Why is interest important? Interest increases learning. Promoting interest in the classroom increases students’ motivation to learn and the number of learning strategies they use. – Pressley et al., 1992; Sweet et al., 1997 Using student interest makes students want to learn, and it makes them work harder to understand.

Today we’ll cover: Kokoro and the importance of relationships Student names and interests Passports and Competition English Communication Activities Building relationships between JTEs & ALTs

Kokoro Purpose of education in Japan is more focused on developing student character rather than skills- based. Relationships can be a great way to help develop “kokoro.”

2 Ways Today we’ll focus on two ways to build kokoro and develop relationships. 1.Harness Interest 2.Build Comfort

Two Types of Interest Situational interest – Interest in what’s happening now – Environmentally activated – Easily Changes Personal interest – What you brought to the classroom – More difficult to change (Krapp et al., 1992, Schiefele, 1999)

Situational VS Personal Situational interest helps to catch students’ attention, but personal interest holds their attention. Situational interest often leads to the development of personal interest. (Krapp et al., 1992, Hidi and Baird, 1986; Mitchell, 1993)

How can we use student interest?

How to use interest? 1 Interest-based activities or lessons. 2 Hidden-interest activities or lessons.

Interest-Based High-Tech Watch a One Direction music video Learn about 1D members Personality Quiz: Which member are you? Low-Tech Listen to a 1D song 1D member read and run Crossword Puzzle using R&R answers

Watch once as practice.

Using the lyric video, students count words.

Movie Trailer Lessons 1.Watch in English with Japanese subtitles. 2.Explain the plot using screen shots and vocabulary with sound clips. 3.Watch again, in only English. 4.Play a comprehension game.

Hidden-Interest Trick them into enjoying something they wouldn’t normally enjoy. Use interesting backgrounds or clip-art. Use a common interest as a warm up or cool-down activity.

Student Names Students are happy when you remember their names. They don’t feel as anonymous. I’ve found that they willingly participate more. It builds comfort.

English Names I’ve always let students choose a nickname for themselves. This year, I gave them a list of common American names. If they wanted to, they could choose an American name.

Benefits of Crazy Names 1.They are easy to remember. 2.They promote a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. 3.They let students adopt an English personality.

Individual Rewards Each time students have to speak out loud, they can choose 2 stickers. – After summer, 1 sticker For each 5 stickers they get, they can choose 1 piece of candy.

Group Rewards We usually let students work as a group or team. – The individual gets a reward, and the group also benefits. We usually ask easy questions. – Focus is on practice… not perfection. Intangible Rewards

Homeroom Rewards At the beginning of each class, I show them a bar graph of which HR has the most stickers. – They freak out.

At the end of each term, I give the homeroom with the most stickers a “party” during lunch. Homeroom Rewards

Benefits of Passports Get to know students. Students get to practice written conversation. Writing seems less scary than speaking.

Benefits of Passports There are 5 quiet minutes at the end of every class, time to pass out candy, answer questions, or clean up. Students give feedback on the lesson.

To correct or not to correct…? – I never correct English in passports! – If I can understand it, then they have succeeded.

Helpful Hints Months of the year Clubs English Conversation Ideas – Almost all students use these at first – Some branch out into “real” conversation – Some just continue using the conversation starters

Happy Birthday! Students write their birthday on the front cover. I usually write a birthday message. It’s just highlighter and stickers…

Teaching the Textbook We were worried about teaching in only English, especially when the topics would not interest the students. Sometimes the lesson is about… potatoes. So, we developed a system to help us.

E.C. UNIT EXAMPLE We decided to use the TT lessons to help teach the topic. We try to build student interest and comfort despite less-than-ideal topics. We’ll go through an example unit.

E.C. Unit Overview 1. Team-Teaching Topic Introduction 2. GL: Txt Part 1: Word Study 3. GL: Txt Part 1: Comprehension 4. GL: Txt Part 1: Grammar & Listening 5. Repeat for Parts Review Games

E.C. Unit Example  Team-Teaching Topic Introduction Goal is to build background knowledge Sometimes we use the same exact information as the textbook Sometimes we use the same topic but make it fun

E.C. Unit Example: Grammar Class 1. Warm-Up: Daily Speaking Count

E.C. Unit Example: Grammar Class Choose speaking topic

E.C. Unit Example Students write the date, topic, time and goal. Student B counts.

E.C. Unit Example 2.Unit Overview Listening Activity

E.C. Unit Example  Word Study Word List: match definitions in groups of 4

E.C. Unit Example  Word Study 1.Word List 2.1MM  Crossfire 3.1MM  Spelling Game

E.C. Unit Example  Comprehension Practice 1.Notebook Quiz Worksheet in English (Groups of 4) 2.Notebook Quiz in Japanese

E.C. Unit Example  Grammar, Comprehension & Listening 1.Textbook Questions 2.Workbook Questions 3.Listen to CD “Shadowing”

E.C. Unit Example 1. Team-Teaching Topic Introduction 2. GL: Txt Part 1: Listening and Word Study 3. GL: Txt Part 1: Comprehension 4. GL: Txt Part 1: Grammar and Listening 5. Repeat for Parts Review Games

Review Games  Crossword Puzzles  Word Searches  Word Scrambles  Ordering Activities

Unit Questions?  JTEs  Don’t be afraid to ask your ALT for help!  ALTs  Don’t be afraid to offer help!  We’re all new to this English in English thing! We can help each other!

JTE-ALT Relationships Tips for the ALT – Plan ahead – Spread out your questions/favors – Practice Japanese Ask questions! Be brave- make mistakes! – Enkais and Events

Tips for the ALT – Say THANK YOU! – Offer to help grade or copy – Be available/approachable – Go with the flow – Remember that they make mistakes, too! Building Relationships with your JTEs/ALTs

Tips for the JTEs – Make sure your ALT knows the schedule – Enkais and Events – Special Envelopes – Dress up/down days – Be patient – Give feedback Especially positive! Building Relationships with your JTEs/ALTs