2016 July 10 | Marc Helgesen | Let's Get Physical

Nankyu Nagasaki welcomes Professor Marc Helgesen of Miyagi Gakuin Women's University on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at Nagasaki Dejima Koryu Kaikan from 2pm to 4pm.

When we site for 20 minutes, blood flows downward o the feet and legs. Standing and moving for just one minute triggers a 15% increase of blood (and therefore oxygen) to the brain. That's one reason to get students up and out of their seats regularly. There are many more. This session will look at brain-science reasons and ways to have students moving their bodies, while moving their English abilities up at the same time.

2015 January 10 | Dawn Kobayashi | Focus on Drama | Sponsored by CUE SIG!

Dawn Kobayashi
Sponsored by CUE SIG

This presentation will both introduce to attendees how the presenter is using drama as the main teaching methodology in university English lessons and give attendees a chance to try out some of the drama techniques for themselves. Finally attendees will be encouraged to reflect on how they might employ similar techniques in their teaching environments.

2014 December 13 | Terry Fellner | Pseudoscience in EFL: What is it and "woo" is responsible?

Terry Fellner

This presentation will focus on the use of several practices and methodologies currently found in language teaching that have little or no scientific evidence to support their use. The presentation begins with an examination of what is meant by the terms “pseudo-science” and “woo” and then provides the audience with a fun pseudoscience demonstration to illustrate how these concept can be easily accepted and misunderstood. This talk will examine the efficacy of the following concepts: learning styles, left/right brain learners, multiple intelligences, and neuro linguistic programming as well as question the teaching and utilization of several common TOEIC test strategies. The presentation concludes with a brief discussion about why it can be difficult to get evidence-based results in EFL contexts and yet, why it is important that we try.

Bio: Terry Fellner is Associate Professor at the Center for General Education at Saga University. He has been a teacher, teacher trainer, researcher, for more than 20 years in Africa, Canada, and Japan. Currently he is the section editor of @CUE in The OnCUE Journal, and his research interests include motivation, vocabulary acquisition, outdoor language learning and L2 reading.

Location: Dejima Koryu Kaikan, 2-11 Dejimamachi, Nagasaki

Fee for JALT members: Free

Fee for one-day members: 1,000 yen, free for students

Contact or Queries: Email contact form

2013 Jun 8 | Luc Roberge | Foreign Language Anxiety and EFL Physical Education

Luc Roberge from
Nagasaki Junior College

The June 2013 Nagasaki JALT meeting was held in Sasebo City at the University of Nagasaki Sasebo Campus. Our speaker this month was Mr. Luc Roberge of Nagasaki Junior College and his lecture was on Foreign Language Anxiety and EFL Physical Education.

Luc presented his thesis/dissertation from his recently completed masters program at the University of Birmingham. The topic was a very challenging one since it deals with not only aspects of psychology and personality types, but also second language acquisition and the difficulties students face.