Event

Significant Scribbles: From sentence combining to diary writing

Saturday, October 29th, 2005, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Speaker: Curtis Kelly, Osaka Gakuin University

Sentence combining has been around since the 1960's, but it has been largely overlooked, despite research showing its effectiveness. Recent findings in brain studies, however, suggest that we have grossly underestimated the power of this unusual technique for teaching grammar and writing. The presenter will explain what sentence combining is, discuss some of the research that shows its unique advantages, and demonstrate a grammar/writing course that incorporates this methodology. The course, Longman's in Significant Scribbles New Edition, has students doing sentence combining on one hand while engaging in extensive writing on the other, through diaries, key-pal writing, or making stories about pictures. This dual approach allows students to employ newly-gained grammar and writing skills almost instantaneously. The participants will engage in discussions on how we can employ new insights on learning, and how to attend to both the linguistic and psychological needs of learners.

Curtis Kelly, a 25-year resident of Japan, is the author of Significant Scribbles, Basics in Writing, The Snoop Detective Conversation Book, and the Writing from Within series. He is a professor of English at Osaka Gakuin University and has a doctorate in adult education. He recently finished a Ministry of Education research project on using e-learning to train Japanese elementary school English teachers. Because of his specialties - teaching English writing, Adult Education, teaching children English, and storytelling - he often presents in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He has also hosted weekly television and radio shows on local Japanese networks.

This event will be co-sponsored by Pearson Longman. Pearson Longman will have a book display at the venue and every attendee will also get a copy of Significant Scribbles (new edition).

Organization: Fukuoka Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Fukuoka JALT)

Cost: free

Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Fukuoka JALT

Trevor Holster