Learner Showcase: ELL Journeys (featuring Daisuke Kanamori)

Date/time: Tuesday, December 6 (6:30-7:30)
Venue: Kochi University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Meeting Room 5 (4F)

Co-sponsored by the KU International Studies Course

In what we are planning as a new regular East Shikoku event, our ‘Learner Showcase’ series celebrates ELLs who have gone on to lead inspirational lives, thanks in part to the power of language learning. The series targets language learners through chapter outreach and draws attention to East Shikoku JALT as community language education resource.

In the first event in this new series, we invite Mr. Daisuke Kanamori to share his ELL journey that has taken him around the world. Daisuke’s journey is highlighted by humanitarian aid and refugee work in Africa, local conflict resolution accomplishments in challenging international contexts, and social contributions at home. Daisuke studied English and Intercultural Communication at university in Kochi and participated in JALT programs such as the Asian Youth Forum as an undergraduate. Bringing together language, culture, and his passion for soccer, he then founded an NPO to help children recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake Through this NPO, he led an international exchange by taking Fukushima youth to the 2012 London Olympics. Daisuke returned to school to study at Oxford and at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (M.Litt. in Peace and Conflict Studies), and then began a career in international public service, working for NGOs in Zambia and Kenya, and then for JICA in South Sudan. Daisuke currently works for the UN in New York City.

East Shikoku JALT’s ‘Learner Showcase’ Series aims to:

  • celebrate ELLs who have enriched their lives (and society) though language study
  • celebrate the language teachers who have contributed to their journeys
  • inspire young language learners by drawing attention to successful ELL journeys
  • promote excellence in language learning and teaching
  • highlight the East Shikoku JALT chapter as a local language education resource

ELT Lightning Talks Seminar

November 8, 2022 From 18:00 – 20:30
KUT Eikokuji Campus, Room A106
ELT Lightning Talks Seminar

JALT East Shikoku JALT Chapter is now accepting lightning talk proposals that focus on language teaching and research. The Lightning Talk format will combine 15-minute focused presentations with a follow-up group interaction session. Discussion will continue with an informal 2022 Chapter bonenkai. Lightning Talks should be submitted by Tuesday, November 1st. Submissions are closed. Please join for our 1st ‘live’ meeting in over 2 years! 

ELT Lightning Talks Seminar lineup

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Co-sponsored event with Matsuyama JALT (September)

  • Title:  How to Teach English Pronunciation to Japanese Speakers 
  • Speaker: Joshua Popenoe
  • Date: Sunday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. JST (Joshua will be presenting from New York City on Saturday evening)
  • Registration (*required): https://forms.gle/Ephh1MzQ9mumR5CN6

Abstract: Well aware of the difficulties Japanese speakers face in learning English pronunciation, and with over 20 years of study and practical experience teaching Japanese group students in New York City, I created a complete methodology for teaching English pronunciation which has proven successful. Speech is a physical skill. Our first language is spoken unconsciously thanks to muscle memory, which allows us to focus on what we’re saying, not on how we’re moving our mouth to form the words. The pronunciation of other languages however often requires consciously learning new physical mechanics, sounds and rhythm patterns, etc. This is especially true for Japanese speakers learning English. In this workshop I will present an overview of my methodology and specific examples of how I teach, including various techniques that are essential for Japanese speakers to learn. This workshop will be of value to anyone who is interested in teaching English pronunciation to Japanese or other foreign speakers. I will be delighted to answer any and all questions about my work and experience in this field. Participants are encouraged to watch my free introduction video series as a preview to my workshop. These can be found in the landing page links in my bio data below.

Bio: Joshua Popenoe worked in Japan for 16 years as a voice talent/singer and creative artist. Since returning to New York City in 1998, he has focused primarily on English pronunciation training for Japanese speakers. Joshua developed the Popenoe Method, a complete and comprehensive pronunciation training program, and produced the Popenoe Method Online Video Pronunciation Master Course, currently available as a subscription membership course. For more information on the Popenoe Method, check out this website at the following links: 

https://popenoe-method.mykajabi.com/english-landing-page (English)   

https://popenoe-method.mykajabi.com/japanese-landing-page (Japanese)

Register for event here: https://forms.gle/Ephh1MzQ9mumR5CN6

Online learning from a student’s perspective

  • Speaker: Miguel Mision
  • Date/Time: Wednesday, June 15 (7:00-8:00)
  • Details: Online event using ZOOM. Meeting details will be provided 1 day before the event.
  • Registration

Abstract: After two years of the pandemic, it is still difficult to say what a ‘normal’ classroom will be like anymore. What important lessons were learnt in these past two years, and are there benefits to online learning beyond virus prevention? The author examined perspectives and experiences on what it was like learning remotely as a university student over the course of two years. Surveys and one on one interviews were conducted on a target demographic of students. The research had surprisingly mixed results both positive and negative. Students were asked which style of learning they preferred – online, face-to-face or a blend of both. Curiously, there was a three-way split between all options in the first year. In the second year, a majority favored online or blended learning. Although many students and teachers are quick to assume that face-to-face learning allows young people to enjoy a more “normal” university life – the results indicate that there are cases where the merits of online learning exceed those of face-to-face classes.  

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Reconceptualizing teaching through the concept of scaffolding

Those who teach in universities are experts in their fields, but many do not have teaching backgrounds. ‘Scaffolding’ can be conceptualized as a means to structure students’ learning experiences regardless of the subject or course in ways that assist them to reach the target of a lesson, course goals and their learning potential. In this presentation, we will unpack the concept of scaffolding by showing the learning theory that supports it; its role in that theory, and practical step by step examples of how scaffolding can work within a lesson to help students reach their learning potential. The claim will be made that ‘teaching is scaffolding”. As a part of our teacher development, recognition of this concept will allow our tacit knowledge of teaching to become more explicit, leading to ways to reconceptualize our teaching and better inform it. 

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