Teaching Better English: Materials for Teaching English in Japan

Review
Are you going to teach English in Japan this year? If so, then this is the book for you! A new book is available for people teaching or planning to teach English in Japan in 2010! It's called Teaching Better English: Materials for Teaching English in Japan. Just as the description promises, the book is chock-full of communicative lesson plans and activities for beginning and intermediate students of English as a second or foreign language. All are based on best practices and proven theories of how languages are learned. Most of the lessons and activities need very few supplies beyond a copy machine or a blackboard, so they are great for teachers working with limited resources. All are very practical, easy to use, and appeal to a wide variety of language learning styles. At just over 100 pages and just under US$20, Teaching Better English is easily purchased and packed into a suitcase for those headed to Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program this year, or for anyone else planning to teach English in the land of the rising sun.

Where to Find It
Teaching Better English: Materials for Teaching English in Japan is available around the world. Some of the sellers are listed below, but a Google search will reveal even more.

Barnes & Noble

Amazon in the U.S.A.

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Amazon Japan (JP)

Editorial Description
Learning a second language can be a difficult process, but it can also be very enjoyable and highly rewarding. Teaching Better English: Materials for Teaching English in Japan is full of communicative lessons and activities that are built upon a foundation of practical experience, reliable theories, and best practices of how languages can be learned and taught. This valuable resource helps EFL and ESL teachers to guide students through learning the alphabet and English sounds, grammar patterns, conversation, self-expression, and culture.

About the Author
C. Rude lectures on educational linguistics at the University of the Pacific. Her research interests include motivation and interaction in multilingual classrooms, school communities, and teacher education. As a former Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program participant, she taught English as a foreign language to elementary school, junior high school, and adult learners in Ushibuka City, Kumamoto Prefecture, in Japan's beautiful Amakusa Islands. More information may be found at www.cicelyrude.com.

Even More Free ESL Materials!

As promised, here are some more links to great, free, online resources for ESL teachers and students. Enjoy!

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/lessons.htm
http://www.eslgo.com/classes.html
http://a4esl.org/
http://www.eslcafe.com/ideas/

MORE LIKE THIS:

More Free ESL/EFL Resources for Teachers and Learners 

Online Sources of Free ESL Materials

Neil Patrick Harris Has Got Shoes For You!

Are you looking for a fun way to teach rhyming words to children or English language learners? Check out this song performed by Neil Patrick Harris (of Doogie Howser MD, How I Met Your Mother, Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog, etc.) in his debut as the Shoe Fairy on Sesame Street. Who knew that so many words rhymed with "shoes"?!? (This video clip is made available to the public by the copyright holder.)

More Free ESL/EFL Resources for Teachers and Learners

Here is a second list of links to free online materials for ESL teachers and learners, alike! Remember, the first list can be found HERE.

English Quizzes
Fluency Through Fables
60+ Idioms
LessonPlansPage.com - FREE, Original Lesson Plans!
ESL - LOUNGE (ESL Materials)
Business English
The ESL Gazette
The Internet for ESL Teachers
Printable ESL worksheets and lesson plans

JET Programme Now In 22nd Year

I was a JET Programme ALT almost 10 years ago and I am happy to say that the program is is still going strong. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it. The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, now in its 22nd year, is run by the Japanese government and is aimed at promoting grass-roots international exchange between Japan and other nations. The number of countries sending participants has risen over the years, as has the number of participants. In 2009, the Programme has welcomed 4,682 participants from 38 countries. The current JET brochure, with information about jobs, minimum requirements, and more can be downloaded from the Official JET Website.

There are three different JET jobs. The following information is from the 2008 JET Pamphlet:

ASSISTANT LANGUAGE TEACHERS (ALTs) are placed mainly in public schools or local boards of education. ALTs assist with classes taught by Japanese teachers of English (JTE) and are thus involved in the preparation of teaching materials and in extracurricular activities like English clubs or sports teams. More than 90% of JET participants are employed as ALTs.

COORDINATORS FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (CIRs) assist local government offices in international exchange activities at the local level. Just under 10% of participants are CIRs and major duties often include translation/interpretation for government officials, teaching community or school English classes and international exchange event planning and implementation. Applicants must have a functional command of spoken and written Japanese.

SPORTS EXCHANGE ADVISERS (SEAs) work for local governments, coaching and promoting internationalisation through the universal language of sports. SEAs are sports professionals whose role is to assist with sports training and the planning of sports related projects. For the 2007 - 2008 JET Programme year, there are 13 SEAs placed throughout Japan. SEA applicants must be recommended by either the participating country's National Olympic Committee or another government organization.

Earthly Happenings: The Crayon Box That Talked

Earthly Happenings: The Crayon Box That Talked

Follow the above link to an animated re-telling of the child's story book "The Crayon Box That Talked."
The story is charmingly told by children, and is a good reminder of the inherent strength that lies in our similarities and differences. Good for learners of all ages, especially if you are teaching a multi-lingual and/or multicultural class. :) If you would like your own copy of the book, it's available HERE for about $10, and is eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping.
--Cicely

From the Inside Flap
"While walking through a toy store, the day before today, I overheard a crayon box with many things to say..." Once upon a time, Shane DeRolf wrote a poem. It was a deceptively simple poem, a charming little piece that celebrates the creation of harmony through diversity. The folks at the Ad Council heard it--and liked it so much that they made it the theme for their 1997 National Anti-Discrimination Campaign for Children. Following on the heels of nearly a year's worth of televised public service announcements, Random House is phonored to publish the picture book, illustrated in every color in the crayon box by dazzling newcomer Michael Letzig and conveying the sublimely simple message that when we all work together, the results are much more interesting and colorful.

Online Sources of Free ESL Materials

The following websites offer free materials for teachers, including activities, full lesson plans, unit plans, and printable worksheets. I have visited all of these sites at some point but don't have a personal or professional stake in any of them. I plan to add to this list in the near future. Please use the "comments" link below to share your opinion of these sites and add any favorites of your own!

www.eslcafe.com
Dave’s ESL Café: The Internet’s Meeting Place for ESL and EFL Teachers and Students from Around the World
This site offers a message board and countless lessons and activities for teaching English language learners. All are uploaded by users from around the world, so you'll have to select, adjust, and adapt to suit your needs.

http://teachers.net
The Ultimate Teacher Resource
Visit this site for ready-made lessons, activities, message boards, and more.

www.proteacher.net
This is the website for an online community of educators. It includes a message board.

www.teachervision.fen.com
Visit this site for complete lesson plans, K-8 standalone units, and other resources.

www.educationworld.com
The Educator’s Best Friend
This site offers lesson plans, activities, professional development resources, and more for teachers.