The Japan Association for Language Teaching -JALT-
Sunday, Sep, 28th, 13:30 – 17:00
Presentations:
1. Popular Songs in the Language Learning Classroom (13:30-14:15)
by Robert Betts (Tokiwa University)
by Robert Betts (Tokiwa University)
This workshop demonstrates the use of popular songs in the classroom to practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the language classroom. The use of songs in the practice of language teaching is well documented in foreign language learning research. Songs selected from popular music motivates learners to explore language outside the normal structure for language learning activities in the classroom. In addition, the use of popular songs encourages students to listen to and sing songs in the target language.
The criteria for selecting popular songs are based on the following ideas: a) purpose – the purpose for using a song in the classroom (learn vocabulary/practice skills/content or message), b) length – the time allocated for the activity (long songs use up time), c) clarity – the singer’s voice, d) lyrics – the number of verses, the repetition of words, language use, and e) familiarity – popular artists, TV commercials, movies, or karaoke.
Creating worksheets for song activities can be a time consuming job. Some simple suggestions will help teachers create and use worksheets effectively in the classroom. Some suggestions are: a) number the lyrics (lines) in the worksheet – it makes it easy to refer to words in a song, b) Use EXCEL to sort lines randomly or alphabetically, c) find lyrics online, copy and paste them into a word processor program, d) listen to the song and check the lyrics – online lyrics have mistakes, and e) check YouTube for official videos – you do not have to buy songs.
Helpful sites: YouTube, Clip converter http://www.clipconverter.cc, AZLyrics http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ Rhyme Zone http://www.rhymezone.com
Robert Betts has been teaching English in Japan for 25 years at various levels in the education system. He is currently teaching at Tokiwa University in the Department of English and American Studies. His research interests focus on learner motivation, peer mentoring, and designing speaking and listening activities. He is the Director of the Tokiwa University International Exchange and Language Learning Center.
2. Featured Speaker Presentation
Issues in EFL in Japan: Importance of form-meaning-function mapping (14:30-16:00)
by Shinichi Izumi (Sophia University)
In this interactive, task-based presentation, I am going to highlight some problems in grammar-based, teacher-centered, and context-poor instruction that is still prevalent in English education in Japan and show directions for change that is currently initiated by the Ministry of Education. In particular, I wish to underscore the importance of paying more attention to the function aspect of language which pertains to when, where, and for what purpose we use language forms. Other aspects in need of attention are: form that relates to how to use language, and meaning that is what content is conveyed by the form being used. In many EFL classes, teachers seem to pay a bit too much attention to the form aspect and too little attention to meaning and even less to the function aspect. However, it is only by paying attention to all these three aspects that we can acquire language successfully for real-life communicative purposes.
Shinichi Izumi is a professor at Sophia University, where he teaches in the BA program in English Language Studies and the MA and PhD programs in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. He has been involved in EFL teacher education and has published widely both nationally and internationally on issues in instructed second language acquisition.
3. Business Meeting & Election (16:10-17:00)
Click on the Google Map link below for location and directions.
Google Map for Tsukuba Gakuin University (Meeting Room 1 & 2)
Sunday, Sep, 28th, 13:30 – 17:00
(Doors open from 13:00. No pre-registration required!)
JALT Members: Free Non-Members: 500 yen
JALT Ibaraki chapter meetings are open to all interested in learning and teaching languages.
Support the Chapter Book Fair!
Donate your unwanted books – and get used books for 50 yen!