■Summary
Description:
This workshop for elementary school teachers aims at improving the teaching methods of English, especially team-teaching with an ALT. Japanese Teachers of English (JTE) from the junior high school conducted the workshop, and the ALT was there to demonstrate team-teaching as well.
Duration |
3 days during the summer holiday (1 session is 2hr.30min.) |
|---|---|
Location |
Meeting room in the town gymnasium |
Target |
Elementary school teachers |
Participants |
19 teachers |
Organiser |
Board of Education |
Budget |
0 yen |
Objectives:
To learn the techniques of effective team-teaching with ALTs. To strive towards the improvement and enrichment of international understanding and English education at elementary schools by trying to improve the ability of the teachers.
■Implementation
Framework :
From 9:00am till 11:30am, two and a half hours.
First the Head of the Board of Education gives an opening speech. This is followed by a lecture about the present situation of elementary school English education given by the Supervisor of Teachers in another town that is knowledgeable about the subject. Afterwards, while the JTE from the junior high school and the ALT demonstrate a team-teaching class, they introduce a teaching plan that can be used for elementary school English, which includes games and songs. The last part of the workshop is a team-teaching lesson done by the teachers themselves as a trial lesson.
Teachers:
In order to have some variety in the teaching content, a different JTE is invited every time.
However, because one of the two ALTs in the town is new, the ALT with the most experience will do all three workshops. Further, the Head of the Board of Education moderates all the workshops.
Distribution of Materials:
The "Teaching Plan for Getting Familiar with English using ALTs" (published by Saitama Prefecture), is distributed to the participants, and reference materials such as the "Practical Handbook for Elementary School English Activities" (published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology) are also provided.
■Preparation
Contents and Curriculum Decision-Making:
The schedule was set by the Board of Education, but the content of the individual lectures was decided by the teachers (junior high school JTEs).
Because there are no classes during the summer break, it was easy to coordinate the schedule for meetings with the ALT.
Recruitment of Participants:
Training guidelines and a request letter for participation are sent out, and the content of the project is explained during a meeting of the school principals. Participants are gathered at the school level and asked for a reply.
Requesting a Teacher for the School Visit:
The teachers are chosen by the Board of Education from the junior high school JTEs and a request letter is sent to the school principal.
Preparation of Materials:
All the materials for the lectures are prepared by the teachers themselves. The Board of Education provides the programme and the materials to be distributed.
■Training Schedule
1st Day:
| 09:00 - 09:20 | Opening Ceremony |
|---|---|
| 09:20 - 10:20 | Lectures and distribution of "Practical Elementary School English" (instructor: Supervisor of Teachers from another town) |
| 10:20 - 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:30 | Practice 1 "English conversations you can use in class" "Activity to become familiar with English using the ALT (1)" (instructors: JTE from Yoshimi JHS and ALT from Yoshimi Town) |
2nd Day:
| 09:00 - 09:10 | Opening Ceremony |
|---|---|
| 09:10 - 09:40 | Practice 2 "Activity to get familiar with English using the ALT (2)" (instructors: JTE from Yoshimi JHS and ALT from Yoshimi Town) |
| 09:40 - 10:30 | Practice 3 "Activity to become familiar with English using the ALT (3)" |
| 10:20 - 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:30 | Practice 4 "Trial lesson 1" |
3rd Day:
| 09:00 - 09:10 | Opening Ceremony |
|---|---|
| 09:10 - 09:30 | Introduction of the new ALT |
| 09:30 - 10:20 | Practice 5 "Activity to become familiar with English using the ALT (4)" (instructors: JTE from Yoshimi JHS and 2 ALTs from Yoshimi Town) |
| 10:20 - 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:20 | Practice 6 "Trial lesson 2" |
| 11:20 - 11:30 | Closing Ceremony |
■Budget
No budget. (Because the lectures are held at the building where the Board of Education is located, there is no usage fee.)
■Submitted by
Yoshimi Town (Saitama Prefecture)
Board of Education
Tel: 0493-54-1511
■Comments/Advice from the Supervisor
It was the first time we tried this project. The ALT and the JTEs from the junior high school were well prepared and it was a useful workshop. The participants were also very motivated to take part in the training and all lectures were very energetic. After the lectures, many participants said that they found it very fun and useful and they expressed the desire to hold it again next year.
■A Word From CLAIR
Among the projects that JETparticipants are involved in and that are aimed at teachers, we received many that focus on elementary school teachers or reflect upon the current trend of elementary school English. Besides these projects, we also received proposals related to group seminars held during summer holidays aimed at junior and senior high school English teachers, and research groups for international understanding education held by teachers.
