Saturday, November 24, 2012

Embracing the Challenges of Upheaval in Japanese Higher Education Today


激変する日本の高等教育 : 難局を乗り越えるための7つの改革事案Embracing the Challenges of Upheaval in Japanese Higher Education Today

    • David L. BROOKS
    • 北里大学一般教育部College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University
      Click the Japanese title above to open the CiNii Link for the full text of the article, or use of the  links below. 

収録刊行物

北里大学一般教育紀要   [巻号一覧]
北里大学一般教育紀要 17, 23-53, 2012-03-31  [この号の目次]
北里大学

Keywords:  

Thursday, August 23, 2012

EuroCALL 2012, Aug 22-25, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Cover It Live:

COVER IT LIVE: Real-time Live Broadcast of EUROCALL 2012 Conference events

Join in above (see CiL Entry Post on this page).
 Try adding your comments or send me a request to be a live contributor.

Prezi for New Music Technologies: Platforms for language growth through content

Dynamic Prezi presentation used in educational showcase session, Wed. August 22, 2012 at EuroCALL 2012 Conference, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, August 22-25.






New music technologies: platforms for language growth through content

EuroCALL 2012 Conference, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, August 22-25, 2012

I presented an educational showcase session on Wed, August 22 at 17:00pm in A-2 Room 139. 

My educational showcase focused on integrating content-based language tasks, learning strategies, and intercultural competence outcomes through the unique qualities of music as foreign language learning content. Novice or experienced teachers can breathe new life into language and literature courses, or create new content-based classes by capitalizing on the power of music for self-expression and exploring deeper intercultural values. Various apps for the Apple iPad and iPhone  will be demonstrated. 

Full Handout for this presentation can be viewed here: Google Document
Presented at EuroCALL 2012, August 22, 17:00pm at Campus Pedagogen of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden by David L. Brooks, Kitasato University

----------------- Summary ----------


Music is a form of universal expression and communication that offers an emotionally satisfying, intellectually stimulating, and culturally uplifting vehicle for leaning language. Music is individual and global, while ranging from seriously philosophical to outrageously fun. No doubt, it is an important part of the lives of foreign language students. Yet, those who take a foreign language at university, especially a required course, may be disappointed to find the same tired approach to language teaching that has exhausted them with myriads of grammar rules and vocabulary words to memorize, and with content divorced from their own daily realities. However, when the essential elements of that foreign culture: the way people think, what they do, what they eat, and what they listen to – their music – are made available to the learners as objects to explore, they can become enthusiastic about learning the language through live, physical interaction with the other culture. 


The advent of content-based language units and courses into foreign language curricula is a welcomed development. Music is a special form of human communication that has now become even more ubiquitous, a more accessible form of self-expression and social identity, and a more interactive mode of intercultural communication, thanks to innovations in technology. As a content area for learning a foreign language, music is an art form, a personal avocation, and a common cultural element. It affords teachers the opportunity for interdisciplinary thematic approaches that are historical, anthropological, literary in viewpoint that apply the principles of musicology and musicianship to the language learning experience, while also being intrinsically motivating.
The myriad of forms of musical expression open up possibilities for exploration of music's interrelationship to language with its traditions of narrative, poetic, and theatrical genres, and for delving into a deeper examination of intercultural values. It is not necessary to be a musician or music teacher to take advantage of music's attraction and its power to elicit emotional and intellectual engagement. The emergence of new mobile communication devices and interactive media technologies has expanded the classroom’s boundaries beyond the walls of the school building, permeating into students' lives well beyond the classroom, where music occupies a large space. 
  This educational showcase highlights some of the musical applications and devices that run them for adding music-related content and instructional activities to the FL classroom. Actual instructional uses for these mobile ICT devices such as the iPod, iPad, and iPhone, and music apps  will be introduced and guidelines for what to consider in making program decisions for adopting such technology will be given. Features of a classroom environment that supports language growth, creative self-expression, and increased intercultural competence are special considerations. In addition, provisions for successful integration of music content and skills into the language curriculum development will be addressed. Those with a strong interest in music or wanting experience in the use of these forms of mobile technology for language teaching are invited to attend this educational showcase presentation. 


Friday, May 25, 2012

Handout for Language Experience in World Music: Spain TESOL, March 9-11, 2012

Language Experience in World Music: Word Document (Google Docs)

  The above link opens the handout give out for  Exploring Intercultural Competence through Language Experience in World Music, my presentation given at the Spain-TESOL 35th Annual Convention held Universidad de Deusto, Bibao, Spain on March 9-11, 2012.

Abstract:
This workshop will focus on integrating content-based language tasks, learning strategies,
and intercultural competence outcomes by highlighting the unique qualities of music and
ethnomusicology as EFL course content. Novice or experienced teachers can breathe new life into
language and literature courses, or create new content-based classes by capitalizing on the power of music for self-expression and exploring deeper intercultural values.

Note: The file was originally created in Pages (on a Mac) so the conversion to Word did not work completely well (parts for the formatting were rearranged and even destroyed).


Spain TESOL 2012, Bilbao March 9-11: Exploring Intercultural Competence through Language Experience in World Music

TESOL-SPAIN 35th Annual Convention 

 Universidad de Deusto, BILBAO, Spain

 Plurilingualism: Promoting Co-operation between Communities and Nations

 Friday, March 9th – Sunday, March 11th, 2012 

 

 Abstract of Presentation by David L. Brooks:


 This workshop will focus on integrating content-based language tasks, learning strategies, and intercultural competence outcomes by highlighting the unique qualities of music and ethnomusicology as EFL course content. Novice or experienced teachers can breathe new life into language and literature courses, or create new content-based classes by capitalizing on the power of music for self-expression and exploring deeper intercultural values.


 Day: Sat, March 10, 2012 Time: 10:45-11:45 Room: 004 Uni


Detailed summary:
 Exploring Intercultural Competence through Language Experience in World Music Music is a form of universal communication that offers an emotionally satisfying, intellectually stimulating, and culturally uplifting vehicle for leaning language. Music is personal and global, while ranging from seriously philosophical to outrageously fun. As a content area, it affords an interdisciplinary opportunity for thematic approaches that are historical, anthropological, literary in viewpoint, or which apply the principles of musicology and musicianship to the language learning experience. The myriad of forms of musical expression open up possibilities for exploration of music's interrelationship with its traditions of narrative, poetic, and theatrical genres and for delving into deeper examination of intercultural values. This workshop will describe how a content-based language course in music offers teachers the integrated learning of three essential elements for developing their students' English language skills: 1) strategy-based instruction for skill development, 2) holistic content mastery of an interdisciplinary area, and 3) the enjoyment of learning to communicate through self-expression and a variety of learning styles. Although mainly practical in aim, the session will explain the process of integration of content, learning strategies, and developing intercultural competence with instructional tasks, while highlighting the unique features of music and ethnomusicology as content. Addressing instruction that supports language growth, and creative self-expression is a special consideration. A major focus is on ascertaining the factors conducive to developing intercultural competence via music-related content through the use of computer tools, and computer mediated communication technology, as well as the voice, body and instruments. 4) Activities that involve creating possible course syllabi and sample lesson plans will be conducted. 5) Resources for planning and carrying out a content-based courses in music will be explored. Finally, this workshop will benefit any teacher, whether novice or experienced, in applying content-focused, task-based instruction more successfully, particularly those who have a strong interest in music of various genres.