David Paul`s Newsletter for English Teachers

Language Teaching Professionals
http://ltprofessionals.com/

E-mail Newsletter

Monday February 28th

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Japan education news

Read the news at ELT News

British Council ELTon Award goes to ABAX's Fiction in Action: Whodunnit
Japan-based publisher and authors win another prestigious award (ELT News)

Christchurch Earthquake: Ninety from English language school unaccounted for
Includes links to New Zealand reports and how to donate (ELT News)

Fewer Japanese students studying abroad
An 11% drop in one year (ELT News)

Are schools ready for English?
Elementary school teachers fear they lack sufficient training (Japan Times)

Sex abuse by teachers up 40% since 1999
Big increase in the number of public school teachers punished (Daily Yomiuri)

High school students lack confidence
New survey results (Daily Yomiuri)

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Cutting edge research

Bilinguals better at multi-tasking
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Violent video games increase aggression long after the game
Social Psychology and Personality Science (full text not free)

Korean schools testing robots to teach English at elementary school
Primary ignition

American college students learning next to nothing
The American Dream

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Starting a children's reading program

Benefits to students and schools
Article by Greg Crawford

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ELTBOOKS.com
The online store for English materials for teachers,
schools and colleges in Japan

Click here to see the site.

_______________________________

Rob Waring's graded readers

Rob has co-written or edited three series of graded readers

The Foundations Reading Library
The Footprint Reading Library
The Pageturners Reading Library

Click here for information

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Presentations coming soon

See events supported by Language Teaching Professionals

Sun Mar 6 - Saitama
How to get students to talk and keep them talking ... in English
Eric Shannon

Sun Mar 13 - Tokyo
ETJ Tokyo workshop
Various presenters

Sun Mar 13 - Fukuoka
Improve your memory and learning: Practical classroom applications
Robert S. Murphy

Sun Mar 13 - Ishikawa
Workshop for teachers of young learners
Mark Elwell, Yasuhiro Shimizu

Sun Mar 20 - Nagoya
Teaching special children
Cynthia Akazawa

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ELT News columns

EFL Classroom 2.0: A community by teachers for teachers
Barbara Sakamoto

Starting a children's reading program: Part 1 - Benefits to students and  schools
Greg Crawford

____________________________________________
David Paul's
Language Teaching Professionals
Supporting the professional development of teachers
____________________________________________

Comprehensive list of events around Japan

OKAYAMA -- February 19 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Okayama)
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Kevin Churchley, Caroline Marie Gerner
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5007

SAITAMA -- March 5 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Saitama)
Speaker(s): Marco Brazil, Aurora Dobashi, Miki Sakai
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5003

SAPPORO, Hokkaido -- March 6 (Sun) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Sapporo)
Speaker(s): Ritsuko Nakata, Geordie McGarty, Laurie Thain
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5004

NIIGATA -- March 6 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Niigata)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, David White
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5035

OMIYA, Saitama -- March 6 (Sun) 14:00-17:00
How to get students to talk and keep them talking ... in English
Speaker(s): Eric Shannon
Saitama ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5062

NIIGATA -- March 12 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Niigata)
Speaker(s): Ritsuko Nakata, Setsuko Toyama, Ben Shearon
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5005

FUKUOKA -- March 12 (Sat) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Fukuoka)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, Rumiko Kido
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5034

KITAKYUSHU, Fukuoka -- March 12 (Sat) 18:30-20:00
Behavior Management: Sleeping in class, playing with phones, teacher hair loss... arrgh!
Speaker(s): Matthew Jenkins
Kitakyushu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5020

FUKUOKA -- March 13 (Sun) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Fukuoka)
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Marco Brazil, Laurie Thain
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5006

OKAYAMA -- March 13 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Okayama)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, David White
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5033

TOKYO -- March 13 (Sun) 13:00-17:00
ETJ Tokyo Workshop
Tokyo ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5055

FUKUOKA -- March 13 (Sun) 13:30-15:30
Improve your memory and learning: Practical classroom applications
Speaker(s): Robert S. Murphy
Fukuoka JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5041

KANAZAWA, Ishikawa -- March 13 (Sun) 14:00-16:30
ETJ Ishikawa Workshop for Teachers of Young Learners
Speaker(s): Mark Elwell, Yasuhiro Shimizu
Ishikawa ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5061

GIFU -- March 19 (Sat) 19:00-21:00
My Share Workshop
Speaker(s): Gifu Chapter Members
Gifu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5049

NAGOYA, Aichi -- March 20 (Sun) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of adults - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5057

NAGOYA, Aichi -- March 20 (Sun) 10:00-12:00
Teaching Special Children
Speaker(s): Cynthia Akazawa
Aichi ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5074

NAGOYA, Aichi -- March 21 (Mon) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of children - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5056

SENDAI, Miyagi -- March 27 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Sendai)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Rumiko Kido. Hiromi Sasaki
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5032

SENDAI, Miyagi -- March 27 (Sun) 14:00-17:00
Performances, Skits and Drama: Getting students to play with language.
Speaker(s): Matt Wilson
Sendai JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5042

SAPPORO, Hokkaido -- April 3 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Sapporo)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Rumiko Kido. Hiromi Sasaki
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5031

______________________________________________________________________

To unsubscribe from this newsletter please just reply with 'unsubscribe' as the subject
______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________
Website: http://ltprofessionals.com
Blog: www.eltnews.com/columns/nelsons_column
English Teachers in Japan: www.eltnews.com/ETJ
Soccer: http://hiroshima-cityleague.com

ELEMENTARY ENGLISH

Are schools ready for English?

Worried teachers fear they lack sufficient training, confidence

By TAKAHIRO FUKADA

Staff writer

Come April, English classed will become mandatory for fifth- and sixth-graders, but a 29-year-old elementary school teacher in Tokyo has heard the concerns of her overwhelmed colleagues, especially the older ones, who have neither taught the language nor studied it since their university years decades ago.  Read More

文法レッスンの案内

文法レッスンの案内
すべての生徒さんが学ばなくてはいけませんし、文法の型と品詞について知らなくてはいけません。 品詞１．　動詞動詞は文章の中で重要な役割を持っています。動作を意味する単語です。動作を意味する単語の多くは動詞です。動詞のなかには、進行中の様子 を示すものもあります。（例）My uncle is an engineer. ２つをつなぐ動詞があります。つなぐ動詞には、is, are, becomeなどがあります。 文法レッスンの案内

Japan’s Independent Network of English Schools

It has now been a few days since the terrible earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and everybody here at Jines would like to send our deepest sympathy to all the family and friends who have lost someone close to them.

In particular we would like to send our sincerest condolences to all staff and students of Kings Education, a fine school and a good friend ours. We hope you can recover from this disaster as early as possible.

If you would like to help the people of Christchurch overcome this tragedy please go to the attached Red Cross link where you can donate.

http://www.redcross.org.nz/cms_display.php

Peter Carter

Network Administrator
Japan’s Independent Network of English Schools

3-22 Kanda-cho
Higashi Osaka-shi
Osaka   JAPAN 579-8058

Web: www.jines.jp

Oxford University Press Workshop Series

Oxford University Press Workshop Series

Dear Teacher,

April 2011 sees a new start for English in Japan when elementary schools will officially start "Gaikokugo Katsudo". Even teachers who are not teaching in elementary schools will be affected as more and more parents will demand results from their child's English classes!

Oxford University Press and its team of experienced teachers, trainers and authors are here to help!


英語教育者の皆様

2011年の春、小学校では外国語活動が正式に導入され、日本の英語教育が大きな節目を迎えようとしています。楽しみにされている先生もいらっしゃる一方で、今後より厳しさを増すことが予想される保護者の英語教育への要求に対し、複雑な気持ちを抱えている先生もいらっしゃることでしょう。

オックスフォード大学出版局は、英語教育の分野で豊富な経験を有する教師やトレーナー、ベストセラー教材の著者など、多彩な専門家らと共に先生方を全力でサポートします。


DATE: Saturday, February 26th
Venue Map

Yokohama World Porters 6F,
Event Hall B

2-2-1 Shinko, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi
231-0001

· 5 min. walk from Minato Mirai Line, Bashamichi Sta. Exit 4
· 5 min. walk from Minato Mirai Line, Minato Mirai Sta. Exit 5
· 10 min. walk from JR & Subway Sakuragicho Sta
· 15 min. walk from JR Kannai Sta. North Exit


日時：2011年2月26日（土）

横浜ワールドポーターズ 6F
イベントホールB

〒231-0001 横浜市中区新港2-2-1

· みなとみらい線馬車道駅4番出口より徒歩5分。
· みなとみらい線みなとみらい駅5番出口より徒歩5分。
· JR、地下鉄桜木町駅より徒歩10分。
· JR関内駅北口より徒歩15分。

Elementary school teachers lack confidence in teaching English

68% of elementary school teachers lack confidence in teaching English

Wednesday 16th February, 06:31 AM JST

TOKYO —

A majority of elementary school teachers who are about to start teaching English as a required subject to fifth and sixth graders this April lack confidence in teaching the subject and feel burdened by it, a recent survey by a private research body showed Tuesday.
The survey of teachers conducted by Benesse Educational Research & Development Center showed that 68% were not confident about teaching English and 62% felt it to be a burden.
The results indicate inadequate training, with the center describing the development of teaching materials and other preparations as ‘‘insufficient.’‘
The survey, conducted between July and August, covered 8,000 randomly selected public elementary schools, with a total of 2,326 teachers in charge of fifth or sixth grade classes providing valid responses.  Read More

スペリング

スペリング
スペリングクイズの使いかた

ESLの生徒だけでなく、 初めての言葉として 英語を話す人たちもスペリングの弱さが問題になっています。 スペリングを改善するための最善の方法は、決まったボキャブラリーとスペリングクイズの助けを借りることです。 スペリングクイズとは、 あなたのスペリングの能力をテストするものです。ボキャブラリークイズの場合、新しい単語を学びながらスペルも学びます。 スペリングを身につけるためのスペリングクイズは、多くのオンラインサイトで提供しています。 難しさの度合いに基づいて分類されていますので、 自分のスペリング能力に合わせたスペリングクイズを選ぶことが出来ます。

スペリングクイズの使いかた

David Paul`s Newsletter for English Teachers

Language Teaching Professionals
http://ltprofessionals.com/

E-mail Newsletter

Sunday February 13th

_______________________________

New ELT News column

The conscious and the subconscious

David Paul
(please take a look at my new blog
- comments are very welcome)

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Japan education news

Read the news at ELT News

Private English conversation lessons for less than ¥100
Fees for online learning are being slashed (ELT News)

Japanese prefer Glaswegian accents
New study of Japanese learners of English (ELT News)

Results of wide-ranging survey of attitudes to English released
Click on the links to see the survey results (ELT News)

Former JETs defend program
JET alumni influencing US foreign policy (Japan Times)

Teachers in Japan fight being forced to sing national anthem
Many public school teachers unite (Los Angeles Times)

Japanese schools serving whale meat to children
Reports in the international media (Digital Journal)

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Cutting edge research

Bilinguals find it easier to learn a third language
University of Haifa

Can human beings actually 'learn' language?
Cornell University workshop presentation

Spending on early childhood education yields high economic returns
Child Development

Children's genetic potentials are subdued by poverty
Psychological Science

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ELTBOOKS.com
The online store for English materials for teachers,
schools and colleges in Japan

Click here to see the site.

_______________________________
Featured website
ETJ-Aichi
Workshop information, downloadable materials ...
Site designed and maintained by Nicolas Cueto

_______________________________

Financial plannng and investment
advice for teachers in Japan

If you are worried about retirement,
have money to invest ...

Click here for information and advice

_______________________________

Women Educator's and Language Learner's
annual retreat

March 4-6 (Saitama)
Conference is open to all women of any nationality

E-mail for information: <dianenagatomo@gmail.com>

_______________________________
Presentations coming soon

See events supported by Language Teaching Professionals

Sun Feb 20 - Yokohama
TOEFL integrated writing
Alastair Graham-Marr, Michael Ringen, Terry Yearley

Sat Feb 26 - Fukuoka
Workshop on games (ETJ)
Various presenters

Sun Feb 27 - Hiroshima
Balance in the curriculum: Applying Paul Nation's four strands
to children's lessons (ETJ)
Carla Wilson

Sun Mar 13 - Fukuoka
Improve your memory and learning: Practical classroom applications
Robert S. Murphy

_______________________________
ELT News columns

The conscious and the subconscious
David Paul

Twitter and ELT chat
Barbara Sakamoto

Re-tests: How many chances do you
Mike Guest

____________________________________________
David Paul's
Language Teaching Professionals
Supporting the professional development of teachers
____________________________________________

Comprehensive list of events around Japan

OKAYAMA -- February 19 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Okayama)
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Kevin Churchley, Caroline Marie Gerner
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5007

GIFU -- February 19 (Sat) 19:00-21:00
Personal Learning Networks - The What, Why and How
Speaker(s): Darren Elliott
Gifu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5048

TOKYO -- February 20 (Sun) 9:30-16:30
2011 We Can ELT Spring Forum (Tokyo)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Tony Harden, Lesley Ito, David Staggs
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5037

OSAKA -- February 20 (Sun) 10:00-16:15
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Osaka)
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina, Setsuko Toyama, Kevin Churchley
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5000

YOKOHAMA, Kanagawa -- February 20 (Sun) 12:30-17:15
YoJalt February Meeting: TOEFL Integrated Writing
Speaker(s): Alastair Graham-Marr, Michael Ringen, Terry Yearley
Yokohama JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5054

NAGOYA, Aichi -- February 20 (Sun) 13:30-16:00
Stories that don't begin with 'once upon a time'
Speaker(s): Bob Jones
Nagoya JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/4974

HIROSHIMA -- February 20 (Sun) 15:00-17:00
Improving English Reading Abilities
Speaker(s): To be announced
Hiroshima JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5014

KAMI, Kochi -- February 22 (Tue)
The Third Moodle Teachers and Developers Conference (day 1 of 2)
Speaker(s): Keynote Speaker: Martin Dougiamas, founder and lead developer of Moodle
CALL JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/4888

KAMI, Kochi -- February 23 (Wed)
The Third Moodle Teachers and Developers Conference (day 2 of 2)
Speaker(s): Keynote Speaker: Martin Dougiamas, founder and lead developer of Moodle
CALL JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/4889

FUKUOKA -- February 25 (Fri) 19:00-20:30
Apple Store Workshop: iWeb
Speaker(s): Apple Store Staff
Fukuoka JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5030

YOKOHAMA, Kanagawa -- February 26 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Yokohama)
Speaker(s): Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina, Setsuko Toyama, Miki Sakai
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5001

FUKUOKA -- February 26 (Sat) 18:00-20:00
ETJ Fukuoka Meeting: Workshop on Games
Speaker(s): ETJ Fukuoka Committee
Fukuoka ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5060

OSAKA -- February 27 (Sun) 9:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Osaka)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Tony Harden, Lesley Ito, David Staggs
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5036

NAGOYA, Aichi -- February 27 (Sun) 10:00-16:15
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Nagoya)
Speaker(s): Kathleen Kampa and Charles Vilina, Ritsuko Nakata, Setsuko Toyama, Kevin Churchley
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5002

HIROSHIMA -- February 27 (Sun) 14:00-16:00
(1) Balance in the Curriculum: Applying Paul Nation's Four Strands to Children's lessons; (2) Using picture books in class
Speaker(s): (1) Carla Wilson; (2) various speakers
Hiroshima ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5053

SENDAI, Miyagi -- February 27 (Sun) 14:00-17:00
English Education in Elementary Schools: New Challenges, New Ideas
Speaker(s): Iain Campbell and Sendai ALTs
Sendai JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/4962

SAITAMA -- March 5 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Saitama)
Speaker(s): Marco Brazil, Aurora Dobashi, Miki Sakai
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5003

SAPPORO, Hokkaido -- March 6 (Sun) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Sapporo)
Speaker(s): Ritsuko Nakata, Geordie McGarty, Laurie Thain
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5004

NIIGATA -- March 6 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Niigata)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, David White
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5035

NIIGATA -- March 12 (Sat) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Niigata)
Speaker(s): Ritsuko Nakata, Setsuko Toyama, Ben Shearon
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5005

FUKUOKA -- March 12 (Sat) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Fukuoka)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, Rumiko Kido
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5034

KITAKYUSHU, Fukuoka -- March 12 (Sat) 18:30-20:00
Behavior Management: Sleeping in class, playing with phones, teacher hair loss... arrgh!
Speaker(s): Matthew Jenkins
Kitakyushu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5020

FUKUOKA -- March 13 (Sun) 10:00-15:00
Oxford Teaching Workshop Series 2011: A New Start for English in Japan (Fukuoka)
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto, Marco Brazil, Laurie Thain
OUP Kids' Club
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5006

OKAYAMA -- March 13 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Okayama)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Mayumi Tabuchi, David White
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5033

TOKYO -- March 13 (Sun) 13:00-17:00
ETJ Tokyo Workshop
Tokyo ETJ
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5055

FUKUOKA -- March 13 (Sun) 13:30-15:30
Improve your memory and learning: Practical classroom applications
Speaker(s): Robert S. Murphy
Fukuoka JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5041

GIFU -- March 19 (Sat) 19:00-21:00
My Share Workshop
Speaker(s): Gifu Chapter Members
Gifu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5049

NAGOYA, Aichi -- March 20 (Sun) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of adults - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5057

NAGOYA, Aichi -- March 21 (Mon) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of children - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5056

SENDAI, Miyagi -- March 27 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Sendai)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Rumiko Kido. Hiromi Sasaki
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5032

SENDAI, Miyagi -- March 27 (Sun) 14:00-17:00
Performances, Skits and Drama: Getting students to play with language.
Speaker(s): Matt Wilson
Sendai JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5042

SAPPORO, Hokkaido -- April 3 (Sun) 12:30-17:30
2011 We Can! Spring ELT Forum (Sapporo)
Speaker(s): Yoko Matsuka, Rumiko Kido. Hiromi Sasaki
McGraw-Hill Education
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5031

OSAKA -- April 9 (Sat) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of adults - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5058

KITAKYUSHU, Fukuoka -- April 9 (Sat) 18:30-20:00
Dogme in ELT: A demonstration
Speaker(s): Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto
Kitakyushu JALT
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5021

OSAKA -- April 10 (Sun) 9:00-17:00
Professional Development: Teachers of children - Speaking test examiners
Speaker(s): Jim George
Cambridge ESOL
http://www.eltcalendar.com/events/details/5059

About Me and How to Teach English in Japan

About Me and How to Teach English in Japan

"Facebook... YouTube... Twitter... FlickrWhat do the above businesses have in common?
OK, you wish you owned them!! So do we. What else?
If you answered, "Their visitors built their businesses by creating and uploading content for them," you are 100% correct.
Visitors upload...
* "themselves" to Facebook
* videos to YouTube
* short messages to Twitter
* photos to Flickr.
Why do they do it? Because they want to.
How do we know that? They do it for free!
It doesn't stop there. It's just the beginning. People develop followings, build relationships, communicate. Strangers become friends, pass the word virally, and round and round it goes, growing like crazy."

Read More

日本で英語を勉強する １ ツダユキオ氏の考えと日本で英語を学ぶこと

日本で英語を勉強する　１　　ツダユキオ氏の考えと日本で英語を学ぶこと

 

Studying English in Japan - 日本で英語を勉強する　１　　ツダユキオ氏の考えと日本で英語を学ぶことby Brad Robinson

ツダユキオ氏は筑波大学の教授です。彼はサザンイリノイ大学のスピーチコミュニケーションにおいて博士号を得ました。ESLディスカッションで、ツダ氏はこう主張しました。


” 英語には情け容赦ない力を現すダークサイドがある”ツダ氏は英語の能力を持つことが日本人にとって重要だと感じていないのです。（彼自身、英語を勉強する ことでたくさんのトラブルが続いたのです）私は英語教師ですが、エスペラントが人々のギャップの橋渡しをするために作った国際的な言葉がもっとも公平なの だといつも感じていました。幅広く使用されたり受け入れられることなく、勉強もしなかったのです。  Read More

David Paul`s Nelson`s Column

When David English House closed, I lost a dream that I and many others had worked so hard for over so many years. Fortunately, almost all our teachers and students have emerged unscathed from the turmoil, but, personally, things have been bad. I’ve lost my home and life savings, my personal life is in a mess, and I’ve now found I will even lose future royalties on my books. If I was ten years younger, this probably wouldn’t matter, but at 59, people around me are asking how I’m going to rebuild, what I’m going to do if I become sick or retire etc …  Read More

Spelling Word Lists that will help your students

Spelling Word Lists that will help your students

Does correct spelling of words matter? Why?
Even in today's computer-savvy generation with all the spell and check software available, knowing how to spell words correctly is still of great importance, why?

Spelling Word Lists that will help your students

English Grammar Quiz Reviews

English Grammar Quiz Reviews: some good quizzes for your students

What is the importance of good grammar?

Obviously the most important reason why we need good grammar is for the sake of clarity, smooth communication and professionalism.


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日本で標準化された、テストに基礎を置いた教育システム

Japanese Education Problems - 日本で標準化された、テストに基礎を置いた教育システム

by Brad Thomas

日本教育において明確なこと、それは地域の幼稚園や小学校より先を見る必要があることです。英語教育以外のすべてにおいて、日本では子供を教育するためにすばらしい仕事をします。授業は創造性があり、先生は生徒を気遣い、全体から見て生徒も楽しそうに学んでいるのです。

日本で標準化された、テストに基礎を置いた教育システム

How to be an Effective EFL Teacher

Would you like to be an EFL teacher and Teach in Japan?

We are honored at How to Teach English in Japan to be able to publish David Martin`s informative article. Martin has written some great textbooks that are fun to use. I can`t recommend his books enough! I am currently using some of them at a Japanese university and at Kevin`s English Schools. Martin of course spent many years himself teaching English in Japan and knows Japanese students very well.

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Critics of English Education in Japan Misguided says Kumiko Torikai

Critics of English education misguided; English hegemony must be overcome - Kumiko Torikai

In a controversial interview with the Asahi Shinbun, Rikkyo University professor Kumiko Torikai has attacked critics of the current English education system for not understanding it and called for the teaching of "core English" stripped of cultural content.

Torikai criticizes those who bemoan that students aren't taught how to speak English: "The problem today is that conversation skills are being overemphasized. You say students can only read and write but can't converse in English, but that's an old story that is no longer true."

The NHK ""Nyusu de Eikaiwa" (English conversation on current events) presenter also calls for abandoning the teaching of the culture of native speakers of English as part of English lessons and argues that the "hegemony of English must be overcome". She notes that as the number of non-native speakers of English outnumbers native speakers a "Universal English" should be taught that recognizes this and that the US and UK are no longer the arbiters of the language. "For instance, when you say something to an American and the American tells you, 'We don't say that in the States,' you can respond, 'I'm sure you don't, but we do in Japan.'

Professor Torikai was a member of the special advisory committee to the Ministry of Education on education reform in 2001.  Read More


Commentary:

If what professor Torikai says is true, why is it so difficult to find good English speakers in Japan?
Moreover, why is it so easy to find pretty good English speakers in other Asian countries, more per capita than in Japan (in my impression).    Could it just be possible that in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia they are teaching English well?    Maybe Japan could learn from their success instead of clinging to methods that have been shown not to work.    Learning by
rote, audio lingual and old methods like that.   While old methods do have their place at times,
learning more communicatively and having classes that are more teacher centred makes sense.

I do agree with Torikai however, on the point that English is becoming a world language, and that
in Japan we say the English this way.     I think it is becoming the defacto world language and
country-specific dictionaries of English will become the norm.


Singapore for a long time now of course, has had her own unique English, sometimes dubbed
comically as "Singlish."   I think Singaporean English is just another branch of English, as is
American English and probably in the future Japanese English.

I disagree with Torikai about teaching English without culture.   To teach English without teaching the culture that goes with the language,  to Japanese, (a people still very isolated from the rest of the world), is a huge mistake.

Japanese need to learn more about the world, and feel more comfortable with non-Japanese.
English class is one opportunity to do that.

Moreover, a girl was just slashed as a result of racist bullying in Odawara.    The victim of the bullying a so-called "half," lashed out at one of her tormentors.   She was bullied over the nationality of her non-Japanese father.

So English I feel can help to end some of the racism that still pervades Japan.    But to do that
you need to teach the culture that goes with it. 

To my mind, education will help lesson prejudice.