Michael Walker
Asia University
About
Michael Walker has over 20 years of experience as an ESL educator in both Australia and Japan. He has taught general English at language schools, oral communication as an ALT on the JET program, and academic skills at tertiary level. He is currently based in Tokyo and teaches academic reading and writing skills to university students. His other interests include theatre and filmmaking which he incorporates into the classroom when applicable. His research areas include adopting creativity into curriculums and the impact of culture on learning attitudes.Sessions
Language Classroom Content & Pedagogy Online Theatre: A Learning Tool for EAP more
Sat, Nov 13, 13:25-13:50 Asia/Tokyo
With the spate of theatre currently being streamed online, a unique opportunity has arisen to incorporate professionally filmed plays into academic teaching. By dramatically contextualising coursework, students are offered a platform for heightened levels of critical thinking, the fostering of which is one of the core objectives of any EAP curriculum. This presentation will look at how the National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein was used in a freshman academic class and offer further resources.
Learner Development The Power of ‘Obsidian’ – Revolutionising the Way We Take Notes more
Fri, Nov 12, 16:15-17:00 Asia/Tokyo
Note-taking is essential for any academic endeavour. Yet many curriculums fail to teach a systemised and effective approach to this skill. The repercussions are significant, more often than not resulting in substandard work being submitted by students. Inspired by Sönke Ahrens' breakout book 'How To Take Smart Notes', this workshop will cover the principles of taking smart notes and introduce a powerful note-taking app called 'Obsidian' that will help teachers and students alike optimise the thinking process.