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A chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching
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Calls for Conference Presentation Proposals:
Recording from our May event:
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Using No-Code Tools for Language Experiments and Activities (Laurie Griffiths)
言語実験とアクティビティーにおけるノーコードツールの使用 （発表者: ローリー・グリフィス） |
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Upcoming Fukuoka JALT events:
For past events this year, see our 2023 Archive.
June 17th, 2023
(1) ALTs - procurement, employment status and cost;
(2) University teachers and the 5 year rule/10 year rule
6 PM (18:00), in person and online
Speaker: Chris Flynn (Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences)
Part 1: The ALT “Industry” through Freedom of Information:
The many and varied ALTs - procurement, employment status and cost
Do you know how many ALTs there are in Japan? What percentage of them are JETs? Since the JET program brought the ALT to the classroom their working conditions have steadily deteriorated. Over more than a decade of collecting information on contracts between BOEs and dispatch companies, this presentation will show how English education in public schools has been monetized to the detriment of working conditions and education, and how a stroke of an administrative pen can lead to the sudden termination of dozens of ALTs.
Part 2: University teachers and the 5 year rule/10 year rule for transfer to unlimited term contracts
When the law granting employees the right to demand permanent contracts after 5 years was introduced in 2013, universities clamored to find ways to terminate non-tenured teachers. The government responded with the 10 year exemption for researchers. Still universities are trying to find ways to prevent teachers from gaining their right to stable employment. This turnover of teachers is especially pronounced among language teachers. This presentation will give a brief summary on what type of teacher can apply for the 5 year law, and how universities are trying to avoid granting them their right to permanent employment.
About Chris Flynn: For over 20 years, Chris Flynn has been involved in union activities representing language teachers in Japan including fighting cases (and winning) district and high court, Prefectural Labour Commission, and even assisting English teachers "escape" from employers because they feared for their safety if they quit. Flynn is a Professor at the Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan. He has a Master of Arts in Advanced Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield and has the NAATI certification as a professional translator and interpreter (Japanese/English), and is the author of "Faces of Fukuoka." Last year, Flynn represented Fukuoka in the over 60s Nenlympic national rugby tournament.
Cost: 1000 yen to non-JALT members. Free for JALT members.
Hybrid event: This event will be in person as well as online. Online details will be posted here on the Fukuoka JALT website on the day of the event.
Location: Elgala (Daimaru East) Building, Tenjin (6 F, Kurume University Satellite Campus room; go in the back entrance shown on the map) Also note that since the Nanakuma Subway Line connected to Hakata Station in late March, this venue has become much easier for anyone coming from the Hakata area. Please take the Nanakuma Subway Line to Tenjin-Minami Station, exit 2.
If you haven't been to this location before, please note that the entrance is NOT through the department store, it is around the back from the department store entrances, here: https://goo.gl/maps/hj8VXmpfjAykeXBV9 (You'll find this by Googling エルガーラ オフィス棟)
The many and varied ALTs - procurement, employment status and cost
Do you know how many ALTs there are in Japan? What percentage of them are JETs? Since the JET program brought the ALT to the classroom their working conditions have steadily deteriorated. Over more than a decade of collecting information on contracts between BOEs and dispatch companies, this presentation will show how English education in public schools has been monetized to the detriment of working conditions and education, and how a stroke of an administrative pen can lead to the sudden termination of dozens of ALTs.
Part 2: University teachers and the 5 year rule/10 year rule for transfer to unlimited term contracts
When the law granting employees the right to demand permanent contracts after 5 years was introduced in 2013, universities clamored to find ways to terminate non-tenured teachers. The government responded with the 10 year exemption for researchers. Still universities are trying to find ways to prevent teachers from gaining their right to stable employment. This turnover of teachers is especially pronounced among language teachers. This presentation will give a brief summary on what type of teacher can apply for the 5 year law, and how universities are trying to avoid granting them their right to permanent employment.
About Chris Flynn: For over 20 years, Chris Flynn has been involved in union activities representing language teachers in Japan including fighting cases (and winning) district and high court, Prefectural Labour Commission, and even assisting English teachers "escape" from employers because they feared for their safety if they quit. Flynn is a Professor at the Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan. He has a Master of Arts in Advanced Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield and has the NAATI certification as a professional translator and interpreter (Japanese/English), and is the author of "Faces of Fukuoka." Last year, Flynn represented Fukuoka in the over 60s Nenlympic national rugby tournament.
Cost: 1000 yen to non-JALT members. Free for JALT members.
Hybrid event: This event will be in person as well as online. Online details will be posted here on the Fukuoka JALT website on the day of the event.
Location: Elgala (Daimaru East) Building, Tenjin (6 F, Kurume University Satellite Campus room; go in the back entrance shown on the map) Also note that since the Nanakuma Subway Line connected to Hakata Station in late March, this venue has become much easier for anyone coming from the Hakata area. Please take the Nanakuma Subway Line to Tenjin-Minami Station, exit 2.
If you haven't been to this location before, please note that the entrance is NOT through the department store, it is around the back from the department store entrances, here: https://goo.gl/maps/hj8VXmpfjAykeXBV9 (You'll find this by Googling エルガーラ オフィス棟)
Saturday, July 22, 2023 (Date to be confirmed)
TBLT (Task-Based Language Teaching) and ELF (English as a Lingua Franca): Implications for materials design
6 PM (18:00), in person and online
Speaker: Justin Harris
This talk will focus on how ELT materials design can effectively reflect the core principles of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It will begin with a short discussion on the basics of TBLT and ELF, and then provide clear and practical examples from classroom tested tasks that include a focus on both.
As a learner-centered approach emphasizing authentic tasks to foster the development of communication skills, TBLT allows students to use their existing linguistic resources to engage in meaningful communicative encounters and to realize gaps in their language ability. In particular, the focus on non-linguistic outcomes in tasks helps develop learner motivation, an essential element for successful language acquisition. In ELF approaches, the strong emphasis on effective communication, rather than strict adherence to a native speaker model of English, means that students may develop greater confidence in their own Englishes, leading to more positive outcomes.
As well as examples of materials that feature TBLT and ELF approaches, there will also be reference to some of the challenges that teachers can expect when trying to implement these approaches in their classrooms, and how to overcome them. Although the talk will be grounded in theory, the main focus will be on practice. There will also be time for audience contributions and discussions.
Cost: 1000 yen to non-JALT members. Free for JALT members.
Hybrid event: This event will be in person as well as online. Online details will be posted here on the Fukuoka JALT website on the day of the event.
Location: Elgala (Daimaru East) Building, Tenjin (6 F, Kurume University Satellite Campus room; go in the back entrance shown on the map) Also note that since the Nanakuma Subway Line connected to Hakata Station in late March, this venue has become much easier for anyone coming from the Hakata area. Please take the Nanakuma Subway Line to Tenjin-Minami Station, exit 2.
If you haven't been to this location before, please note that the entrance is NOT through the department store, it is around the back from the department store entrances, here: https://goo.gl/maps/hj8VXmpfjAykeXBV9 (You'll find this by Googling エルガーラ オフィス棟)
As a learner-centered approach emphasizing authentic tasks to foster the development of communication skills, TBLT allows students to use their existing linguistic resources to engage in meaningful communicative encounters and to realize gaps in their language ability. In particular, the focus on non-linguistic outcomes in tasks helps develop learner motivation, an essential element for successful language acquisition. In ELF approaches, the strong emphasis on effective communication, rather than strict adherence to a native speaker model of English, means that students may develop greater confidence in their own Englishes, leading to more positive outcomes.
As well as examples of materials that feature TBLT and ELF approaches, there will also be reference to some of the challenges that teachers can expect when trying to implement these approaches in their classrooms, and how to overcome them. Although the talk will be grounded in theory, the main focus will be on practice. There will also be time for audience contributions and discussions.
Cost: 1000 yen to non-JALT members. Free for JALT members.
Hybrid event: This event will be in person as well as online. Online details will be posted here on the Fukuoka JALT website on the day of the event.
Location: Elgala (Daimaru East) Building, Tenjin (6 F, Kurume University Satellite Campus room; go in the back entrance shown on the map) Also note that since the Nanakuma Subway Line connected to Hakata Station in late March, this venue has become much easier for anyone coming from the Hakata area. Please take the Nanakuma Subway Line to Tenjin-Minami Station, exit 2.
If you haven't been to this location before, please note that the entrance is NOT through the department store, it is around the back from the department store entrances, here: https://goo.gl/maps/hj8VXmpfjAykeXBV9 (You'll find this by Googling エルガーラ オフィス棟)
What's happening around JALT?
Check out the events listing on JALT's website, www.jalt.org/events.
It's been a while since the JALT CALL SIG's conference has been in Kyushu, so make sure to put this one on your calendar: June 2-4, 2023 in Kumamoto! Check out the JALT CALL SIG website for details, jaltcall.org
It's been a while since the JALT CALL SIG's conference has been in Kyushu, so make sure to put this one on your calendar: June 2-4, 2023 in Kumamoto! Check out the JALT CALL SIG website for details, jaltcall.org