Content-Based Instruction for Advanced Japanese
The American Association of Teachers of Japanese offered its course “Content-Based Instruction for Advanced Japanese: Course Development and Language Training” in Spring 2015. The course was offered between April 20 and June 14 (six weeks of class plus one week of orientation and technology familiarization and one week of evaluation).
In the six-week CBI course, which is open to both native and non-native-speaking teachers of Japanese, participants learn about and create content-based instruction (CBI) lessons that develop both advanced reading skills and cultural knowledge of students. The course enhances both the language proficiency and the pedagogy repertoire of the participating teachers.
Description: The course consists of three parts: (1) principles of CBI, (2) curriculum development for CBI, and (3) instructional strategies for CBI. The course utilizes existing materials as examples, but hands-on experience is emphasized, and course participants are required to create their own materials to be used in their classes. Participants work on assigned readings and lectures independently and also engage in collaborative learning, working in pairs or groups that include both native and non-native-speaking teachers. Assignments and evaluations are individualized to accommodate the differing needs of the participants. Participants will be asked for permission to share the materials they create with the broader Japanese language education community after the end of the course.
Instructor: Dr. Eiko Ushida, University of California, San Diego.
Schedule: This course is delivered entirely online. Participants are expected to spend at least five hours a week on average on coursework: one hour for reading, one hour listening to an online lecture, one hour in real-time group discussion, and a minimum of two hours on materials development. Participants must be available for ALL discussion sessions at the time to which they are assigned.
Materials: Selected reading materials are made available online.
Language: English: reading materials, lectures (slides);
Japanese: lectures (talks, scripts), group discussions (switch to English if necessary);
English or Japanese: sample materials, reflection journal, pair project, correspondence, manuals.
Credit and Grading: Two units of graduate credit will be made available for those who wish it, through the University of Colorado’s School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, at a cost of $140. Those participants who elect to receive credit will receive grades for the course; grades will be based on participation, materials development projects, completion of assigned readings, and self/peer evaluation. All participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from AATJ/JOINT.
