2012/08/18 Kusatsu

23rd JALT-Gunma Summer Workshop at Kusatsu

Theme: Ways to Promote Active Learning in L2 Teaching

While Kanto sweated and sweltered, thirty language teachers retreated into the cool of the mountains. There, while relaxing in Japan's premier onsen resort town, they attended lectures given by two world-famous language-teacher-trainers; Dr. William Grabe and Dr. Fredricka Stoller.

Colleagues at Northern Arizona University, Grabe and Stoller collaborated on their two lectures, choosing to team-teach rather than present solo. Their lively dialog resulted in an engaging, and at the same time laid-back atmosphere.

On day one, Stoller and Grabe explored important principals of effective vocabulary learning, introducing numerous techniques for implementing these principles along the way. On day two, they exposed and debunked popular myths surrounding L2 reading and reading instruction. In so doing, they also inadvertently exposed their secred identies: The Myth Busters!

The workshop in Kusatsu is also a chance for a handful of attendees to showcase their recent academic achievements. JALT-Niigata chapter president David Coulson presented the sobering results of his personally conducted research into reading abilities of students in Japan and Korea. Local member James McKnight shared his successes in implementing an advanced writing program for elite junior high students at Chuo Secondary School. Founding members of the Critical Thinking SIG David Gann and Nicholas Bufton showed how a blended-learning approach stream-lined their classes. By allowing students to accesss lectures through podcasts, they have opened up class time for text reconstruction and other activities designed to improve students' CT skills.

Attendees of this year's workshop left refreshed and full of ideas to promote active L2 learning. If this sounds good to you, think about joining us next year.

草津よいとこ、薬の温泉