2007 Faculty Workshop / Retreat
3rd June - Chuo Surugudai Memorial Hall, Ochanomizu
3rd June - Chuo Surugudai Memorial Hall, Ochanomizu
The 2007 Retreat (and evening party) was attended by: Meg Arai, Andy Barfield, Susan Binder, Mark Broadbent, Jean Pierre Chretien, Steve Hesse, Yuriko Ishizaka, Yuri Komuro, Greg Lamb, Andy Martin, Yuji Miyamaru, Saeko Nagashima, Mike Nix, Mary Jo Pichette, Ian Platt, Robert Russell, Ellen Scattergood, name removed at the request of the teacher, Zorana Vasiljevic, Jay Veenstra and Stacey Vye.
Thanks to everyone who came and took part in a great day of discussions about specific courses, connections between them, and the overall curriculum. All the ideas shared contribute to the development of our individual teaching and the overall English programme. Extra thanks to people who wrote up summaries of the discussion sessions and especially to Andy B for organising us all with the right mix of good humor and persistence!
This years's Retreat had a slightly different format from previous years. We began as usual with discussion groups on specific courses in the morning and then had discussions on cross-curriculum issues, as well as more on specific courses, in the early afternoon. (Read the notes from these sessions below.) This year, though, we also made time between the group sessions for short reflective pair discussions (no notes from these, but they were a great way to review with a new partner the issues and ideas coming up during the day). And mid-afternoon, we stopped talking to do some individual reflective writing and then make individual, pair or group poster reflections (some are repoduced below). We ended, as usual, with a 'round-table' plenary with everybody involved in one discussion together.
Whether you atttended this year or not, please feel free to let have us your comments on the discussion summaries, posters or anything else about the Retreat. Send your thoughts to Mike Nix and we'll put them up here. Thanks!
Summaries of the discussion sessions
• Introduction to Communications Skills
• Basic Discussion Skills (Round 1) & Basic Discussion Skills (Round 2)
• English for Business/TOEIC classes
• Making Connections across the Curriculum
• Rookie's Discussion for new teachers
Some participants' poster reflections