Dr. Shinichi Izumi (Sophia University, Japan)
Focus on Form and CLIL in English Education in Japan
This course introduces the notions of focus on form and Content and Language Integrated Learning and explores how these ideas can be applied in English language teaching in Japanese junior high schools, senior high schools, and beyond.
In the first session of the seminar, the lecturer discuss problems in grammar-based, teacher-centered, and context-poor instruction that are still prevalent in English education in Japan and show directions for change that can enable foreign language instructors to teach English in ways that provide greater language -learning benefits for students. This general introduction is followed by an exploration of practical applications of focus on form in English classes in Japan.
In the third session, participants turn their attention to Content and Language Integrated Learning. Participants first consider what CLIL is and what benefits can be obtained by adopting this approach to English teaching in Japan. To clarify how CLIL can be applied in English-language classrooms, the lecturer use a lesson taken from an English textbook and illustrate how to adapt the lesson so that it incorporates the idea of "soft CLIL", where the aim is not on specialized subject learning, but on language learning with a substantial focus on meaning and skill development.
The seminar will be highly interactive, as the lecturer will use a task-based approach. The seminar will also be highly practical, while relating the teaching approach to relevant SLA theories and research findings.