Fukuoka JALT:

Critical Thinking, Controversial Topics, and Stimulating Conversation

Date: Saturday, December 6th, 2008 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Speaker: Greg Goodmacher

Description:
In this workshop, the presenter plans to facilitate a lively discussion of the pros and cons of controversial topics in our language classrooms. Are these topics useful for teaching language skills and critical thinking skills? How can teachers deal with administrations which might not approve of hot topics? Should teachers express their own opinions? Attendees will share their concerns, approaches, successes and failures with controversial topics. The presenter will also introduce materials from his new textbook Stimulating Conversation: Thinking Critically about Current Issues. Everyone will leave with a better understanding of integrating controversial topics into the language teaching context, and, if the attendees decide to introduce controversial topics into language classes, they will have more ideas on how to do it. This event is co-sponsored by Intercom Press. There will be an end of the year party after the presentation. Greg Goodmacher is very interested in creating teaching materials for global issues content-based EFL classes. He is the author of Stimulating Conversation and two other textbooks.

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

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: free this month

Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Fukuoka JALT

Website: www.fukuokajalt.org