Critical Thinking, Controversial Topics, and Stimulating Conversation

Description: In this workshop, the presenter plans to facilitate a lively discussion of the pros and cons of controversial topics in our language classrooms. Are these topics useful for teaching language skills and critical thinking skills? How can teachers deal with administrations which might not approve of hot topics? Should teachers express their own opinions? Attendees will share their concerns, approaches, successes and failures with controversial topics. The presenter will also introduce materials from his new textbook Stimulating Conversation: Thinking Critically about Current Issues. Everyone will leave with a better understanding of integrating controversial topics into the language teaching context, and, if the attendees decide to introduce controversial topics into language classes, they will have more ideas on how to do it. This event is co-sponsored by Intercom Press. There will be an end of the year party after the presentation. Greg Goodmacher is very interested in creating teaching materials for global issues content-based EFL classes. He is the author of Stimulating Conversation and two other textbooks.

Tweet this on Twitter

Contact Fukuoka JALT Chapter:

URL: http://www.fukuokajalt.org

Jack Brajcich:

jack_brajcich@hotmail.com

Upcoming Events for Fukuoka JALT Chapter:

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Developing Lexical Competence: From Theory to Classroom Practice to Online Application

Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Fukuoka

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Fukuoka JALT English Teaching and Research Conference 2010