Coordinator's Report

In mid July I spent 2 weeks in California where we had a very intensive workshop for Japanese teachers of English. This is my 4th year to organize and participate in this workshop. Each year it has been more and more exciting. We were fortunate to have many instructors from Sacramento Waldorf School take part. We looked through the perspective of children being in different developmental stages; practical talks were given with lots of hands-on activities. Out of my daily routine, this is the time for me to reflect, recuperate, and receive new energy. As an EFL teacher and teacher trainer, I know that language is just a tool and children are eager to learn something more than language itself. They learn through involvement of their whole being and they learn according to their physical and emotional development. Understanding these facts when we teach, we are able to guide them to deeper learning. We must not forget this. In order to pursue this deep learning, we should experience children’s learning through the eyes of children. The TC SIG expects many motivated presenters with high consciousness at our annual JALT Jr. Conference in November. We hope to support, stimulate, and improve our teaching environment. I ask for your participation in supporting our SIG and that you think about our children and their education.

Naoko McLellan
TC SIG Coordinator