comprehensive, organized explanation of his reasoning, hoping it would change their perception of the course. He heard more English during the next few lessons than he had heard in the entire first semester! His explanation had really resonated, and the students opened up, apparently no longer burdened by a concern with accuracy.

In this presentation, Paton will go through what he presented to the students, discuss why he thinks it was so effective, and show how he has applied what he learned to subsequent classes.

Steve Paton has been teaching English for eleven years; firstly to international students in Sydney, Australia, and since 2009, at universities in Fukuoka. He's interested in learning strategies and strategies-based instruction, and is a member of the Apple Distinguished Educator program.

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

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1,000 yen

Venue: ACROS 2F (Seminar Room 1), 1-1-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City (map)

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

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Contact Fukuoka JALT

Website: www.fukuokajalt.org

Trevor Holster
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