English Noh Theater Workshop: Lessons from a Japanese University EFL Classroom

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49
Author(s):  
Kim Rockell

Recognizing the value of performing arts activities within EFL education, teachers have experimented with a wide variety of approaches in their teaching. This article draws broadly on one such project which took place at a prefectural university in Fukushima during late 2016 and early 2017. Here, English was embedded in a traditional Japanese dramatic form and students in a third-year elective course developed an English language Noh theatre set in cyberspace. While this work is discussed in detail elsewhere (Rockell, 2019), the current article focuses on some of the practical ways the project was carried out and uses these ways as a basis for a suggested English Noh Theatre workshop to be offered to language teachers in Japan in the near future.

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Wadell ◽  
April Shandor

Traditionally, language learning motivation was conceived as being either “instrumental” or “integrative,” but recent research suggests that in today’s globalizing world this distinction no longer holds for many learners of English. Over the past ten years, there has been a shift away from the view of English learning as a way to integrate into American/British/Australian culture. Many scholars are now exploring the ways in which EFL learners develop international identities while simultaneously retaining their own cultures. The authors of the current article—English language teachers and graduate students—discuss how their research on new concepts in motivation led them to engage with their colleagues on the issue, and ultimately, to change their own teaching. 伝統的に、言語学習の動機づけには道具的動機づけと統合的動機づけがあると考えられてきたが、最近の研究では今日のグローバル社会において、多くの英語学習者には、この区別はないと言われている。この10年で、「英語学習はアメリカ、イギリス、オーストラリア等の文化への統合方法である」という従来の見方は変化してきた。現在、多くの研究者は、英語学習者が、いかに自分自身の文化を保持しつつ国際的アイデンティティを発展させるかを研究している。本論では、英語教師で大学院生でもある研究者たちが、独自の研究により動機づけの新概念に関する問題を提示し、どのように自身の英語教授法を変えたのかを論じる。


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4/S) ◽  
pp. 416-423
Author(s):  
Niginabonu Kurbanova

The current article describes the results of different research findings, that was established after implementation of “Just in Time” concept in language acquisition, collecting data from students about the effectiveness of the target concept and their insights of the “Just in Time” as a whole.Learnersin this research take English classes for specific purposes; the topics of the lessons are connected with the major they are focusing on.Annotationsof ESP teaching among the students showed that no specific instruction in  language acquisition were given and there were more miscellaneous approach in teaching, without a corpus and clear description of what language element exactly should be focused on in ESP teaching, or what grammar is necessary to teach in order to use language in authentic world or what texts should be introduced for reading as the academic readings claimed time for analyzing and comprehending. The most important thing is how students are able to understand and obtain data using their cognitive skills, thus, it was difficult to fully explore the ability of theirs, identify their strength and weaknesses. As a result, in the teacher -student interaction, contribution of learners lacked and the outcomes were barely explored. These apprehensions directed the teachers to reflect a strategy which could encompass learners and helped them to participate time in the classroom activities and outside the classroom hours, therefore the time of the class might be better enhanced and the coherence better interpreted. As an example, we can take students with the major of Hotel industry and tourism faculty. Not a secret that this sphere is significantly developed field of modern society, where the collaboration and negotiation play a huge role. Being Lingua Franca-the language of the world, demand for English language acquisition increases noticeably. The people of the target major are required to have English language proficiency. Tourism comes align with English language, due to its world-wide usage and being an official language almost in more than 70 countries of the world. On its turn, English language teachers are specifically needed with their experience, knowledge and teaching skills as well. Current article is to demonstrate the role of concepts in teaching ESP, selecting appropriate techniques for students to learn the language and be confident in using the language at their work places. Moreover, the article demonstrates the importance of cognitive skills of students for effective productive skills and receptive skills as well. In addition, in the article the theory of “Just-in-time” concept is described, in the process of teaching ESP students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Lauren Landsberry

As English language teachers, we are constantly learning and adapting new techniques with the goal of making our lessons more effective. However, there is much less of a focus on what students are doing outside the classroom and few research studies have looked at Japanese students’ independent study habits. When and where do our students study, and what methods do they use? Knowing the answers to these questions can help us to enrich our students’ education by making the homework we give them more effective and meaningful. I present the results of an anonymous questionnaire that was administered to more than 600 tertiary students across a junior college, a private university, and a public university. In discussing the study habits of Japanese students, I hope to help English teachers be better prepared to facilitate their students’ learning both inside and outside the classroom. 英語教師として、我々は絶えず新しい指導技術を学び適合し、学習者にとって指導をより効果的で有益なものにしようと試みている。しかしながら、日本人の学習習慣や授業外での英語学習についての研究はあまり見当たらない。いつどこで学習者は学び、どんな方法を使っているのか。これらの質問への回答を知ることで、指導方法の種類や内容、家庭学習課題を多様にし、質を豊かにすることができるであろう。本論文では、高等教育を受けている学生への匿名アンケート結果を提示し、短大、私立大学、国立大学に在籍する日本人学生の学習習慣について論じる。この情報により、英語教員が自らの指導方法を振り返る一助となれば幸いである。


Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 257-270
Author(s):  
Peter Harrold ◽  
Andrew Gallacher

Teacher autonomy relates to the teacher’s capacity, freedom and responsibility to self-direct and self-reflect on choices that affect their role as a teacher. This study takes a two-fold approach in examining (1) the degree to which English language teachers in a university in Japan felt autonomous whilst adhering to a standardized curriculum, and (2) how teachers that self-identified as having a significantly higher degree of autonomy than their colleagues continued to find ways to exercise it in this context. The first stage utilized the Teacher Autonomy Scale (TAS). Then in stage two interviews were conducted with teachers who had reported the greatest level of autonomy on the TAS. The findings from the research suggest that teachers are still able to create spaces to express their autonomy within a standardised curriculum through processes of supplementation or modification, which may be motivated by either feeling a responsibility to offer their students more, or a desire for professional freedom and confidence in using their own discretion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Lowe ◽  
Luke Lawrence

Issues surrounding native-speakerism in ELT have been investigated from a diverse range of research perspectives over the last decade. This study uses a duoethnographic approach in order to explore the concept of a 'hidden curriculum' that instils and perpetuates Western 'native speaker' norms and values in the formal and informal training of English language teachers. We found that, despite differences in our own individual training experiences, a form of 'hidden curriculum' was apparent that had a powerful effect on our initial beliefs and practices as teachers and continues to influence our day-to-day teaching.


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