May JALT Event in Fukuoka
-	TITLE	2 Presentations: Grammar Games A Philosophy of EFL for Children and the Role of Games
-	SPEAKER	Aleda Krause
	DATE	Sunday, May 30, 1999
	TIME	2:00 to 5:00
	PLACE	Aso Foreign Language Travel College Hakataekiminami 2-12-24 (10 minutes from Hakata Station on foot - see the map in English or see the map in Japanese for details)
	FEE	Free for JALT members. 1000 yen for non-JALT members.
	INFO	Kevin O'Leary, phone: 0942-32-0101, 0942-22-2221 (fax), oleary@oleary.net

The first workshop will introduce games that have been adapted to the language learning situation. To get the most out of a teacher's precious preparation time, ways to adapt a given game or set of materials to different ages and levels of students will be discussed. In the second workshop, participants will examine and evaluate various statements of teaching philosophies, with the goal of discovering and articulating their own personal philosophies. Participants will then experience, and evaluate, a wide selection of classroom games and activities. Here is an extended desciption for each workshop:

Grammar Games

Learning grammar and vocabulary is work; it doesn't have to be dull. Using games adds a fun challenge that helps to sustain students' interest. Games aren't just for the last five minutes, after finishing the lesson. Games can be the lesson. You can find or invent a game to practice, even teach, almost any structure, function, or grammar point, or to go along with any materials. This presentation will introduce games that have been adapted to the language learning situation, using both homemade materials and purchased materials that lend themselves to active, games-focused learning. Card games, reading games, active games and book games will be demonstrated. To get the most out of a teacher's precious preparation time, ways to adapt a given game or set of materials to different ages and levels of students will be discussed. Finally I will share ideas about introducing and practicing the language of games, and help those not fluent in Japanese know what their learners are saying in the thick of the game!

A Philosophy of EFL for Children and the Role of Games

It is a time of transition for teachers of children. We, who have been accustomed to private classes and classes in special schools, will soon be challenged by English offered to all children in public elementary schools all over Japan. Indeed, countries like Thailand and Korea are already doing just that. Will we be able to teach these children successfully? In order to be successful, the teacher of children needs to develop a philosophy of teaching. Teachers manuals and SLA articles urge us to use approaches labeled holistic, interactive, communicative, functional, context-based, structural, topic-centered, questioning and that ubiquitous eclectic. How can a teacher form his or her own philosophy in the face of all this advice? And how can this philosophy help him or her plan her lessons and program? In this workshop, participants will examine and evaluate various statements of teaching philosophies, with the goal of discovering and articulating their own personal philosophies. We will then experience , and evaluate, a wide selection of classroom games and activities, and try to determine which are of most value to us, given our own philosophies. Participants should leave the workshop with ideas of not only what to do in class, but why they are doing it.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Aleda Krause is the Coordinator of JALT's Teaching Children SIG and co-author of the SuperKids and forthcoming SuperTots series. She has been teaching children and adults of all ages in Japan for more than 20 years and believes all education should be fun.