William J. Zies is currently teaching English at Nanzan Boys Junior and Senior High School in Nagoya. He is a selected member and participant in the US/Japan School Link Program. I look forward to discussing matters relating to CALL and Jr. High School Programs. I hope to meet with you in Kyoto. If I can assist in anyway with questions let me know. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it. Let's get the ball rolling!!
Question # 1
Does your school have access to computers, but your Language Department is reluctant to
try a new approach to language learning outside of a standard textbook? What can you do?
Question # 2
Does your school have access to computers, but your Language Department has NO BUDGET to
purchase software? What can you do?
I look forward to your reply,
William J. Zies
Name: Bruce Layng
I am in the U.S.A. can you help me develope a program for my students?
Name: Michael Mason
I personally know Mr. Zies and can say without a doubt that he is a person who can make a dream a reality. The key is that we all get together and make so schools around the world can receive quality education whil conversing with others with the same goal. I encourage all to come and listen to his speech and perhaps we could chip in our ideas and get the ball rolling.
Name: Marc Sheffner
What are some of the issues that are worthwhile considering when creating a self-access facility? Is "self-access" synonymous with "autonomous learning"? Are these two terms culturally biased, or are they valid in Asia, too? In my home university in Nara, there are limited facilities for self-access, although they are growing. I wanted to know if it was worth all the hard work that must entail in creating such a facility (finding suitable space, selecting, organizing, labelling, and cataloguing materials): would it be worth it? Would students use it? Would using it significantly help students to improve their ability to communicate in English? Would it help to foster greater interest in learning to speak English?
What do you think? Tell me about your efforts to encourage autonomy in your language students.
Name: Elin Melchior
Bruce - what age and level are your students? Do they already have access to a lab? If so, what is in the lab?
Elin - Komaki, Japan -- elin@gol.com
Name: William J. Zies
Reply to: Marc Sheffner
Thanks for your reply. In short, YES it is definitely worth the time and dedication. This is of course depednding upon how much time, effort, and dedication an individual would be willing to sacrifice. The program I've developed has greatly stimulated the students interests in the Computer Lab, Coversation Classroom, and most importantly their desire to pursue the acquisition of the English Language outside of the classroom. It has greatly reinforced their overall language acquisition skills. As an educator, I find this most rewarding. In terms of autonomy, I have found it most inspiring that our students now visit the Computer Lab after school to further expand their language skills. In addition, cooperation among students has been fostered. Good Luck!!
Name: Wiliam J. Zies
I apologize for the spelling errors. I'm all thumbs these days. I have a lot of pots on the burner. Thanks for your understanding.
Name: William
Please go to the new listing of submissions for some background. Let's talk before we get to Kyoto. This is not only intended for Jr. & Sr. High. It is applicable to any English program.
Name: Elin Melchior
I think that most students won't use self-access labs until you get them into the pattern of doing so. It also depends on how much time your students have and how accessible your labs are. Very few of our older students use the labs (our students range from 16 to 74). They come to class once a week and don't come to this part of town (let alone the lab) the rest of the week. The students who use our lab most are college aged. They often use it to learn to type and do product work rather than specific EFL work.
If you want students to use the labs, I think you need to assign homework to be done in the labs. My experience teaching in the US (and my own experience in college) was that after using the lab to do required homework, students start to use it on their own for more individualized studying.
To tell the truth, I find it very difficult to study on my own. I just don't have the motivation to do things without a partner or a class (and a deadline). However, I still find self-access labs useful as they let me work on more individualized things even as part of a larger class.
Elin -- Komaki, Japan -- elin@gol.com
Name: William
Elin, Please refer to my summary " Developing a Budget Friendly Computer Program For Junior High School Students" I make no reference to the "self-accesss" aspect of which you responded.. My program is layed out in such a manner that students learn the basics of computer use from the begining. Thank you!
Name: Debbie Fulford
Seems like this is keeping you busy. Nice work!
Name: William
I look forward to meeting with as many participants in Kyoto this weekend as possible. Please keep in mind this presentation would be applicable to all levels. See you soon. Best Regards, William J. ZIes