Sessions /
Where Brain Sciences Intersect Language Teaching #1232

Sat, May 15, 18:00-19:30 JST | Zoom 2
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The Mind, Brain and Education forum will introduce a variety of brain science findings that can inform language teaching approaches and methods. People new to the field will have an opportunity to find out how to get started in learning about brain sciences by joining a session which will focus on recommendations for introductory talks and print publications. For long-term members, there will be opportunities to discuss in depth topics of interest, and for those who would like to learn about recent findings and teaching innovations, there will be presentations on different topics. We will hold three 25-minute rounds of concurrent presentations and discussions. The speakers and topics are: Megumi Yoshieda Appreciating greenery and sharing the growth during remote learning: an example of experiential learning using Instagram James (Dimitri) Maroulis True Grit? Junior Koch Specific Learning Difficulties Mohammad Khari Cultural Context: Putting the Genie of Bias Back in the Bottle Curtis Kelly The Connected Classroom Amanda Gillis-Furutaka The three stages of learning and the role of a teacher


Presentation Assets

True Grit...?

Grit, as a non-cognitive skill, is associated with passion, perseverance and personal achievement. After exploring its neuroscientific origins and neural mechanisms, the main question is challenged: Is grit the ultimate study skill?

Specific Learning Difficulties

Download PDF: Specific Learning Difficulties

Starting with a brief overview of specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) and their “invisible” presence in Japanese higher education, this talk will then explore how we can make EFL learning more inclusive.

Amanda Gillis Furutaka

Amanda Gillis Furutaka

Kyoto Sangyo University
I am the BRAIN SIG program chair and am very happy that we are able to bring some new speakers on new topics and from around the world to this forum.
Megumi Yoshieda

Megumi Yoshieda

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
During remote teaching, I found joy in taking care of plants at home. Then I asked students to join me planting seeds and reporting the growth every week. This project was developed based on an experiential learning which resulted in helping us having peace in mind while learning English expressions on plant growth. Another hobby of mine is to take care of "medaka" fish. Now I am surrounded by lots of pretty flowers and colorful medaka fish.
Dimitris Maroulis

Dimitris Maroulis

Dimitris Maroulis Language School
I have been teaching English for about 25 years to teenagers and young adults. I have always been working with progressive, humanistic and more student-friendly approaches. My studies include an Advanced Diploma in Education, a Master of Arts in Learning and Assessment and a Doctorate in Education from the Open University based on a thesis on Language Learning Strategies. My interests in neuropsychology and biology of learning led me to complete this February (2021) my Master of Science in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London. Research and innovation in teaching and pedagogy were always my main areas of interest and investigation. I have been a member of TESOL Greece since 1995. I have presented in many ELT fora, seminars and conferences.
Mohammad Khari

Mohammad Khari

Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey
Hello everyone! I am an Iranian English lecturer at Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey. I hold a BA in English Literature, an MA in Philosophy of Art, and a CELTA. I have been teaching English for about 16 years. Also, I have been reading on and researching into the integration of neuroscience into pedagogy over the past few years, sharing my ideas through a series of professional development sessions. I am very much interested in finding/making connections between the brain and learning!
Jr Koch

Jr Koch

Sapporo Gakuin University
Nice to meet you! I'm Jr Koch - please call me Jr. I was born and raised in Brazil and I spent some time in New Zealand before moving with my wife to Hokkaido, where we live with our son and two cats. I've been a lecturer at Sapporo Gakuin University since 2015 and I'm a PhD candidate at Hokkaido University. I have a licentiate diploma in language teaching (postgraduate) and an MA in TESOL. My research interests include specific learning difficulties (SpLDs), intercultural sensitivity, social justice, and inclusive education. My free-time activities include photography, responsible motorcycle touring, and cafe-hopping.
Curtis Kelly

Curtis Kelly

Kansai University, Japan
Curtis Kelly (EdD.) is a professor at Kansai University, a founder of the JALT Mind, Brain, and Education SIG, and producer of the MindBrainEd ThinkTanks. He has written over 30 books and given over 500 presentations. His life mission is “to relieve the suffering of the classroom.”