The Lifelong Language Learning SIG (special interest group) of JALT will hold its mini-conference for teachers on November 1st and 2nd, 2014 at the Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages. It will be held with the cooperation of English Teachers in Japan (ETJ). This event will be of interest to graduate students who intend to become teachers as well as practicing teachers.
We are currently sending out a call for presenters. If you wish to submit a proposal, you have until the 19th of this month (September) to send one to the Conference Vetting Committee at getumwhiletheylast [at] gmail.com . [All presentation slots are 45 minutes in length, including the Q & A.]
Send your proposal in the following format:
- Title of the presentation
- Name(s) of the presenter(s)
- Abstract (maximum 50 words) [This should be written in 3rd person.]
- Summary (maximum of 200 words)
[Note: The conference participants will see only your abstract in the conference handbook, but the summary will be used for vetting purposes.]
- Information on the presenter(s) (maximum 30 words per presenter)
- Types of teacher the presentation is aimed at (e.g. university teachers)
- The language of the presentation (e.g. English)
- Any time of day the presenter(s) is/are not available.
- Equipment requests [Note: All presentation rooms will have projectors.]
Example:
Title: How cooperative learning, learner autonomy, and self-motivating strategies help EFL learners maintain motivation
Names of presenter(s): Noriko Kinami, Mayumi Yamasaki, and Takaaki Morioka
Abstract:
Based on motivational strategies suggested by Dornyei (2001), the presenters will talk about implementing cooperative learning in English classrooms to maintain learners’ motivation, creating learner autonomy to promote lifelong learning of English, and helping learners acquire self-motivating strategies.
Summary:
Many English teachers in Japan feel that it is very difficult for university students and adult learners to maintain their L2 motivation. This is because most of them have very few opportunities to use English in their daily life and it is not necessary for them to continue learning English. Moreover, they do not meet their teacher very often; some learners attend an English class once a week and others meet their teacher twice a month. Even if the teacher succeeds in enhancing the students’ motivation in the classroom, many of them cannot maintain their motivation outside of class and they eventually quit studying English. It is obvious that English teachers need to do more to help their university or adult learners maintain their motivation.
The presenters have been doing research on how English teachers in Japan can help university students and adult learners maintain their motivation. Their studies are based on the strategies to maintain L2 motivation suggested by Dornyei (2001). In this presentation, they will talk about implementing cooperative learning in English classrooms to maintain and enhance learners’ motivation, creating learner autonomy to promote self study and lifelong learning of English, and helping learners acquire self-motivating strategies.
Presenters’ Bios:
Noriko Kinami now teaches English mainly at companies. She has been teaching foreign languages (Japanese and English as foreign languages) for more than fifteen years.
Mayumi Yamasaki is an associate professor in the Nursing Department at Kobe Tokiwa University, Hyogo. Her research interests are teaching EFL reading and writing.
Takaaki Morioka has been teaching English for more than 8 years. He is as an assistant professor at the Osaka University of Commerce.
Types of teachers the presentation is aimed at: Secondary school teachers or university faculty
The language of the presentation: English
Any time of day the presenter(s) is/are not available: Saturday (all day) and Sunday morning
Equipment requests: None (We will bring our own laptops to connect with the projector in the presentation room.)
