The Latest News in ELT

October 2005

The End of the Hunt
If you haven't already entered our Amazing English Hunt, today is your last chance! So if you know of any wonderful, weird or just plain bizarre uses of English here in Japan, please let us know and you could be in with a chance to win some of our ¥100,000 worth of prizes.
Amazing English Hunt
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Tokyo ELT Expo/TEL
Hundreds of English teachers made their way to Sunshine City in Ikebukuro over the weekend for the city's major ELT event of the year. The Tokyo stop of the ELT Expo caravan teamed up again with the annual Tokyo English Language Book Fair. There were dozens of presentations on a variety of topics such as bilingualism, phonics, and teaching learners of all ages. All the major ELT publishers, a few minor ones, and some new faces were there, and some even got into the Halloween spirit a day early! The two intrepid "spuds" in the photo are staff from Oxford University Press, dressed up to promote their popular Potato Pals series. Author Patrick Jackson gave one of the 30 presentations on Sunday. There are still four more Expos to go, in Hokkaido (Nov. 6), Kansai (Nov. 13), Chubu (Nov. 20) and Chugoku (Dec. 4). See the ETJ website for more details.
ETJ ELT Expos
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Making English Work
Usually, time spent studying abroad is thought to bring out the real English language learning potential of Japanese who have studied fruitlessly at home for several years. But Chikako Kawaguchi believes that her secondary school years were the most productive in making her a confident English speaker. In the latest Making English Work column in Friday's Daily Yomiuri, the executive secretary at the Japan office of a US manufacturer says it was rote memorization of her textbooks that helped her develop her ability. And a hefty grammar book she used in her first year of high school provided much of her motivation to study. She is now secretary to an Irish president at her company and uses English on a daily basis. Following university in Japan, she studied music in the US for five years and hopes to be able to teach piano through English in the future.
When hard work at high school pays off
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Welcome to the "Next Generation!"
ELT materials distributor, Independent Publishers International (IPI), recently announced the arrival of the definitive preparation course for the new TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test). Scheduled to begin in Japan in mid-2006, the new TOEFL assesses all four language skills - reading, listening, writing and speaking. "Delta's Key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test: Advanced Skill Practice" includes 36 units and unit quizzes with explanations, practice exercises and extension tasks for the four skills, as well as four full-length practice tests. Over 1,200 questions similar in form and content to those on the real test are included. Audio CDs containing over nine hours of recordings are available separately. The new iBT course can be ordered now from book suppliers around the country. For more information, contact IPI at 03-5825-3490 or contact@indepub.com.
Independent Publishers International website
Discuss this on our message board (October 28, 2005 )

Eikaiwa for Traveling Seniors
Older Japanese who want to polish up their English communication skills before traveling abroad have a new tool. This week, Nihon Unisys Solutions announced the release of their speech recognition program for language learners. "Senior no Ryokou Eikaiwa" (Travel English for Seniors) is the latest in a series of materials based around IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition software and gives users feedback to help them check their own pronunciation. Features include changing the speed with which native speakers speak and can keeping a visual record of their progress. The CD-ROM (Windows XP only) comes complete with a textbook and headset and retails for ¥26,400. The company hopes to sell 30,000 copies in the next year.
Nihon Unisys Solutions website (Japanese)
Discuss this on our message board (October 27, 2005 )

The English Sandwich Problem
Mike Guest has a problem with what he calls the "English Sandwich." In his latest Indirectly Speaking column in the Daily Yomiuri, Guest looks at the problem that his students have with interactional language, as they tend to "sandwich" their speeches and presentations with a Japanese opening and closing and are often met with reactions from classmates that are also in Japanese. He blames the English teaching system that places almost exclusive "emphasis upon transactional language," that is, the basic information one is trying to convey. He adds that, while textbooks have evolved to include more actual spoken language based on corpus research, teachers are often loath to use such material "in favor of the more quantifiable transactional content even though interactional language is precisely that which separates mere sentences from actual discourse."
The problem of the talking sandwich (link will expire)
Discuss this on our message board (October 24, 2005 )

Hotels Taking Guests at Face Value
Debito Arudo (aka David Aldwinckle) wrote in his latest column in the Japan Times of an unexpected encounter while attending the recent JALT National Conference. Held in Shizuoka, the event drew over 1,600 English teachers from across the country, many of whom stayed at hotels in and around the city. The article deals with the fact that hotels required all foreign guests to produce their passport. Not an unusual requirement at first glance, except that it was being applied to all non-Japanese, regardless of whether they were tourists or long-term residents. In Arudo's case, he is actually a naturalized Japanese citizen, with a Japanese passport and yet was pressed to actually produce it. He refused and pointed out that the hotel was not acting exactly in line with the policy as it had been laid out for them. But laid out by whom? He looked further into the matter and eventually the buck stopped with the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. They claimed that they had issued corrections to their misleading directives previously issued to hotels, but the fact is that hotel managers are playing it safe and hoping they can get away with a "shikata ga nai" (it can't be helped).
Ministry missive wrecks reception
Discuss this on our message board (October 22, 2005 )

Get Yer Podcasts Here!
Electronics make Sun Corporation (Sun Denshi) this week announced a new podcasting website and two updated devices with which to make the most of it. The two firmware products - the "BiBio JukeBox" network music HDD recorder and the "BiBio wGate" network music player - were announced together with the launch of the new site, "Syndy," which includes original English language-learning podcasts. The devices are preset to download the latest Syndy podcasts, but can also be set to receive others. Among those currently available, the one for English learners is eChat Vancouver, which looks at the differences in nuance between English and Japanese.
Suntac BiBio website (Japanese)
Discuss this on our message board (October 21, 2005 )

NHK's Mobile Eikaiwa
NTT Learning Systems has teamed up with NHK to launch a new English learning service for mobile phones. "eLesson NHK Shuppan" will feature contents from the NHK TV show "100-go de Staato! Eiakiwa" (100 Words - Beginning English Conversation). It allows users to learn new vocabulary and watch skits from the TV show. There is also an Enjoy New York corner with the latest fashion and music news from the city. Currently available for i-mode users at ¥315 a month, the service will expand to VodafoneLive and EZweb users next month. It is the first time for NHK to make it educational contents available to all three companies. NTT Learning Systems aims to have 20,000 users within a year. Mobile access only at http://elesson.lab.nttls.co.jp/.
Discuss this on our message board (October 20, 2005 )

Eikaiwa Podcasting
Publisher ALC has launched a new website for English language learners based around podcasting. The booming technology, similar to radio on demand, allows users to download sound files to their iPod (hence the name) or other MP3 players. Several companies have started to take advantage of the technology in the English language learning business, but ALC are likely to be one of the biggest. The new site, SPACE ALC Podcasting Station, was launched Monday. It features a directory of podcasts, English conversation programs, a Hearing Marathon that features native speakers talking about a variety of topics, TOEIC practice, and an advice column by author Ishihara Mayumi.
SPACE ALC Podcasting Station
Discuss this on our message board (October 19, 2005 )

University Dropout Rates Increasing
The asahi.com website carried an article yesterday on measures being taken to reduce the growing number of students who drop out of university. The latest figures show the number at private universities to be around 3.3%, while at national universities it is 1.6%. The numbers are low by the standards of western countries, but universities here are taking measures to keep them from climbing.
Article in Japanese
Discuss this on our message board (October 18, 2005 )

English Teachers Arrested in Korea
As many as 150 English language teachers from Canada have been arrested in the last couple of weeks in South Korea following a crackdown by immigration officials, according to the Guardian's TEFL news section. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Department is reported as saying that raids on schools led to 50 teachers being investigated, detained or deported on suspicion of working illegally or having fraudulent qualifications, though there are claims that the number is closer to 150. The crackdown comes several months after a high profile case in which two Canadian teachers, one of whom was found to be working illegally, were detained and deported following an alleged assault at a Seoul bar. A growing sense of public resentment towards foreign teachers has contributed to the decline in their numbers. There are estimated to be only about 7,800 teachers working legally, while the number working with fake degrees is thought to be around 20,000.
Teachers Arrested in South Korea
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Drop Seen in University Applications
The number of applicants for the national university entrance exams is down slightly from last year. The deadline for applications was last Friday, by which time a total of 533,102 had been received, just under 10,000 less than last year. Of the total, about 80% are current high school students. The entrance exams will be held in January.
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Students Anxious About Listening Test
With just three months to go before the first English listening test in the national university entrance exam, there is growing nervousness about the test. Students will receive an IC player that allows them just one chance at listening, as there is no "rewind" function. And with listening widely considered a weak area for Japanese students and accounting for 50 out of a total of 250 points in the English test, many students are increasingly worried about succumbing to pressure on the day. Prep schools are running classes that simulate the test experience, allowing students the choice of using a speaker system or using devices identical to the actual IC players (for an additional rental fee). Some schools are even selling devices to students at ¥3,000-4,000 apiece.

On test day at centers across the country, students will receive the device, switch it on, do a quick test of the device itself and adjust the volume control to their desired level before waiting to be told to press "play." Following testing last year, precautionary measures have been taken with the new devices: they will not operate unless the above button sequence is carried out; the play button must be pressed continuously for more than a second in order to operate; the power cannot be switched off once the device has started playing; they have been checked to make sure they can withstand being dropped from the height of a desk. (October 14, 2005 )

JALT Attendance Down From 2004
The final figures have yet to be tallied, but the initial count for the number of people who attended last weekend's JALT National Conference is 1,630. The number is a drop from the 1,900 teachers who attended the conference in Nara last year, but is comparable to the numbers seen in 2002-03, which were also held at Granship in Shizuoka. One would assume that the location, convenient for both Kanto and Kansai residents, would draw more attendees. But perhaps the novelty of a new venue, such as Nara, or the relative scarcity of such big events in outlying areas attracts more teachers. Just under two thousand teachers made their way to Kitakyushu for the 2001 conference, so it will be interesting to see how popular the event is when it returns there next autumn.
Discuss this on our message board (October 13, 2005 )

ELT News Think Tank Live 2005
Thanks to everyone who helped to make the ELT News Think Tank Live 2005 event a success at the recent JALT National Conference. With a lot of other presentations going on at the same time, we didn't manage to fill the Chu Hall, but the relaxed event was a good chance to hear some wonderful stories from our distinguished panel of Jennifer Bassett, Curtis Kelly, David Nunan, Chuck sandy and Kumiko Torikai. Moderated by eigoTown.com president Russell Willis, the panelists each shared a teaching-related story, some humorous, others thought-provoking, and all fascinating. You can read a pre-conference article on the event in this month's online Think Tank, and we hope to bring you the stories in full later this month.
Think Tank Live 2005 - Preview
Discuss this on our message board (October 12, 2005 )

G'day! English OK!
This morning's "Tokudane" wide show on Fuji TV included a feature on businesses formed by foreigners in Japan. Among them was the start-up company English OK! Based in the Suginami Ward area of Tokyo, the company sends English teachers out to businesses in the metropolitan area who want to train their staff to deal with English-speaking customers. The businesses vary from hotels and restaurants to hair salons. Once the staff have completed their course of study, they receive an "English OK!" sticker to place in their window. This enables non-Japanese to easily identify places where they can avoid the Japanese language barrier. English OK! also provides an online searchable database of businesses where customers can get by with just English.

Another of the companies is based in the Hokkaido resort town of Niseko. Several Australian entrepreneurs have established businesses in the small town, which is now a second home for a growing number of Australian tourists. And with the influx of foreign visitors comes an increasing demand for English conversation teaching. With excellent skiing in winter, unspoiled nature in summer, recently opened direct flights and no time difference, Hokkaido is ideal for those Down Under looking for a holiday destination up north.
English OK! website
Niseko Connection website
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Practice Makes Perfect
Last week, a group of young Kyoto students practiced their English on their high school "sempai" before they head out to tackle foreign tourists later this month. The exercise was preparation for an "English Adventure" class for 5th and 6th-graders at an elementary school in the town of Kumiyama, who will spend a day visiting famous Kyoto tourist spots such as Kinkakuji and Arashiyama and interact with foreign tourists. Under the guidance of AET John Carroll, they practised role playing with students studying international relations at a local high school. They practised questions like "Where are you from?" and "When did you come to Japan?"
Article in Japanese
Discuss this on our message board (October 11, 2005 )

Mothers Want Their Dues
A recent survey found that about a third of Japanese mothers think their children should repay the cost of their education, according to Asahi.com. The survey, carried out by staff at the Institute of Social Studies at Tokyo University, found that 31% of mothers and 17% of fathers felt that their children should repay the cost of putting them through school once they started working. Some 77% of mothers and 63% of fathers felt that the tuition they had paid was wasted if their children didn't apply themselves to their studies. The disparity in the figures and the stricter attitudes of mothers is thought to reflect the fact that they often are responsible for the family finances. While fathers have a greater tendency to see time spent as a student as a valuable experience in itself, mothers are more concerned with that time being put to good use and focusing on securing a good career.
Article in Japanese
Discuss this on our message board (October 07, 2005 )

Asian Students Fretting Over New TOEFL
Revisions to the TOEFL test have got Asian students worried, according to an AP network news story in yesterday's Daily Yomiuri. Test administrators Educational Testing Services (ETS) introduced the "next generation" test in the US on September 24, and have integrated the previously available but little used speaking test, meaning a greater emphasis on communicative skills. In the new speaking section, "students express opinions on familiar topics and discuss academic material they read and hear." Student responses are recorded digitally and downloaded by examiners for grading. In listening, "more emphasis (is placed) on discerning a speaker's purpose or degree of certainty." Test-takers must respond in writing to reading and listening material. Grammar is now "tested throughout instead of in (a) stand-alone section." Many Asian students interviewed at a test preparation course in the US expressed concern that the English language education style most common in their part of the world has not prepared them for a speaking test. As one student put it, "(o)ur speaking is weak, because sometimes it's impolite to speak out, to describe an opinion, or talk to the teacher. When we take a class, we just sit and take notes and memorize."

Last year about 750,000 students worldwide took the old, largely multiple-choice test in either a computer- or a paper-based version, many looking to enter the 5,200 colleges and universities in 90 countries that require TOEFL scores. The new test, called the TOEFL "iBT" (Internet-based test), is administered via the Internet at secure testing centers. The new technology will allow ETS to increase the number of centers from 500 to 3,000 by 2007. The length of the test has been increased from three and a half to four hours. The score system has also been changed: the paer test was scored 310-677, the computer test 0-300. The iBT is scored 0-120. The new test will begin in Japan in May 2006.
Educational Testing Services website
Discuss this on our message board (October 05, 2005 )

The 23rd Scottish Highland Games in Japan
The 23rd Scottish Highland Games in Japan will be held on Sunday October 30th. This annual event was for 22 years held at Ueno University's Soka campus, in Saitama, Japan, but this year for the first time it will be held in Kaihin Makuhari in Chiba, Japan at the Kanda University for International Studies (KUIS) campus.

The Games run from 10:30am to 5pm and provide a unique opportunity for Japanese and foreigners alike to witness traditional Highland events, such as putting the stane and tossing the caber. Visitors will also be treated to Scottish piping and dancing displays and sample a range of Scottish food and drink. A 5-a-side football tournament, games for children and a tug-o-war competition complete what is likely to be, as always, a great day out.

For your students, Shane English School will once again be operating a stall on the day, entertaining children with English games and conducting level checks and conversation practice with adults. Everyone is welcome to come along. To find out more, including how to find the grounds and cost of entry, check out the website.
Japan Highland Games website
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Better Pronunciation Through Technology
Japanese students of English will soon have a new tool for improving their pronunciation. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed computer software that analyzes a speaker's mouth and tongue movements with a high degree of accuracy and can point out specific changes to improve English pronunciation. The independent administrative corporation developed the software through combined research with Prontest, a company based in Tsukuba City, Ibaragi Prefecture that also runs a small chain of Bears English conversation schools.

Current speech recognition technology, in use used in many educational products, is usually limited to giving right/wrong answers and test scores. The software under development will take the educational posibilities offered by this technology to a new level. It has potential applications both at conversation schools, whose teachers may lack the expertise to correct pronunciation, and in elementary and junior high schools that don't have access to native speakers. It is also certain to be used in products for home study, for desktop computers and possibly even English-teaching robots.
AIST press release (Japanese)
Discuss this on our message board (October 04, 2005 )

Top Ten Reasons You Want to Attend JALT2005
The JALT2005 conference is this weekend in Shizuoka, about an hour from Tokyo. ELT News Think Tank columnist Marc Helgesen and vocabulary expert Rob Waring are conference co-chairs. They've sent us their top 10 list of reasons you should attend.

10. This is the biggest English Language Teaching event in Japan, probably the largest in Asia. Of course, just being big doesn’t equal good. But look at the program. This conference IS quality.
9. Over 400 presentations. Someone is talking about issues that concern you. Someone has ideas that will help you. And you probably have ideas that will help them.
8. Networking. With between 1700-2000 teachers in one place, you will find people who can help you with anything: ideas, jobs, class problems, solutions…
Read the full article...
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