JALT conference 2009
It's midweek and I am still recovering from the JALT conference 2009 (in Shizuoka).
I had a very busy three days taking part in the conference as a member of the conference committee (International Food Fair coordinator) and duties at the ETJ desk, ACTJ desk, as well as presenting as a member of the ACTJ forum. Needless to say I didn't see many other presentations this year, but I sure did a lot of networking!
Unfortunately for me, it seems the Shizuoka Shinbun (newspaper) happened to click a photo during one of my few breaks as I was attending the sake tasting event...
Honestly, I was working hard all weekend!
I had a very busy three days taking part in the conference as a member of the conference committee (International Food Fair coordinator) and duties at the ETJ desk, ACTJ desk, as well as presenting as a member of the ACTJ forum. Needless to say I didn't see many other presentations this year, but I sure did a lot of networking!
Unfortunately for me, it seems the Shizuoka Shinbun (newspaper) happened to click a photo during one of my few breaks as I was attending the sake tasting event...
Honestly, I was working hard all weekend!
たかが挨拶、されど挨拶
先日、オバマ大統領が来日しましたね。
その際、オバマ大統領の天皇陛下に対しての「お辞儀」が米国内で批判されてようです。
その声は、
「米国の大統領として、外国の君主に頭を下げるのは不適切だ」
「米国が弱体化し自国を卑下していることの表れだ」
とか。
それに対し、オバマ大統領側は
「大統領は単に日本の慣習を順守しただけ」と。
批判の声をみると、日本では敬意を表すお辞儀も、アメリカでは、屈辱的行為と見る人もいるようですね。
というものの、この写真をみると、この深々としたお辞儀、日本人の私としても、少々違和感を感じます。最大の敬意を払ったからこそ、お辞儀の角度が一層深まったというのは、重々感じますが、ちょっと深すぎじゃぁないですか・・・。
そこで思うのは、大統領が他国を訪問するに当たって、その国の習慣・文化等の正しい知識を持っていて、もっと適切なアドバイスが出来るスタッフはいなかったのか？または、なぜ、そういう人材を探さなかったのか？と。
これ↓をみると、クリントン元大統領の時は、そういう人材探しは、まるっきりなかったんでしょうね。
笑っちゃうほど、話にならないかと・・・。
でも、笑って終らしてはいけません。
日本では大ハズレなクリントン元大統領の挨拶も、ある国・地方では大正解。
国、宗教によってさまざまな挨拶方法があること。
相手を不快にさせないよう、覚えていると損はしないと思います。
学校の授業でも、外国人と挨拶する際、「握手」または「ハグ」ってだけ済ませず、
この国はこういう挨拶、こっちの国はこういう挨拶など、紹介していくと面白いと思います。
その際、オバマ大統領の天皇陛下に対しての「お辞儀」が米国内で批判されてようです。
その声は、
「米国の大統領として、外国の君主に頭を下げるのは不適切だ」
「米国が弱体化し自国を卑下していることの表れだ」
とか。
それに対し、オバマ大統領側は
「大統領は単に日本の慣習を順守しただけ」と。
批判の声をみると、日本では敬意を表すお辞儀も、アメリカでは、屈辱的行為と見る人もいるようですね。
というものの、この写真をみると、この深々としたお辞儀、日本人の私としても、少々違和感を感じます。最大の敬意を払ったからこそ、お辞儀の角度が一層深まったというのは、重々感じますが、ちょっと深すぎじゃぁないですか・・・。
そこで思うのは、大統領が他国を訪問するに当たって、その国の習慣・文化等の正しい知識を持っていて、もっと適切なアドバイスが出来るスタッフはいなかったのか？または、なぜ、そういう人材を探さなかったのか？と。
これ↓をみると、クリントン元大統領の時は、そういう人材探しは、まるっきりなかったんでしょうね。
笑っちゃうほど、話にならないかと・・・。
でも、笑って終らしてはいけません。
日本では大ハズレなクリントン元大統領の挨拶も、ある国・地方では大正解。
国、宗教によってさまざまな挨拶方法があること。
相手を不快にさせないよう、覚えていると損はしないと思います。
学校の授業でも、外国人と挨拶する際、「握手」または「ハグ」ってだけ済ませず、
この国はこういう挨拶、こっちの国はこういう挨拶など、紹介していくと面白いと思います。
What the ALTs are doing
Recently our ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) gathered at Fukuroi junior high school for some professional development and a live demonstration by Patrick Hanchar and JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) Itsuro Takai.
Patrick showed how he uses Goal-Directed conversations in his class to give students some authentic second language conversation practice. Patrick uses his own creative version of the Immediate Method to move students into creating their own dialogs to practice.
In Patrick's version the key point is the overall communication of ideas, flow, and body language rather than grammatical correctness or pronunciation. Many of the ALTs that attended were impressed with the overall method developed and level of cooperation between the two teachers.
During the lesson there was time that ALTs were encouraged to get involved and assist students. Both the teachers and the students like the bonus interaction. At Imagination Ink we regularly hold such open class events for our teachers to gather and learn from each other.
Patrick showed how he uses Goal-Directed conversations in his class to give students some authentic second language conversation practice. Patrick uses his own creative version of the Immediate Method to move students into creating their own dialogs to practice.
In Patrick's version the key point is the overall communication of ideas, flow, and body language rather than grammatical correctness or pronunciation. Many of the ALTs that attended were impressed with the overall method developed and level of cooperation between the two teachers.
During the lesson there was time that ALTs were encouraged to get involved and assist students. Both the teachers and the students like the bonus interaction. At Imagination Ink we regularly hold such open class events for our teachers to gather and learn from each other.
CAUGHT!
Some good news regarding an unresolved terrible, terrible act...
In April, we told you about the case of Lindsay Ann Hawker, the British English teacher who was brutally murdered and whose body was left in a sand-filled bathtub on the balcony of a Chiba apartment.
After two years on the run, the only suspect in the case, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has finally been caught while trying to board a ferry from Osaka to Okinawa. Japanese television broke into regular program this evening with the news.
Some relief for the Hawker family. Now let's see how the wheels of justice turn from here on in.
In April, we told you about the case of Lindsay Ann Hawker, the British English teacher who was brutally murdered and whose body was left in a sand-filled bathtub on the balcony of a Chiba apartment.
After two years on the run, the only suspect in the case, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has finally been caught while trying to board a ferry from Osaka to Okinawa. Japanese television broke into regular program this evening with the news.
Some relief for the Hawker family. Now let's see how the wheels of justice turn from here on in.
ACTJ mini conference 2009
On November 2nd, the Association of Canadian Teachers in Japan (ACTJ) held their annual conference at the Canadian embassy in Tokyo.
The event brought together Canadian teachers (and a few foreigners
) together with several great presentations including keynote speaker Gregory Strong and a presentation by yours truly.
For those of you who attended my presentation, I thank you again. As promised here are links to the references used:
Find reference list used in the presentation HERE
Find the TED "Sir Ken Robinson"presentation on Education HERE
More on David Kolb and "experiential learning / learning styles" HERE
To order the Kolb learning styles inventory visit HERE
The event brought together Canadian teachers (and a few foreigners
) together with several great presentations including keynote speaker Gregory Strong and a presentation by yours truly.For those of you who attended my presentation, I thank you again. As promised here are links to the references used:
Find reference list used in the presentation HERE
Find the TED "Sir Ken Robinson"presentation on Education HERE
More on David Kolb and "experiential learning / learning styles" HERE
To order the Kolb learning styles inventory visit HERE
