May 20-23, 2016 at Meio University (Okinawa)
MW-SIG sponsored presentation: Text and Context: Innovating the Coursebook - Marcos Benevides
Language learning courses have long been organized according to a grammar syllabus; that is, to a series of language forms meant to be taught sequentially from a text, often regardless of learners' specific contexts. Authentic meaning-making and the presentation of interesting content is of secondary importance, shoehorned in simply to illustrate a grammar point. Yet, despite the occasional flare-up of anti-textbook indignation, teachers overwhelmingly do choose traditional texts, and publishing companies are only too happy to oblige. Is there a way to escape the grammar syllabus textbook? Or is language teaching doomed to always be trapped between text and context?
In addition to Marcos’ talk, several of our members also gave presentations. Here are their abstracts:
Ever Thought of Writing a Textbook? - Simon Capper
Ever thought of transforming those great ideas into materials that others can benefit from? This presentation follows the journey of an author/co-author of more than a dozen commercially published textbooks. The talk covers 10 stages of the book-birthing process, from conception to delivery, with suggestions, guidelines and warnings to help less experienced writers enhance their chances of success. These stages include: getting your foot in the door; finding your ‘gap’; establishing your principles; designing a scope and sequence; understanding your market; the best ways to fail; ensuring quality; the final push, and post-publication.
Enhancing Teacher-Created Language Learning Materials with Images - Cameron Romney
In this presentation, the presenter will offer suggestions and advice for adding images and other visual media to teacher-made language learning materials. He will begin by discussing the benefits for using visual media, the three main ways that images are used in language learning materials: instructive, supportive and decorative. Next, issues related to copyright, fair use, creative commons and suggestions for finding images on the Internet will be discussed. Finally, the presenter will showcase some examples of teacher-created language learning materials enhanced with images.
Designing Materials That Work - Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto
I've spent much of the past 25 years rewriting the same books. While I'm no expert on the subject of creating materials, I have learned a few things that I think make a difference in whether or not materials are successful. Whether you're evaluating or creating materials for your own learners, or working on the next big course book bestseller, I believe these guidelines can make a difference for you, too.
