** Saturday Afternoon Session **
   Title: Politics of English Teaching in Japan
   Description of the presentation:
  (The presentation is based on a current book project, and article to be
published in Japan Forum in 2006)

Abstract of article:
Despite success in many areas of education policy, the Japanese education 
system has been criticized at home and abroad for poor levels of communicative 
foreign language teaching. There has been a consensus on the need to improve 
performance in English teaching in particular among actors in the policy 
making process. There has also been a considerable demand for private English 
language classes throughout Japan for some time. Focusing on government 
efforts to improve English language teaching since the mid-1980s, this 
article proposes that obstacles to the improvement of foreign language 
teaching can best be understood through an analysis of the social norms, 
values and expectations relating to teaching and learning that permeate 
school and university classrooms in Japan. The paradigm of small cultures 
(Holliday 1999) is used in order to show how common characteristics of the 
learning environment in Japan influence the interactions of groups of 
learners and teachers in ways that inhibit effective communicative foreign
language teaching practice.

** Sunday Morning Session **
   Title:  Teachers Unions in Japan
   Description of the presentation:
       Presentation is based on the presenter's book (which is based on 
his PhD thesis)

Abstract:
  The splitting into two of Nikkyoso (the Japan Teachers Union) in 1989 was 
a highly significant event for the union itself and the organisations and
institutions with which it was closely connected.  This book uses this event 
as a means of exploring both the internal structure of the union itself as 
well as its location within the Japanese political and education systems. 
Several theoretical models, by scholars such as Schoppa, Rohlen, and 
Muramatsu and Krauss are used in order to carry out this analysis.  The 
schism occurred at a time of change within Japanese education, politics and 
trade unionism.  So, in the process of analysis, various shortcomings caused 
by the historically contingent nature of these models are identified and 
modifications made.
   The book seeks to explain why the schism took place and why it took the
form that it did.  It examines the events of the schism at three levels: 
national, prefectural and local.  It concludes that the main single cause of 
the schism was the decision to affiliate the union with the new national 
federation, Rengo.
   The book also looks at the change in direction of post-schism Nikkyoso 
education policies and analyses these policies in the light of the broader 
debate on education taking place in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s.
   It is argued that the confrontation between union and government that 
characterised much of the postwar debate on education in Japan is now much 
reduced, and is being replaced by a more pragmatic approach that focuses on 
specific educational problems rather than on ideological differences.
Schoppa model of education policy-making is modified in order to take account 
of these developments.
       Finally, the book examines the schism within the context of the
realignment taking place within Japanese politics in the 1990s.  It is 
argued that the changes undertaken by Nikkyoso were necessary in view of 
the changing political environment, and that the collapse of the Japan 
Socialist Party illustrates the dangers of a failure to adapt to the new 
times.

** Sunday Morning presentations by Chapter members **
   1)  Teacher & Student Motivation and Sociocultural Influence
          by Phillip Otake

     *****Please contact Martin Pauly, Program Chair, if you are interested in
          presenting in the session.  Each  presentation lasts 30 minutes 
          (including Q&A)*****

   Mini-Conference Participation Fee:  2,500 yen
   When and how to register:  Will inform you later.

Date: Sunday, April 16th, 2006
Title: Presentation Title: The Enneagram and Interpersonal Peace Workshop
Speaker: Lawrence Metzger
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: Ibaraki University, Jinbun C Building, 4th Floor

Cost: "One-day members" 500 yen.

Presentation Details: The workshop involves taking two small tests in
English or Japanese to determine one's main character trait with one or
two sub-traits that cumulatively profile intrapersonal characteristics
with implications of direct influence on interpersonal behavior. The
Enneagram involves a series of reflective exercises which bring out the
conflict areas in each person's character and which can become balanced
through further integrative exercises to achieve inner peace which
positively impacts interpersonal relations and societal peace. Topics
covered in the workshop will include; Personality Variants, Ego Defenses,
Exorcising negative influences, Tools for Personal Growth, Intrapersonal
Dynamics

Click [here (file: Poster 2006-04e.pdf)]to download the poster of this presentation. You can print and distribute it to your friends and co-teachers.