Event
HomeNeurodiversity in the EFL Classroom
Saturday, December 7th, 2019, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Speaker: Jennifer Yphantides of Soka University
Abstract: Although it appears as if there has been an increase in students with mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the higher numbers are due to more recognition and better diagnostic tools (Rogers & Dawson, 2010; Silberman, 2015). Numerous teachers, including in the EFL context in Japan, now have special needs students with formal diagnoses but are not adequately trained to respond to their needs (Mian & Yap, 2017).
The purpose of this presentation/workshop is threefold. The first is to provide teachers with a clear, brief explanation of the neurological basis of these disorders and how language learning is affected. The second is to help teachers notice students who do not have or want to disclose a formal diagnosis. The third is to provide teachers with practical, concrete solutions for a variety of problems faced by these students. The solutions come from people with ADHD and ASD themselves and have been tried and tested by the presenter.
Bio: Jennifer Yphantides is a lecturer at Soka University. She has been teaching English around the world since 1993. She has a BA in History from McGill University, an MA in War Studies from Kings College, an MA TESOL from Columbia University and an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University. Her current research interests are teacher identity, leadership in TESOL, bilingualism and brain disorders.
Organization: West Tokyo Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (West Tokyo JALT)
Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1,000 yen
Venue: Tamadaira no Mori Fureaikan, Room 3-1 (2nd floor)
Location: Hino City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
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