tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72205000795702996302024-02-21T02:50:43.820+09:00JASAL Discussion CommunityLet's talk about the issues we face! All members are welcome to initiate a discussion!Hisakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05876439080589267112noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-64560657455423561452011-10-31T07:39:00.001+09:002011-10-31T07:39:37.516+09:00Advising2011 conference at KUIS - announcements<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style>If you are planning to attend the upcoming conference at Kanda University of International Studies “Advising for Language Learner Autonomy”, here are a few announcements to help with your planning. Please check the website for information on presentations, accommodation and transportation. <a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html</a> you can also follow us on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/advising2011">http://twitter.com/#!/advising2011</a><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Changes</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, Dr. Marina Mozzon-McPherson has had to cancel her visit due to illness and she sends her apologies. Please be assured that we still have a full and interesting programme of events. We have over 40 presentations from colleagues based in 11 different countries and delegates from all over the world will be present. Talks by invited speakers Lucy Cooker and Christopher Candlin will go ahead as scheduled.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Registration</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you have not yet registered, or you have registered, but not yet paid, you can pay in cash in Japanese yen on the day. The approximate rates converted to yen from UK pounds are 6000 yen (members – please bring your membership card) 6700 yen (non-members).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Presentations and schedule</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All of the abstracts are available for you to browse on the website <a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html</a> You will notice that there is a comment box beneath each abstract and we encourage you to post questions and comments to the presenters.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Registration opens at 9.30 and the opening plenary will begin at 10.30. Refreshments will be available between 9.30 and 10.30 and we encourage you to come early and take the chance to meet people and have a look at the Multilingual Communication Center (“The MULC”) at KUIS where morning refreshments will be served. The full schedule can be found on the website. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Lunch arrangements and drinks reception</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A Japanese o-bento lunch will be provided and registered participants are also invited to attend the drinks reception from 5pm until 6pm. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Self-Access Centre Tours</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Registered delegates can join the tours of two self-access centres on Friday 11<sup>th</sup> November. The morning tour is in central Tokyo at our sister institution Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages. The afternoon tour is at the SALC at Kanda University of International Studies where the conference is being held. More details and a link to the reservation is on the website <a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">IATEFL Learner Autonomy SIG</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is an IATEFL Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group event. For more information about becoming a member of IATEFL or the SIG, please see the website <a href="http://www.iatefl.org/">http://www.iatefl.org/</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We look forward to seeing you at KUIS!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Best wishes,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jo Mynard, convener (on behalf of the organizing committee)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">“Advising for Language Learner Autonomy”</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">November 12<sup>th</sup>, 2011</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Kanda University of International Studies</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Chiba, Japan</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:advising2011@gmail.com">advising2011@gmail.com</a>.</p>Jo Mynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718812768578710633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-84880510539963875162011-06-26T21:27:00.001+09:002011-06-26T21:29:00.807+09:00Final call for papers - Advising conference at KUIS<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Hoefler Text"; panose-1:2 3 6 2 5 5 6 2 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-alt:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.HeaderFooter, li.HeaderFooter, div.HeaderFooter {mso-style-name:"Header & Footer"; mso-style-update:auto; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:1; tab-stops:right 468.0pt; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Hoefler Text"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Hoefler Text"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#141414;} p.Body, li.Body, div.Body {mso-style-name:Body; mso-style-update:auto; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:120%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:1; tab-stops:54.0pt; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Hoefler Text"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Hoefler Text"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:2.0cm 2.0cm 34.05pt 2.0cm; mso-header-margin:35.45pt; mso-footer-margin:42.5pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:2037808698; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:1955217390 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-18.0pt; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0cm;} ul {margin-bottom:0cm;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Dear colleagues,</span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: Helvetica;">This is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">FINAL</b> call for papers for the upcoming advising event at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan. The deadline for proposals has been extended to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">JULY 4th</b>. Please note that presenters may also submit a “virtual presentation” proposal. We would be grateful if you could circulate this call.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Best wishes,</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Jo Mynard<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Convener - on behalf of the organising committee)</span></p> <div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> </div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:24.0pt; font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana">Final call for papers</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma">: </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:24.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana">“Advising for language learner autonomy” event in Japan</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Event: “</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica">Advising for language learner autonomy” conference</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Organiser: </span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica">IATEFL Learner Autonomy SIG<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">When</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"> Saturday November 12th, 2011 (also tours of two self-access centres on 11<sup>th</sup> November)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Where:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"> Kanda University of International Studies, Chiba, Japan</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">More information:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Helvetica"> <a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011.html</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Theme:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> Advising for language learner autonomy </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Sub-themes: </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">1. Training and professional development for learning advisors or peer advisors</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">2. Research and practice in advising</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">3. Peer advising</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">4. Advising tools</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">5. The dialogue and discourse of advising</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">6. Context-related issues in advising</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Speakers:</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Marina Mozzon-McPherson, University of Hull, UK (plenary)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Lucy Cooker, University of Birmingham, UK (opening remarks)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Christopher Candlin, Macquarie University, Australia (closing session)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Types of presentations: </span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Paper presentation: 40 minutes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Workshop: 60 minutes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Poster: 90 minutes</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Virtual presentation (for presenters who cannot attend in person)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:red">(Extended) </span></b><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">deadline for proposals:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> July 4<sup>th</sup>, 2011 <b><span style="color:red"></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Grants: </span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica">Two grants of 40,000 yen from JALT Learner Development SIG. </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://ld-sig.org/community/sigGrants2011.html">http://ld-sig.org/community/sigGrants2011.html</a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">C<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">onference proceedings</span></span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">: Special issue of Studies in Self-Access Learning (<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">SiSAL) Journal</span> <a href="http://sisaljournal.org/">http://sisaljournal.org</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0cm;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">More details:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0cm;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011%20/">http://learnerautonomy.org/advising2011 /</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0cm;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://advising2011.wordpress.com/">http://advising2011.wordpress.com</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0cm;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/advising2011">http://twitter.com/advising2011</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0cm;mso-para-margin-top:.01gd;mso-para-margin-right:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd;mso-para-margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Facebook: </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/4eksucc">http://tinyurl.com/4eksucc</a> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"></span></p> <p class="Body" style="tab-stops:54.0pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 5.0cm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt"><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout;position: absolute;z-index:251657726;margin-left:177px;margin-top:811px;width:202px; height:24px"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" align="left" height="24" valign="top" width="202"><span style="position:absolute;z-index:1"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div style="padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;text-align:left" class="shape"> <p class="HeaderFooter" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>http://kandaeli.com</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:windowtext"></span></p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; line-height:120%;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:windowtext"></span><p></p>Jo Mynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718812768578710633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-10998481558610407722010-11-06T08:47:00.004+09:002010-11-06T08:58:42.621+09:00Report on JASAL ForumHello everyone! I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the JASAL Forum in Nagoya.<br /><br />I was wondering whether anyone would be interested in writing up a report of the event for December 2010 issue of SiSAL Journal (Studies in Self-Access Learning). Please let me know if you are interested. The report should be less than 2000 words and can be about the event in general, or about your presentation. Guidelines can be found here <a href="http://sisaljournal.org/for-authors/submission-guidelines/">http://sisaljournal.org/for-authors/submission-guidelines/</a><br /><br />Last year Diego Navarro and I wrote an article based on themes discussed at the 2009 forum which was published in the conference proceedings (<a href="http://jalt-publications.org/proceedings/2009/contents.php">http://jalt-publications.org/proceedings/2009/contents.php</a>).<br /><br />We also wrote a report for SiSAL Journal (<a href="http://sisaljournal.org/archives/jun10/mynard_navarro/">http://sisaljournal.org/archives/jun10/mynard_navarro/</a>).<br /><br />See you in Nagoya!<br /><br />JoJo Mynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718812768578710633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-44796776578242639922010-02-15T13:42:00.002+09:002010-02-15T13:58:53.658+09:00If I may, I would like to ask the members of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JASAL</span> discussion community for recommendations of good texts related to the topic of learner autonomy. The Pedagogy Department of the university where I teach is beginning to take an interest in the subject and has asked me to supply a list of books. I'm primarily interested in texts of a general nature or ones that relate specifically to the Asian context. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.<br />-Eltonlaclareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10316320618267961420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-84893338170366335252010-01-25T16:45:00.002+09:002010-01-25T18:47:33.230+09:00Adventures in Self-AccessAllow me to make a brief introduction to help contextualize the contents of this post... My name is Elton <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LaClare</span>, and I've been working in the TESL/TEFL field for much of the past ten years - first in Japan and most recently in South Korea. My initial interest in self-access learning/ learner autonomy came about from the simple observation that year upon year the most accomplished of my students shared one thing in common: they'd all been proactive in setting the agenda for their own language development. The priorities they set were sometimes in line with the curriculum and sometimes shaped by their own personal goals and objectives. There was little commonality among the methods they employed to achieve their results. There was - of course - the temptation to attribute their success to my own influence, but the fact remained that in most cases they'd arrived in my classroom already possessing formidable language skills. As a teacher, I saw it as my responsibility to learn more about what it was that separated the high-achievers from the rest. That quest is what eventually led me to self-access learning/ learner autonomy. To summarize, I see learner autonomy as the key factor in the success of the aforementioned students. My view of self-access learning centres is that they represent the most likely means of guiding the wider community of students to similar results.<br /><br />My enthusiasm for learner autonomy eventually led me to attempt to create a very modest self-access learning centre at a girl's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">orphanage</span> where I'd been teaching on a voluntary basis. Resources were scarce (human resources most of all). The idea of a creating a 'drop-in' study <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">environment</span> was born as much of necessity as design. Zoning regulations precluded a separate facility, but the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">orphanage</span> generously agree to shuffle things around to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">accommodate</span> us on-site. An unexpected surge of donations left us with enough money to create a nice learning environment including computer resources. Things seemed to be going well, but sadly our centre foundered for reasons I least expected. Because of their age (most of the girls are elementary and middle school students) we didn't involve them in the planning of the centre in any meaningful way. It was only after we'd failed that I realized the basic principles behind successful development initiatives in the third world apply equally to creating a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">flourishing</span> self-access learning environment. Myself as well the others involved in the project had ignored everything we'd learned during years of social welfare and development experience. We'd imposed our own vision of what the centre should be instead taking into account the needs of the users. This oversight extended all the way from the layout and furnishings to the educational materials and human resources. The experience raised a number of issues that I think would pertain to anyone active in the planning of a self-access learning environment or seeking to increase participation in an existing centre.<br /><br />We are currently gearing up for a second attempt at starting a 'drop-in' centre for the orphan girls. I hope that through this forum I might be able to pick the brains of those with those with similar experiences.laclareehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10316320618267961420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-61367950363533402582009-12-31T08:03:00.003+09:002009-12-31T08:48:31.727+09:00SAC Development Questionnaire<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>2</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:spaceforul/> <w:balancesinglebytedoublebytewidth/> <w:donotleavebackslashalone/> <w:ultrailspace/> <w:donotexpandshiftreturn/> <w:adjustlineheightintable/> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS Mincho"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:Century; panose-1:2 4 6 4 5 5 5 2 3 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS 明朝"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0mm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Century; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} /* Page Definitions */ @page {mso-page-border-surround-header:no; mso-page-border-surround-footer:no;} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:99.25pt 30.0mm 30.0mm 30.0mm; mso-header-margin:42.55pt; mso-footer-margin:49.6pt; mso-paper-source:0; layout-grid:18.0pt;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:標準の表; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0mm 5.4pt 0mm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0mm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US">SAC Development Questionnaire <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">From Renee Sawazaki, Faculty of Contemporary Cultures</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span lang="EN-US">Surugadai</span></st1:placename><span lang="EN-US"> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></span></st1:place></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:sawazaki@surugadai.ac.jp">sawazaki@surugadai.ac.jp</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p>Happy New Year!</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">First of all, I would like to thank all of you who have already contributed so much to my efforts to research SACs and develop one at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Surugadai</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. To summarize, our SAC opened in April 2009 as a ‘work in progress’. As of January 2010, we now have a large stock of learning materials for 7 languages, study groups for 5 languages, modern (and modest) facilities and a growing interest. What we don’t have is dedicated secretarial or educational staff (We’re ‘borrowing’ talent and energy from the very proficient International Exchange Office staff, which I suggested share facilities with the Language Education Center – so far, so good.). Nor do we have much support from the majority of the language teaching faculty, or, oddly enough, the head of the language center (“Although he doesn’t oppose our efforts…”).<span style=""> </span>At the beginning of summer, I managed to create a Working Group which is composed of the 5 faculty members who are interested in the SAC. But, with all of us having so little time to dedicate to the SAC, progress is slow, but steady. And, we will hopefully have a formal committee from next April.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One colleague, Prof. Yayoi Tanaka and I, are currently working on applying for a Gendai GP grant which would help deter the cost of hiring dedicated staff. In the event that we do not get it, we have to continue our appeal to our university for funding. We also plan to co-author a paper for Surugadai’s journal in Japanese to help educate our faculty on the benefits of a SAC and what is necessary to run one properly. Many of you have given me the advice that this step is crucial. Unfortunately, all of my appeals thus far have been in English. No faculty member up till now would help with the translation. In the paper, I will summarize information I gathered from my visits to Kanda Gaidai and Gaigo Gakuin, <st1:placename st="on">Soka</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Univ.</st1:placetype>, and <st1:placename st="on">Tsuda</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Juku</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype>, as well as a presentation I attended on <st1:placename st="on">Bunkyo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Univ.</st1:placetype>’s <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Language</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Garden</st1:placetype></st1:place>. In addition, I would like to include responses to the following questionnaire. If you could kindly respond to any of the questions you can by <b style="">January 10</b> (If you plan to respond, but need more time, just let me know), we would greatly appreciate it. We will be happy to share the bilingual version with you when it is finished. I’m rather busy getting myself and family prepared to leave for the US in March for a one-year sabbatical, so I do not have much time to spend on it, but want to at least get something done so that the efforts for our SAC do not stagnate in my absence.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";" lang="EN-US">Thank you in advance for your cooperation!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q1: Please describe your SAC (The name, when and how it was founded, what kind of facilities, materials, services, programs, staffing, etc.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q2: What were the challenges faced in creating your SAC? How were they overcome?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span><i style="">In addition, please address any of the following challenges:</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span lang="EN-US"><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span>Q2.1 Creating understanding within the administration.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span>Q2.2 </span><span lang="EN-US">Creating understanding amongst faculty and receiving help</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Q2.3 Language barriers (if non-Japanese were/are involved in the process and are not capable of reading and writing in Japanese)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Q2.4 Getting funding (from university, grants, other)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Q2.5 Getting staff and help (secretarial, educational, committee, volunteers, etc.)<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q3: What are your SACs greatest strengths? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q4: What are your SACs greatest weaknesses?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q5: What would you like to see done in the future to improve your SAC?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q6: If you were writing a paper for or appeal to your institution with the aim of creating understanding for SACs and receiving support, what information, resources, etc. would you definitely include?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Q7: Are you able to follow up this questionnaire with a phone interview? If so, please let me know your preferred method of contact, and possible dates and times.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Thank you and cheers to the implementation and improvement of SACs!!</span><br /></span></p> Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200435977117822274noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-44089748146196424932009-11-26T01:20:00.003+09:002009-11-26T01:26:32.463+09:00The Validation of Self-Access CentresHi everyone<div><br /></div><div>David Gardner, from the University of Hong Kong and of 'Establishing Self-Access' fame, has set up a discussion forum to encourage contributions to a project he is involved in regarding the validation of self-access centres. Below I'm pasting a message (in blue font) that David has sent out on various email discussion lists related to autonomy - apologies if anyone has received this through these means already. Why not take a minute to check out his forum, and even register and contribute your comments? I think this is a very exciting project that could result in a worthwhile system for all of us.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">This is to let you know about a new forum that has been established as part of a project looking at the </span><span class="il" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(187, 218, 253); background-position: initial initial; "></span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">validation o</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">f self-access/independent learning centres. The purpose of the forum is to initiate a participatory approach to defining a set of standards and an evaluative system that is meaningful to all. Please take this opportunity to participate in the development of a system for validating SACs by joining us at:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://cad.cele.unam.mx/sac/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">http://cad.cele.unam.mx/sac/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">For a slightly more detailed explanation of the background and goals to this project see below.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Looking forward to discussing with you online.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">David Gardner (HKU) and Marina Chavez (UNAM)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Some More Background</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">In our paper at the ILAC conference in Hong Kong (June 2009) we discussed the benefits of a system for t</span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">he validation of s</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">elf-access centres. We proposed a system which evaluates self-access centres with reference to their own goals and contexts but also with reference to an agreed set of standards. Ultimately, the system could become the basis for a process of certification. We suggested such a system would be of benefit to self-access practitioners for purposes of self-development and to provide evidence of performance to host institutions and funding bodies.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">In our paper we suggested that the only viable way forward is to develop a set of standards which define aspects of an effective SAC through a global participatory process. The goal of this process is to develop a system which is meaningful for all participants.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">We have now established a discussion forum to start the participatory process. We envisage this forum will serve as a place for discussing ideas and also as a place to participate in formulating the standards that we hope will eventually emerge from the process.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">At the moment the forum is very young so we need your participation to make it work. If you are interested in developing a system for validating self-access centres please sign up to the forum at:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://cad.cele.unam.mx/sac/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">http://cad.cele.unam.mx/sac/</span></a></span></p><div class="im" style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80); "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"> </span></span></p></div></span></div>Lucy Cookerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06578216056223942428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-88489506564526462862008-05-07T18:13:00.000+09:002008-05-07T18:14:03.831+09:00Setting up a SALC at Surugadai University<p class="MsoNormal">Title: Setting up a SALC at Surugadai University</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hello everyone,<br /><br />My name's Renee and I work at Surugadai University in Hanno, Saitama. We will be setting up a language center to open in April 2009 and I am in charge of creating a layout plan and proposal for materials. I would like to ask for your advice and support as I enter this challenging path.<br /><br />First of all, I'm the only language teaching specialist at Surugadai and I just succeeded in convincing the administrators to invest in a SALC in addition to restructuring the foreign language program at an administration level (that is what they envision when they say 'Language Center'!) And, I am working on getting the support of colleagues who teach foreign languages. So far, so good.<br /><br />I received permission to visit other SALCs in the area and am setting up appointments at Soka University, Kanda University of International Studies and Tsuda College. I would like to go to Akita and Kansai, but that’s not possible. I would like to conduct the visits in May and have a proposal ready by the beginning of June. Tight time line!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The main areas I need to research now are:</p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">What kind of layout is conducive to high usage? </li><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="a"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Group space vs. individual and pair/small group booths</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Student, staff and language teacher usage space</li></ol></ol> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="2" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">What kind of materials are desirable?</li><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="a"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Balance of high tech and paper-based?</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Student and teacher resources</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Specific ‘must’ items (Thanks, Lucy, for the software advice!)</li></ol></ol> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="3" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">What kind of support to offer students, staff and faculty members?</li></ol> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="4" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">What are important questions to ask / things to look for when I visit other centers?</li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve enjoyed reading contributions that you have placed on the web regarding your centers, papers, etc. I would really appreciate any detailed advice you could give.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I look forward to exchanging ideas and keeping you posted on the progress here at Surugadai. I hope to be able to one day to have a good model and help others to create similar ones.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yours,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Renee Sawazaki</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Language Center planning committee member</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Surugadai University</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200435977117822274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-63424735372058791982008-04-22T20:52:00.003+09:002008-04-22T21:11:19.533+09:00In our time: what is a good self-access facility?Hi everyone<br /><br />In the UK, the University of Nottingham's Centre for English Language Teaching is setting up a new self-access centre, and I know that a team headed by Caleb Foale from Kanda University of International Studies is currently setting up a new SALC too, at Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University, and that Garold has a new ILC up at Akita International University. This has made me think: what, these days, makes a good self-access facility? For example, is it having good levels of staffing (both advisors and administrators) in the centre? A good range of materials? A technology-rich environment? Authentic, interactivity-rich materials? A friendly ambience?<br /><br />Do you think, in light of the previous entry about Clarity's newsletter and the slow death of self-access, that there are any traditional facets of self-access facilities which are no longer relevant to language learners?<br /><br />LucyLucy Cookerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06578216056223942428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-48812063783629502692008-03-06T20:11:00.002+09:002008-03-06T20:23:49.215+09:00Clarity Newsletter - are self-access centres really dying a slow death?Hi everyone!<br /><br />It's really great to see that we have some new people joining this discussion, and although it's currently vacation time for a lot of you, I thought it was time to get a bit controversial!<br /><br />If you click on this <a href="http://www.clarity.com.hk/loudandclear/Loud&Clear_24.htm">link </a>you can download the latest newsletter from "Clarity". Clarity is a Hong Kong based software designer and provider which produces some great language learning software for use in self-access centres. If you don't already have their software in your centres, then you might want to take a look at their <a href="http://www.clarity.com.hk/">main website</a>. <br /><br />In this month's newsletter, there is an article called "The slow death of the self access centre?" Two people are giving their views on whether or not self-access centres are becoming defunct. The argument centres around two points: technological advances which allow learners to access both authentic and learner-specific materials in their own homes, and the importance of the learning advisor/educator in self-access centres. <br /><br />What do you think about this? Is there still a place for providing resources (including human ones) in a dedicated physical space, or should we be letting our centres die?<br /><br />Looking forward to your comments!<br /><br />LucyLucy Cookerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06578216056223942428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7220500079570299630.post-71227429612668051652007-11-29T14:14:00.000+09:002007-11-29T14:35:31.368+09:00IntroductionHello! My name is Hisako and I work at the Self-Access Learning Center (SALC) at Kanda University of International Studies. I heard that members would like to have a space where we can talk about issues that we face in building / managing / improving self-access centers and in promoting learner autonomy in our institutions. Of course, it would be great if we can talk face-to-face, but that is not possible, so this blog can be a place where we can keep in touch. So please respond to the posts or if you have some questions or discussions you would like to throw to the JASAL community that would help everyone. There are no silly questions!<br /><br />I hope we can all introduce ourselves so that we can all become the resource for others.<br /><br />So let me introduce myself. This is my third year working as a Learning Advisor. I work with 7 other Learning Advisors. Although our SALC is large in scale, there are many issues that we face. For example, lots of students are using the SALC, but freshmen and sophomore students are the main users. Of course there are junior and senior students who have been using the SALC since they arrived here, but there are also students in their senior year who hesitate to come to SALC because they don't know how to use the SALC and they are too embarassed to ask (I hear that they feel guilty asking!). So we are thinking of ways to make the facilities in the SALC more accessible by providing workshops focused on say, "How to use the Speaking Booth to improve your pronunciation" etc.<br /><br />I am looking forward to exchanging ideas and hearing from you all about where you work, what your endeavors are and what issues you face.Hisakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05876439080589267112noreply@blogger.com9