Katherine Song (University of the Ryukyus), Samantha Kawakami (private English school owner, and teacher at Shimane University)

This month’s meeting at Hiroshima YMCA will feature two simulataeous presentations in two different rooms. In one room, Katherine Song will give a talk entitled “The Benefits of Scrabble® Board Game Community Membership for English Language Learners.” The presentation is a report on an on-going case study following select members of Hiroshima University Scrabble Player Student Group. In a neighboring room, Samantha Kawakami will lead a workshop entitled “Early Literacy: From ABCs to Reading.” She will recommend basic steps to get students reading, and explore a variety of materials that can be used flexibly, and in combination, to make students enthusiastic and successful readers. For details, see the Hiroshima JALT homepage or newsletter.