Newsletter2020_EN

AUTUMN WORKSHOP 18th WORKSHOP OF THE RESEARCH GROUP FOR TEACHING ORAL COMMUNICATION IN JAPAN

Saturday, December 5th, 2020 Doshisha University, Karasuma Campus Nearest station: Imadegawa (Kyoto City Subway, Karasuma Line) • Registration: vannieu@almalang.com • Admission is free of charge. • The 19th Autumn Workshop is sponsored by Alma Publishing.

The Autumn Workshop is an annual gathering aimed at sharing practical solutions or classroom research on common challenges we face in teaching spoken commu- nication to Japanese students. This year, the Autumn Workshop will be conducted in hybrid form : • In Kyoto for those who are able to attend in person. We’ll have a well-ventilated room, masks on, and hy- dro alcoholic gel available. After the workshops, we’ll eat, drink and be merry in the same room, thus avoid- ing crowded restaurants. • Online for those who prefer.

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PROGRAM

12:30 - 13:00

Registration

13:00 - 14:30

Successful Conversation Tests: In Class & Online Speaking tests can be powerful tools that help students learn. Unfortunately, many teachers are put off by the apparent complexities involved of conducting such exams, especially in an online context. However, developing an effective approach simply requires understanding a few key principles. The details can be boiled down into four clear steps. This presentation will include practice time for marking actual recordings. We will cover workflows for speaking tests via online learning platforms such as Zoom. While this presentation is geared towards teachers new to oral assessment, all participants will be able to pick up some new ideas. The Ibunka Survey: A Mosaic of Intercultural Experiences In a survey we have recently launched, we ask people about aspects of their daily lives that we think are connected to cultural habits. One of the surveys is on the home, specifically whe- ther one invites guests over or prefers to socialize in public places such as cafes and restau- rants. One anonymous respondent said, “In my experience, Japanese homes are a cluttered mess. Ours is a disaster, and I do not enjoy having people over.” Does that ring a bell with you? In this workshop, we’ll start by discussing aspects of daily life that can be frustrating to foreign expatriates in Japan, as well as the pleasant surprises. We’ll then look at what topics are most appropriate in the context of second language classes in order to elevate students’ awareness of the diversity of cultures. Classroom Activities for Intercultural Communication Learning How can we bring aspects of intercultural communication learning into an ESL class? We’re currently experimenting with an inductive, content-based approach in a low-intermediate language class at a university in Kyoto. In this workshop, we will describe the challenges of this approach, as well as some of the discoveries we have made. We will conclude by discus- sing specific classroom practices and how to adapt them to different levels (low intermediate, intermediate, high intermediate).

Jerry Talandis Jr University of Toyama

14:45 - 15:30

Bruno Vannieu Laboratoire de la Méthode Immédiate

15:45 - 16:30

Stephen Richmond Kyoto University of Advanced Science

16:40 -

Socializing (pizza, beer and non-alcoholic drinks)