[LD-SIG Discussion List] LD-SIG May 11th from joyce TLT report - Willing contributor???

Thu May 8 09:00:55 CDT 2008

Stacey,
Thanks so much for getting back to me.  I will wait to hear who would be a willing contributor in the land of the LD-SIG.  

The volunteer reporter would be able to choose, as mentioned below, on the deadline to submit to the TLT (either june, july, or aug/) but i would appreciate knowing as soon as possible, so that i can hold that spot open and plan on other contributors in the other months. thanks so much in advance,
joyce with mariko miyao
co-editors "Grassroots" column - TLT
--- "Stacey Vye" <stacey.vye at gmail.com> ---

>Hi Joyce and everyone,
>
>My apologies for not posting sooner and thanks for thinking of the LD
>greater Tokyo 'get-togethers' for a possible report in the 'Grassroots'
>column of the TLT. Our meetings seem to fit the column well, since we've met
>in an organic fashion for over a year now, and are considering what
>discussions and projects we like to focus on forthcoming (planting seeds and
>nurturing them to grow).
>
>So the "million dollar question (hope people don't mind the pun)" is 'Yes!'
>We would like to submit a proposal for the Grassroots column from the LD
>Tokyo meeting on May 11th. Could we get back to you on the particulars
>(month submission and writers) within the next few weeks?
>
>Thanks again,
>
>Stacey
>
>
>
>On 4/30/08, Joyce CUNNINGHAM <joyce at mx.ibaraki.ac.jp> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Stacey and all,
>> You've had wonderfully fruitful meetings i would guess, from reading these
>> reports from afar.  i am on sabbatical in canada until aug. so cannot attend
>> but want to ask you (or anyone in your group) if you would submit a 750-word
>> (strict max) report to our TLT column 'Grassroots' on past meetings,
>> learnings, future plans, of interest to the average TLT reader.
>>
>> this report could be for the june, july or august 1st deadline.  could be
>> in english, japanese or a combination of both: all are acceptable.  would
>> you or another willing contributor get back to me?  it would be nice PR for
>> what you are all doing so beautifully.  you have already written some of the
>> draft below it would seem to me.  anyway, let me know?
>> all my best,
>> joyce with Mariko Miyao
>> TLT Grassroots co-editors
>> --- "Stacey Vye" <stacey.vye at gmail.com> ---
>>
>> >*Hi LD-SIG Greater-Tokyo Regional Members, *
>> >* *
>> >*Apologies for the cross-posts. Hope you are still energetic from the new
>> >school year and ready for a Golden Week break of some kind! While you
>> have a
>> >moment, feel free to take a look at our March 9th get-together
>> reflections
>> >compiled by Tomoko Kawachi following the get-together details (Thanks
>> >Tomoko!).*
>> >**
>> >If you are free, please come and join us* for yet another* a chance
>> >to create and renew connections with each other locally and talk together
>> >about what all our different interests in learner development, learner
>> >autonomy and teacher autonomy are, and perhaps what they might not be* on
>> >Sunday May 11th, 2008 (in Suidobashi, Tokyo).** *
>> >**
>> >**
>> >*Greater Tokyo Area LD Regional Get Together Details and Getting there:*
>> >* *
>> >*Date:* Sunday May 11th, 2008
>> >*Time:* 2pm to 5pm
>> >*Venue:* Teacher's College Columbia in Suidobashi
>> >           Mitsui Seimei Bldg. 4F
>> >           2-21-2 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku
>> >           Tokyo 101-0061, JAPAN
>> >           Phone: 03-3221-9771 Fax: 03-3221-9773
>> >*Nearest Train Stations:* JR Suidobashi (one minute walk)
>> >                                   Mita-line Suidobashi (three minute
>> walk)
>> >                                   Jimbo-cho (ten minute walk)
>> >*Map and directions:* http://www.tc-japan.edu/map.html
>> >
>> >*RSVP to **stacey.vye at gmail.com* <stacey.vye at gmail.com>* *
>> >
>> >Cheers,
>> >Mike Nix & Stacey Vye
>> >LD-Sig Regional Get-together Co-Coordinators
>> >
>> >*LD-SIG Greater Tokyo Get-Together Reflections (Mar. 9, 2008)***
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >·          *Stacey Vye*: First of all, it was wonderful to catch up with
>> LD
>> >friends at the 8th local get-together. Since Mike Nix and I co-coordinate
>> >the greater Tokyo area group, I posed a question about how to explore the
>> >use of various invite lists and bulletin computer programs to help the
>> >process of getting-together run smoother and give members a chance to
>> post
>> >comments about the get-togethers prior to or after our meetings. If you
>> have
>> >any advice or feedback on invite lists please contact
>> stacey.vye at gmail.com.
>> >
>> >After chatting while eating a bountiful spread of snack donated by some
>> >attendees, we discussed how to approach teaching cultural awareness on
>> the
>> >suggestion of Joe Falout. The process helped me reflect on how important
>> it
>> >is to guide the students through the process of sharing cultures and
>> >sub-cultures within the community of the classroom as a starting point.
>> >
>> >·          *Naoko Harada*: Today's heated discussion on how to teach
>> >cultural diversity was an inspiring occasion. If a teacher is fully aware
>> of
>> >what beliefs his or her cultural contents of teaching will be based on, I
>> >believe meaningful discussion will be generated in class. Materials could
>> >range from stories based on students' personal experiences to critical
>> >incidents around the globe. Comparing cultural differences through facts
>> and
>> >figures or through other objective sources may help students to view the
>> >reality from a different perspective. It will ultimately provide an
>> >opportunity for students to gain insight about our cultural identities as
>> >well as those of others.
>> >
>> >·          *Kay Irie*: I felt really good about being here. And our
>> >get-together worked well as we spent the first half talking about the use
>> of
>> >discuss-list to reach out the LD members and if there should be an
>> >alternative way. Then through individual self-introductions I learned
>> about
>> >what everybody's interested in these days – including those whom I've
>> never
>> >met before and I'm already friends with. Of course it is great to hear
>> >about/from people I've met today for the first time.
>> >There were lots of refreshment and chats during the break.
>> >
>> >After the break, Joe started a discussion on cross-cultural difference
>> >awareness and how to deal with that in classroom. Because it was
>> something
>> >that's been discussed at my work recently, I enjoyed talking about it and
>> >hearing about other people's perspectives on this.
>> >
>> >Once again, I enjoyed the get-together by learning something new (Dörnyei
>> &
>> >Thurrell's framework), re-connecting with other members, and getting to
>> know
>> >new people!
>> >
>> >·          *Terry Yearley*: (1) LD SIG Publicity – Stacey asked for ideas
>> to
>> >help her organize her job of publicizing the Tokyo Chapter of the LD SIG.
>> >The possibilities include, either adopting the present list, which is
>> >under-utilized, or creating a new list. (2) Cultural awareness in
>> >conversation skills – Joe asked for comments on the above topic. Several
>> >members outlined their views regarding their own situations. 'Super
>> English'
>> >High Schools were also briefly discussed.
>> >
>> >·          *Joe Falout*: The teachers who came together form a supportive
>> >community with the environment encouraging of self-directed
>> participation. I
>> >felt the sensitivity and care those teachers have for the people around
>> >them. I enjoyed listening to everyone's views, stories, and suggestions
>> >towards positive change for learning. Anyone looking for such community
>> can
>> >find it here.
>> >
>> >·          *Alison Stewart*: Today's discussion covered a lot of ground.
>> We
>> >started with the question of the LD-Discussion list – Stacey wondered how
>> >that could be managed more efficiently. I was surprised to realize she is
>> >emailing individuals who have opted out of the list.
>> >
>> >From there, we went onto self-introductions, which drew my attention to
>> >similarities into our interests as well as difference in experiences and
>> >goals. Kay's story of finding a group of teachers who have created a
>> >Japanese language program on learner autonomy through their book before
>> >realizing that campuses often consist of bounded communities. Often one
>> >community or group has little idea what its neighbor is doing and thus
>> lack
>> >an opportunity for mutual dialogue or collaboration. Moving to a new job,
>> I
>> >realize I have to be open-minded and keep my eyes and ears open not just
>> >within the department where I will be working.
>> >
>> >The last topic was teaching cultural differences – again prompting a
>> >wide-ranging and, for me, very relevant conversation.
>> >
>> >·          *Tomoko Kawachi*: It was nice getting to meet everyone,
>> >especially the new members. The discussion on teaching cross-cultural
>> >difference was especially interesting to me, since I teach a whole course
>> >devoted to intercultural communication, but also because it reminded me
>> that
>> >teaching about culture should be a part of any language course, since
>> >language and culture are inseparable. The discussion also alerted me on
>> the
>> >danger of stereotyping, but I think we need to be aware that especially
>> when
>> >we teach culture, it is impossible to be completely neutral and
>> objective.
>> >So we need to make our students aware that what we're teaching is one
>> >dimension of reality, and that they should always look for alternative
>> ways
>> >of looking at issues and the world, i.e., to be critical and doubt their
>> >"common sense" and be sensitive to others' perspectives.
>> >
>> >·          *Yoko Wakui: *It was exciting that more people attended than
>> >usual this time. It goes without saying that we enjoyed exchanging
>> different
>> >views. Above all, we had a heated discussion about how to corporate
>> cultural
>> >issues in class.
>> >
>> >Thanks to Joe, everyone had a copy of an article *Teaching conversation
>> >skills intensively:      Course content and rationale *by Dornyei and
>> >Thurrell. I have realized the significance yet difficulty of guiding
>> >students today. I usually use films or documentaries to teach academic
>> >issues, but Naoko offered an episode where she used the picture book *If
>> I
>> >had a chance*. She expressed her concern about her influence on her
>> >students.
>> >It is certain that teachers should be careful how to guide students. I
>> >believe, however, that students have the ability to think critically on
>> >their own if given an opportunity such as group discussion. To my
>> surprise,
>> >sometimes they even give us new perspectives as Joe and Kay say. Teachers
>> >could simply be a facilitator.
>> >
>> >   - *Masuko Miyahara*: Attended by twelve or so people, the latest LD
>> >   SIG Tokyo Regional get together had a nice mixture of "new and old"
>> faces.
>> >   We started out by the usual round of self-introductions, but the
>> comments
>> >   made by each participant last Sunday all included an "issue" that in
>> one way
>> >   or another appeared relevant for many of us. One remark that I was
>> >   particularly interested in was made by Andy who expressed his concerns
>> about
>> >   what people got out of these gatherings: are they contributing to our
>> >   professional development? What are we gaining by participating in
>> these
>> >   meetings? Are they helpful? When you really start thinking about this,
>> it
>> >   certainly is a challenging topic. Have you really developed
>> professionally?
>> >   How can you tell? What do you judge yourself against??? At the moment,
>> >   a lot of things are swirling around in circles in my mind, but, one
>> thing I
>> >   can say for sure is that these meeting do support me a lot, and in a
>> variety
>> >   of ways. Whether you are a practitioner or a researcher, it can
>> sometimes be
>> >   a lonely "business". The opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas
>> with
>> >   people certainly contributes to broadening my understanding or
>> deepening my
>> >   thoughts on a certain topic. But, I guess, what I appreciate most are
>> the
>> >   "people" who are involved in creating such opportunities – without
>> their
>> >   efforts nothing will happen !! Thanks everyone!  I look forward to
>> >   many more of these gatherings, and hope to continue to help out.
>>
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