Enhancing Learners’ Cross-Cultural Communication Skills: L2 Pragmatics for All Ages

This presentation focuses on the pragmatics of a second/foreign language and addresses possible ways to highlight appropriate language use in the classroom. Despite the common myth that pragmatics is the “fine-tuning” reserved for advanced learners, it can be incorporated into our everyday instruction from the first day of instruction for learners of all ages.

JALT Hokkaido 27th Annual Conference

The JALT Hokkaido Conference will have a variety of presentations. The full schedule will be available in September. Teachers working with children, elementary school, junior high school, senior high school, university, and language schools are all invited to attend and/or present.

Praising Effectively for Positive Affect

We will analyze and practice the language that teachers might use with learners to promote the positive affect that leads to motivating mindsets. The presenter will provide a theoretical background from an integrated compilation of leading research findings, guiding participants to reflect on how EFL learners in Japan became demotivated and remotivated over several years.

Are we really “teaching” listening?

Abstract: Many people have made the observation that we do not really teach listening; we just keep testing it. Indeed, most of our materials are based on the assumption that students’ listening skills will naturally improve through exposure to a series of listening texts accompanied by questions and tasks designed to test their comprehension.

JALT Hokkaido Annual Year-end Meeting & Bonenkai

Informal gathering for JALT members, families, and friends. Please bring a dish to share. Turkey and soft drinks will be provided. Please contact Mary Virgil at maryvirgiluchida@me.com to let her know what food you're bringing.

JALT Hokkaido Language Teaching Conference

Conference Theme: “Making Connections”
Keynote Address: “Better Together: The Power of Connection”

(1) Teaching the Speech Act, 'Greetings' in Japan (2) The Importance of Listenership and Ideas for How to Teach It

Presentation 1: Greetings in Japan and the West differ in distinctive ways, yet some greeting practices are considered universal. This workshop will explore the question of whether "greetings" need to be explicitly taught in the language classroom. Furthermore, Zeff will introduce some of the research in the area of teaching speech acts in general, and more specifically 'greetings.'

Improve Memory & Learning: 5 Powerful Teaching Techniques for EFL Classrooms

What can teachers do to dramatically enhance student memory and learning in the EFL classroom? Five easy steps will be provided for teachers to take home and put on their classroom walls. This session will discuss and explore provocative new discoveries in brain research and learning.

Test-drive your Presentation

This is an opportunity for chapter members who are planning presentations for upcoming conferences like the PAN-SIG conference, the ER conference, JALT National, or our own annual Hokkaido language teachers' conference! Do a "dry run" of your presentation or simply bring your ideas for a presentation and get valuable feedback from other attendees.

Kerpoof & Other Web-based Resources for the Classroom

The Internet provides limitless freely available and often highly engaging content, but sorting through the myriad of options can be a daunting task to say the least. It's not uncommon to wind up with a bookmarks folder filled to the brim with links collecting virtual dust.

Geordie will be introducing a number of innovative web 2.0 sites for kids and adults alike. He will demonstrate how parents can use Internet based resources to facilitate the English education of their children as well as the possible applications for the university ESL classroom. Parents are encouraged to bring along their kids. Computers will be available at the venue, but feel free to bring a laptop as well. Attendees will be expected to set up accounts and get their hands dirty exploring the possibilities."

Bio: Geordie McGarty has been teaching English in Japan for well over a decade. He has a background in American elementary education and is currently enrolled in a MA Applied Linguistics program at MacQuarie University. He is owner and head teacher of MoonTree English School and  Lecturer at Sapporo Gakuin University. His interests include CALL and children's ESL. He is also an affirmed geek, of the Mac variety, with two small children of his own.