Event

Cultural codes and Immediate Method training workshop

Sunday, November 6th, 2005, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Speaker: Bruno Vannieu

Part 1: Cultural codes and silence in class
We all know that Japanese culture is not conducive to free, spontaneous expression in conversation classes. While it is helpful to know that general cultural factors are at play, this doesn't help teachers when it comes to actually conducting a class. Action must be based on more precise descriptions of cultural processes and simple, easily executable guidelines. Bruno Vannieu will share the results of his research in this area on how to break the barrier of silence, and how to integrate pragmatic competence in our students' learning, helping them to sound natural in English (in effect, to respect the cultural codes that govern oral expression in English). This part of the presentation will be useful to any conversation teacher, regardless of the methodology used in class.

Part 2: Conversation class management: the Immediate Method
The IM is a simple and powerful conversation teaching method that was created in Japan in response to a challenging situation: large classes, beginner or false beginner level, cultural classroom behaviour style of Japanese learners. Its sole objective is to have the students learn to speak in two-way, real-time exchanges; in short, to take part in conversations. First implemented in the context of French teaching at university (beginner level), the method has recently been introduced to the world of English teaching in Junior High-school (beginner level) and university (intermediate level).

Maximum number of participants: 25. Organized by the Research Group for Teaching Conversation in Japan; sponsored by Alma Publisher.

Organization: Research Group for Teaching Conversation in Japan

Cost: RGTCJ Members: free
Non-members: 500 yen

Venue: WISH, 1 min. from Omotesando station in Tokyo

Location: Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan

Contact Research Group for Teaching Conversation in Japan

Bruno Vannieu

Work phone: 075-771-7039