Kobe Gaidai Graduate Student Showcase

Friday, 1:15 pm - 3:25 pm, Room 301

(1) Greeting in English brings smiles to everyone!

Kazuyo Ibusuki, Akiko Imoto

We will show how we created an English friendly learning environment in an elementary school. We started by greeting each other in the classroom. Then we asked staff members of the school to be involved in the lesson. The children visited different places in the school to greet them. The activity helped the children and staff members to get know each other and to encourage the use of English at the school.

(2) Teacher/learner growth via collaborative learning

Tomomi Morishita

Teachers play an important role as facilitators in collaborative learning classrooms. What makes an effective facilitator? Through reflective practice and the keeping of a reflective journal the presenter found answers to that question. In a collaborative learning classroom, students establish a community in which to learn and create, and also to deal with group conflicts. The presentation will show how and what students learn in a collaborative learning classroom.

(3) Changes in my teaching through reflective practice

Takako Chamoto

I will show how encountering reflective practice, at a time when I was dissatisfied with myself and my teaching, provided me with insights on how to cope with anxieties. Reflecting by writing a journal, having discussions with my mentor, and reading students' feedback gradually helped me understand my inner self and improve my skills in observing and thinking objectively. My raised awareness resulted in positive changes in my teaching and improved the quality of classroom life.

(4) A study of curriculum design for a writing course

Tomoko Nakamura

The presenter will explore the development of an effective curriculum design which combines a conventional grammar-based syllabus with a series of creative writing projects that inspire EFL students. Starting with the fundamental question of what it is to learn English in a Japanese high school, the presentation will look at some successful tasks and student feedback on them.

(5) Oyako de Eigo: Teaching mothers to teach English

Kimi Maenaka

The presenter will describe a program in which mothers were trained as mediators in order to teach their children at home for 12 weeks. First, the value of mediation in Japanese children's early EFL learning will be discussed, based on sociocultural theory. Second, the methodology in which mothers are encouraged to interact authentically with their children using daily routines will be described. Finally, evaluations from mothers, children, and teachers will be presented.