Kobe JALT:

"English Only" in the Japanese University EFL Classroom: Attitudes, Approaches, and the Role of the L1

Date: Saturday, June 19th, 2010 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Speaker: Marian Wang and Scott Bean of Kwansei Gakuin University

Description:
The present study was carried out to determine how University students felt about an English-Only (EO) policy implemented in their Intensive English Program classes, how teachers motivated their students to use only English, and how both teachers and students viewed the role of students' first language (L1) in their classes. According to the responses to a questionnaire from 41 students and 11 teachers, most students held a positive view toward the EO learning environment, especially because of the opportunity to discuss vocabulary with their peers in English. The teachers reported a variety of approaches to maintain EO in the classroom, which included appeals to the students' extrinsic motivation, oral and written reminders, teaching classroom language and communicative skills, self-evaluations, and lessons designed to ensure student success. A small number of students and most of the teachers indicated that limited use of the L1 may be acceptable even in an EO learning environment, taking into consideration student proficiency level and lesson content.

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

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1,000 yen

Venue: Kobe YMCA (2-7-15 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe. tel: 078-241-7204)

Location: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Contact Kobe JALT

Website: http://www.kobejalt.org