Fukui JALT:

Translation in English Language Teaching in Japan

Date: Saturday, June 18th, 2011 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker: Yoshifumi Saito

Description:
Since communicative language teaching was introduced in Japan, translation has been thought of as an obstacle to the smooth progress of students' language learning and the proper functioning of classrooms. Moreover, the traditional Japanese method of teaching English through parsing and translation, often (mis)translated as "grammar translation" and confused with the Western grammar-translation method, has been a target of international ridicule in English language teaching. However, as Guy Cook, Chair of the British Association for Applied Linguistics, argues, "a use of translation always has the potential to improve the ability to use the new language both monolingually and bilingually", and translation as a method of teaching languages, if properly used in classrooms, can be a great help to both instruction and learning. In this talk, the presenter will analyze the contested discourse on translation and suggest some possible ways to use translation effectively in English language teaching in Japan.

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

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1000 yen (students: 500 yen)

Venue: Open University of Japan Fukui Campus, AOSSA 7th Floor

Location: Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan

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