Ibaraki Chapter March Meeting 
Saturday, March 5th, 2016, 9:30~17:00

全国語学教育学会
The Japan Association for Language Teaching -JALT-

Abstracts for these presentations are below.

Presentations:
Morning
Corpus linguistic analysis of NESTs’ informal online discourse (9:50~11:00)
by Hugh Kirkwood, Ushiku Elementary School,
Hitachinoushiku Elementary School

Acoustic Impedance : how it impacts language learning (11:10~12:20)
by Bruno Jactat, The University of Tsukuba

Afternoon
Featured Presenter
DIY NeuroELT: 7 keys for making your textbook more brain-friendly (14:20~16:30)
by Marc Helgesen, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University


Business Meeting (16:30~17:00)


Click on the address for a Google Map



Abstracts:
Morning

Corpus linguistic analysis of NESTs’ informal online discourse (9:50~11:00)

by Hugh Kirkwood,　Ushiku Elementary School, Hitachinoushiku Elementary School
Abstract:
Teachers may use informal online discourse to share information about working conditions and opportunities in their employment contexts. Analysis of this discourse may lead to better understandings of these contexts and how online communications can contribute to professional development.
This presentation is based on the results of my master’s dissertation, where I used techniques from corpus linguistics to identify key words in Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) in Japan’s informal online discourse and analyzed these key words in the context of surrounding lines of text.
This analysis suggested that NESTs in Japan’s informal online discourse was often focused on Assistant Language Teaching (ALT) and eikaiwa (private language school) positions. Included in this discourse were many instances of teachers giving advice to people seeking employment as ALTs and eikaiwa school teachers, but it also included many expressions of dissatisfaction with work in these contexts. This dissatisfaction was often related to NEST’s arguments that ALT and eikaiwa work damages teachers’ professional development.

Bio data:
Hugh Kirkwood is an ALT working at two elementary schools in Ushiku City. His current research interests are cultural education in language classrooms and the professional development of teachers of young learners in Japan.
_____________________________

Acoustic Impedance : how it impacts language learning (11:10~12:20)
   by Bruno Jactat, The University of Tsukuba
Abstract:
Can you hear me? Are you listening? How are these two skills affected by acoustic impedance, or the resistance of a medium such as air to the flow of sound waves? I will discuss how the ambient air actually shapes one’s mother tongue and consequently the foreign languages we learn. This presentation will show the deep implications of impedance on our ability to perceive certain sounds better than others and how it directly impacts the listening and pronunciation skills of second/foreign language learners.

Bio Data:
Bruno Jactat currently teaches French as a full-time instructor at The University of Tsukuba. He received his MA at the University of Franche-Comte in France majoring in communication strategies. He taught in several universities in Nagasaki and Kumamoto, was head teacher of the Kumamoto Ymca International Center, head teacher at CIEL language school (France) and provided teacher training internationally for 6 years. Since 2005 he has been focusing on auditory language training for foreign military officers, second/foreign language learners, students with learning disabilities and children with PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) both in France and Japan.  His current research interests include auditory processing disorders (APD), multisensory communication strategies, and gamification of idiomatic expressions.

______________________________________________________________

Featured Presenter (14:20~16:30)

DIY NeuroELT:  7 keys for making your textbook more brain-friendly 

by Marc Helgesen, Miyagi Gakuin Women's University

Abstract:
Whoever wrote your textbook was thinking about grammar and vocabulary, perhaps tasks and motivation - and was probably not focused on brain science. But the brain is where learning occurs. This session will introduce 7 quick and easy ways to make your textbook (yes, even the Monkasho-approved books) more appropriate for brain-compatible learning.  We'll look specifically look at modifying textbooks tasks to make them better.

Bio Data:
Marc Helgesen is author of more than 150 articles, books and textbooks and has been an invited speaker at conferences on five continents.  He is professor at Miyagi Gakuin Women's University, Sendai and is past Chair of the international Extensive Reading Foundation (www.erfoundation.org).  He is particularly interested in Extensive Reading, Positive Psychology in ELT and Brain Science in ELT. His webpage for this presentaton is at http://helgesenhandouts.weebly.com/diy-neuro-elt.html.

__________________________________________

Doors open at 9:30. No Pre-registration necessary!
JALT Members: Free Non-members: 500 yen
JALT Ibaraki chapter meetings are open to all interested in learning and teaching languages. Abstracts for the presentations and access information for the venue, as well further information for future events are available on the chapter website. 
Support the Chapter Book Fair!
Donate no-longer-needed educational materials – Get used ones for 50 yen!