Fukuoka JALT:

A Fluency-First Approach: Building Students' Motivation and Fluency

Date: Saturday, March 19th, 2016 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Speaker: Akio Sakamoto (Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Junior and Senior High School)

Description:
This presentation will demonstrate a "fluency-first" approach. This approach is especially suitable for students with low motivation and for those who are too afraid of making mistakes. Culturally, Japanese people are said to be afraid of making mistakes, which accuracy-focused Japanese teaching styles reinforce. The presenter will show some practical methods to break through an accuracy-only mindset to actively and comfortably push students to increases in levels of fluency and proficiency.

The presenter will demonstrate how to create a motivating learning environment where students produce both "beautiful silence" in reading and writing and "happy noise" in listening and speaking. This presentation aims to give interested teachers some ideas to encourage their students to read and listen extensively and express themselves extensively in speaking and writing.

Akio Sakamoto teaches at Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Junior and Senior High School. He has been teaching for 19 years. He has presented and given lectures at many conferences and events around Japan on his research of how to apply new and practical ideas to build fluency and proficiency. He encourages teachers and students to adopt his methods and to visit his classroom to see him in practice.

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

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: free (co-sponsored by Oxford University Press)

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

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Fukuoka JALT

Website: www.fukuokajalt.org

This event is co-sponsored by:

• Oxford University Press