Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this ‘linking of literacies’ (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive dispositi...
Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS), founded in 1987, is a private university dedica... more Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS), founded in 1987, is a private university dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in international studies. Faculty initially comprised an English language department with pedagogy focusing predominantly upon grammar translation. However, in order to also promote a communicative approach to Englishlanguage education, the university created the English Language Institute (ELI) external to the faculty in 1989. Since its inception, and to cater for the ongoing expansion of the university, the ELI’s teaching body has grown to its current complement of 60 full-time lecturers from a number of countries around the world. In order to coordinate such a large group of teachers at a time of multi-layered university changes, comprising, among others, both structural and curriculum reform (Kennedy, 1988; Waters, 2009), the ELI has received support from the university to create a new management team comprising the director plus six Principal Lecture...
Feministi odavno osuđuju trivijalizaciju i seksualizaciju žena u britanskim novinama, ali su se v... more Feministi odavno osuđuju trivijalizaciju i seksualizaciju žena u britanskim novinama, ali su se verovatno nedovoljno usredsredili na ono što ponekad deluje kao istinska demonizacija žena visokog profila. Na primer, smrt Ejmi Vajnhaus leta 2011. na prvi pogled ne čini se sasvim nepovezanom sa godinama besomučnog ogovaranja kome je bila izložena, naročito u listu "San". Ovaj članak bavi se uporednim ispitivanjem konstruisanja "druge" Heder Mils, bivše supruge Pola Makartnija, u dva članka, iz "Sana" i iz "Gardijana". Kako bismo sproveli višeslojnu jezičku analizu upotrebićemo niz funkcionalno-gramatičkih sredstava: tranzitivnost, da bismo uporedili uloge dodeljene Milsovoj i Makartniju; nominaciju, da bismo videli kako ih nazivaju; kategorizaciju u vezi sa stereotipima sa kojima ih povezuju; i procenu vrednosti da bismo pokazali da li ih prikazuju pozitivno ili negativno. Rezultati ukazuju na to da postoji veliki disbalans u prikazu pomenutih poznatih ličnosti. Postavlja se pitanje zašto je to tako. Da li je Milsova toliko monstruozna, a Makartni anđeo? Ili se radi o tome da priča o razvodu, u kojoj se junak stavlja naspram zlikovca, pruža savršeno sredstvo za posredno širenje ideologije novina i slanje ranije postojeće poruke. Ključne reči: kritička analiza diskursa, funkcionalna gramatika, jezik i mediji.
The benefits of a standard exercise, whereby students regularly answer the same set of questions ... more The benefits of a standard exercise, whereby students regularly answer the same set of questions by applying them to a variety of different texts, were first explored by Scott, Carioni, Zanatta, Bayer, and Quintanilha (1984). The Foundational Literacies Advanced Stream curriculum design project at a Japanese university has decided to experiment with such an exercise, as it is felt that introducing students to a range of different texts can be a useful method of learner empowerment. Students were given the opportunity to offer feedback on the activity in the form of a survey. Additionally, three students provided further comment in interviews. This paper attempts to justify the inclusion of such an exercise in the curriculum, explain the text choices, evaluate the relative success and usefulness of the experiment by analysing the results of the survey and interviews, and also to advise of any improvements that might need to be made. Utilisation of a standard reading exercise (SRE) has long been advocated, for example by Scott, Carioni, Zanatta, Bayer, & Quintanilha (1984) and more recently Paltridge (2002). Members of a curriculum design committee decided to implement its use in an Advanced Stream course for freshman students at a university near Tokyo, over the academic year 2013-2014. This paper will first explain the academic context for this decision, and then the design process. It will next justify the selection of texts, and finish by analysing both qualitative and quantitative data to consider the effectiveness of the exercise. The paper concludes that the SRE has been largely successful, and with some modifications will continue to be utilised. This paper is of possible interest to anyone involved in the teaching of reading. It contributes to a holistic understanding of the way learners acquire reading skills, in contrast to those understandings framed only by traditional views of literacy competency. Literature Review Background Freshman students in the English department at a Japanese university take four 90-minute weekly communication skills classes, and two lessons of Foundational Literacies (FL). The course integrates reading and writing in a genre-based curriculum, and hopes to empower students by familiarizing them with a range of different text types. As Hyland (2007) wrote, "genre pedagogies" can help enable "learners to participate effectively in the world outside" of the school or institution (p. 148). A similar "genre-based approach" that pays close attention to both " the context of situation and the context of culture" (Chaisiri, 2010, p. 181) has been
The benefits of a standard reading exercise (SRE), in which students regularly answer the same se... more The benefits of a standard reading exercise (SRE), in which students regularly answer the same set of questions by applying them to a variety of different texts, were first explored by Scott et al. (1984). The Foundational Literacies Advanced Stream curriculum design project at Kanda University decided to experiment with such an exercise, as it is felt that introducing students to a range of different texts can be a useful method of learner empowerment. In particular, the second section of the SRE is of interest. This section allows students the freedom to create a 'concept map' that demonstrates their understanding of the organisation of ideas, the author's purpose in writing, and the tone of the text. An example framework is given, but learners have total freedom (e.g. digital or paper-based, use of written language or pictures) to write or draw whatever they wish to demonstrate their understanding of the text. This paper looks at the semiotic work conducted by students in creating these maps in relation to the 'affordances' idea: what does the use of non-linear text afford the student that linear text does not, and vice-versa? The paper hopes to be of benefit to anyone teaching reading classes, particularly those who have an interest in Multiliteracies pedagogy.
Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this ‘linking of literacies’ (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive dispositi...
Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this 'linking of literacies' (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive disposition towards language and discourse that will enable them to actively participate in different cultural contexts.
Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this ‘linking of literacies’ (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive dispositi...
Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS), founded in 1987, is a private university dedica... more Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS), founded in 1987, is a private university dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in international studies. Faculty initially comprised an English language department with pedagogy focusing predominantly upon grammar translation. However, in order to also promote a communicative approach to Englishlanguage education, the university created the English Language Institute (ELI) external to the faculty in 1989. Since its inception, and to cater for the ongoing expansion of the university, the ELI’s teaching body has grown to its current complement of 60 full-time lecturers from a number of countries around the world. In order to coordinate such a large group of teachers at a time of multi-layered university changes, comprising, among others, both structural and curriculum reform (Kennedy, 1988; Waters, 2009), the ELI has received support from the university to create a new management team comprising the director plus six Principal Lecture...
Feministi odavno osuđuju trivijalizaciju i seksualizaciju žena u britanskim novinama, ali su se v... more Feministi odavno osuđuju trivijalizaciju i seksualizaciju žena u britanskim novinama, ali su se verovatno nedovoljno usredsredili na ono što ponekad deluje kao istinska demonizacija žena visokog profila. Na primer, smrt Ejmi Vajnhaus leta 2011. na prvi pogled ne čini se sasvim nepovezanom sa godinama besomučnog ogovaranja kome je bila izložena, naročito u listu "San". Ovaj članak bavi se uporednim ispitivanjem konstruisanja "druge" Heder Mils, bivše supruge Pola Makartnija, u dva članka, iz "Sana" i iz "Gardijana". Kako bismo sproveli višeslojnu jezičku analizu upotrebićemo niz funkcionalno-gramatičkih sredstava: tranzitivnost, da bismo uporedili uloge dodeljene Milsovoj i Makartniju; nominaciju, da bismo videli kako ih nazivaju; kategorizaciju u vezi sa stereotipima sa kojima ih povezuju; i procenu vrednosti da bismo pokazali da li ih prikazuju pozitivno ili negativno. Rezultati ukazuju na to da postoji veliki disbalans u prikazu pomenutih poznatih ličnosti. Postavlja se pitanje zašto je to tako. Da li je Milsova toliko monstruozna, a Makartni anđeo? Ili se radi o tome da priča o razvodu, u kojoj se junak stavlja naspram zlikovca, pruža savršeno sredstvo za posredno širenje ideologije novina i slanje ranije postojeće poruke. Ključne reči: kritička analiza diskursa, funkcionalna gramatika, jezik i mediji.
The benefits of a standard exercise, whereby students regularly answer the same set of questions ... more The benefits of a standard exercise, whereby students regularly answer the same set of questions by applying them to a variety of different texts, were first explored by Scott, Carioni, Zanatta, Bayer, and Quintanilha (1984). The Foundational Literacies Advanced Stream curriculum design project at a Japanese university has decided to experiment with such an exercise, as it is felt that introducing students to a range of different texts can be a useful method of learner empowerment. Students were given the opportunity to offer feedback on the activity in the form of a survey. Additionally, three students provided further comment in interviews. This paper attempts to justify the inclusion of such an exercise in the curriculum, explain the text choices, evaluate the relative success and usefulness of the experiment by analysing the results of the survey and interviews, and also to advise of any improvements that might need to be made. Utilisation of a standard reading exercise (SRE) has long been advocated, for example by Scott, Carioni, Zanatta, Bayer, & Quintanilha (1984) and more recently Paltridge (2002). Members of a curriculum design committee decided to implement its use in an Advanced Stream course for freshman students at a university near Tokyo, over the academic year 2013-2014. This paper will first explain the academic context for this decision, and then the design process. It will next justify the selection of texts, and finish by analysing both qualitative and quantitative data to consider the effectiveness of the exercise. The paper concludes that the SRE has been largely successful, and with some modifications will continue to be utilised. This paper is of possible interest to anyone involved in the teaching of reading. It contributes to a holistic understanding of the way learners acquire reading skills, in contrast to those understandings framed only by traditional views of literacy competency. Literature Review Background Freshman students in the English department at a Japanese university take four 90-minute weekly communication skills classes, and two lessons of Foundational Literacies (FL). The course integrates reading and writing in a genre-based curriculum, and hopes to empower students by familiarizing them with a range of different text types. As Hyland (2007) wrote, "genre pedagogies" can help enable "learners to participate effectively in the world outside" of the school or institution (p. 148). A similar "genre-based approach" that pays close attention to both " the context of situation and the context of culture" (Chaisiri, 2010, p. 181) has been
The benefits of a standard reading exercise (SRE), in which students regularly answer the same se... more The benefits of a standard reading exercise (SRE), in which students regularly answer the same set of questions by applying them to a variety of different texts, were first explored by Scott et al. (1984). The Foundational Literacies Advanced Stream curriculum design project at Kanda University decided to experiment with such an exercise, as it is felt that introducing students to a range of different texts can be a useful method of learner empowerment. In particular, the second section of the SRE is of interest. This section allows students the freedom to create a 'concept map' that demonstrates their understanding of the organisation of ideas, the author's purpose in writing, and the tone of the text. An example framework is given, but learners have total freedom (e.g. digital or paper-based, use of written language or pictures) to write or draw whatever they wish to demonstrate their understanding of the text. This paper looks at the semiotic work conducted by students in creating these maps in relation to the 'affordances' idea: what does the use of non-linear text afford the student that linear text does not, and vice-versa? The paper hopes to be of benefit to anyone teaching reading classes, particularly those who have an interest in Multiliteracies pedagogy.
Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this ‘linking of literacies’ (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive dispositi...
Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In partic... more Globalization has had an impact on many different aspects of higher education in Japan. In particular it has led to an increase in the number of universities that are choosing to promote an international experience as a way of fostering intercultural awareness. This has created issues for many English language programs as research has suggested that the dominant skills-based, communicative approach to teaching English may not be effective for developing the kinds of literacies that allow students to succeed while studying overseas (Kramsch, 2006; 2014). In this paper, we focus on one unit of a course. This unit is built around the use of narrative texts and demonstrates how a program can meaningfully connect reading and writing to help students both understand academically challenging cultural content and to promote textual and linguistic awareness. We argue that this 'linking of literacies' (Hirvela, 2004) is necessary if we want students to develop the kinds of reflexive disposition towards language and discourse that will enable them to actively participate in different cultural contexts.
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