Meet Shunichiro
Latest word from Shun, 18 Oct 2002
I've been busy with my fall term classes that I failed to inform my
friends of moving to a new url. I left a redirecting page at the old url but
apparently it is not working. My New Domain Address:
http://www.netlearne.com/ie2002/index.html
I am beginning to believe traveling around the world on the Internet is
an ideal and authentic environment into which to take my students out of the
fish bowl.
Shun continues to get his Bunkyo girls out of the 'fishbowl' and
into the big ocean of real language speakers:
"I'm still trying to find teachers who might want to help my students to
talk to "big fishes" in the open seas. As I've organized my syllabus for
Internet English 2002, starting in mid-April, with every other week meetings at
Tapped In. On May 7, one of the two classes enjoyed being briefed on Tapped In
by BJ and KeikoS. Christina and her students and Rachel met us on May 21.
Another class in their first English cybertalk experience, discussed sushi that
DavidW likes to prepare and eat. Rachel will return for a discussion she will
lead on June 4. (I'm finding having intermediate students on synchro CMC
sessions requires the teacher to be busy supporting the scaffolding off-line
and the guest teacher could do a better job of e-moderating.) We need someone
to meet on June 18 and 25. I would appreciate any member help for the last two
sessions of this semester.
Shun wrote a perspective for the March 2002 Tapped In Newsletter. The
newsletter is online here:
http://www.tappedin.org/info/newsletter/mar02.html
[1] Member Perspective: Shunichiro Ito
======================================
Shunichiro Ito, known as Shun or
ShunI, teaches business communications and Internet English at Bunkyo Womens
College, Tokyo, Japan. His current interest is further refining his syllabus
for his EFL course based on web exploration projects and computer mediated
communication activities. In the long term, he wants to show to EFL teachers in
Japan how Internet and CMC resources may be used to provide excellent learning
facilities otherwise unavailable in classroom environment.
-----------------
Sometime ago I wrote an email in response to a
request from a certain foundation. The foundation was asking what I actually do
using technology in my EFL classes of Japanese college girls. In return for my
cooperation, the director sent me a video titled, "Learn and Live" promoting
use of technology in education. I learned then what the George Lucas
Educational Foundation was doing for teachers. Kids in the video all had their
eyes gleaming with interest.
For awhile I had been trying to find teachers or groups of students to
meet with my students at TAPPED IN for discussion. Our class hours were so
different that I had found none. Then BJ Berquist's suggestion to meet with the
WebHeads discussion group led to a breakthrough. For the first time in their
life, the girls were interactively communicating online with Vance Stevens in
Abu Dhabi, UAR, and Dan Bilitz in Wisconsin.
Read all of Shun's Perspective online at
http://www.tappedin.org/info/perspectives/si.html.
How the exchanges mentioned above got started:
Shunichiro-Ito is a teacher in Japan with a class of young Japanese
ladies he would like to put in contact with the world on three Tuesdays in
January, the 8th, 15th, and 22nd, at the following times: 5:10-6:30 a.m.GMT (a
class with 12 girls who may form 6 pairs) and 6:40-8:00 a.m. GMT (another class
with four girls). Vance is about to announce at his workplace <http://www.mli.ac.ae> that an opportunity
exists to try out this medium on these days. In addition, Webheads have
responded to Shunichiro's requests as follows:
 |
BJB contacted Vance on Yahoo Messenger on Dec 8,
2001 |
bj_berquist: good day!
bj_berquist: I was talking
to Shun yesterday. He is desperately looking for someone or a group to talk
with his Japanese students...
bj_berquist: but I don't think he
understands that webheads is a great > resource for locating these people
bj_berquist: He wants to find a contact that would be in his time
zone and doesn't particularly want to talk with teachers. His girls are very
shy. Any suggestions?
bj_berquist: You are obviously multitasking
If you have any ideas, email me or Shun or let me know tomorrow during the
webheads discussion.
bj_berquist: (Shun is not into chaos
navigation)
bj_berquist:
vance_stevens: hello
Yahoo! Messenger: bj_berquist has logged out. (12/8/01
at 2:42 PM)
Vance sent an email to Webheads, same day
Hi BJ, and everyone,
Sorry I wasn't in when you buzzed (I was multitasking in another
building)
I remember ShunL from our November 4 chat, mainly because I'm working
on the logs now. You can see what I've got so far at the url below, but they're
not finished yet. (That's right, there's MORE!! though there's a lot there
already)
http://sites.hsprofessional.com/vstevens/files/efi/chat2001/wfw011104.htm
OK, it looks like Shun would like a class of students near his time
zone to talk with his class of Japanese girls. Can any webheads help?
So maybe Shun will be at Tapped In tomorrow? If so, we'll see him
there.
Vance
 |
Rachel wrote, Dec 12, 2001 |
Hi, Shun
My class would like to have online activity with your class.
Pls contact me by rjcchung@ms21.hinet.net.
Juei-ching Chung
Vance wrote, Dec 12, 2001
Thanks Rachel.
Please let us know if you hook up with Shun's class and how it works
out.
If you want to use our chat sites you are welcome to.
BJB, can you forward this to Shun?
Vance
Shunichiro wrote, Dec 14, 2001
1. Our current classes meet as below. So this is for January 8, 15, 22
only.
Class with 12 girls (may form 6 pairs), meets 14:10-15:30 JST
(05:10-06:30 GMT or 09:10-10:30 Abu Dhabi?)
Another class with four girls meets 15:40-17:00 JST (06:40-08:00 GMT
or 10:40-12:00 Abu Dhabi?)
For three remaining class hours I would be happy if we can meet our
overseas friends at least once, and up to three times. Desired duration of a
snychro comm session: any portion of above class hours, perhaps between 30 to
60 minutes.
2. New classes will start late in April through July and Sept. through
Jan. They are scheduled at 09:00-10:20 JST (0:00-1:20 GMT or 4:00-5:20 Abu
Dhabi?) and at 10:30-11:50 (1:30 -2:50 GMT or 5:30-6:50 Abu Dhabi?)
For new classes I hope to have synchro sessions something like every
other week or once every 3 or 4 weeks. Desired duration would depend on how
often we can meet.
My girls are registered at Tapped In and have been to my office and
SAC. They enjoyed scavenger hunting in the campus yard. They have never met any
one there to talk to and try out their English however. But they would feel at
home there, I'm sure.
I took a peek in Webheads at Tapped In one Sunday. Sue, to whom I
talked to while discussing my problems with BJ, writes almost perfect English.
So if Webheads members are all like her, my girls are certainly far below their
proficiency level.
Thank you, Vance, for your help.
Vance wrote, Dec 14, 2001
Shunichiro,
I suggest that you join the Webheads group by sending blank email to
efiwebheads-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Once you are on the list, then you could write us at
efiwebheads@yahoogroups.com
and propose that list members meet you and your students at Tapped In at the
times convenient to you.
Vance
 |
Susanne writes Dec 15, 2001 |
Welcome to our new members Shun (short for sensei Shunichiro Ito-san)
from Japan and Mary from China ... Shun, we have met in Tapped In several times
and I know your young women EFL are very shy; I really hope you will find some
useful supporters to meet them and make them open their tight lips here in
Webheads! As they already feel comfortable with Tapped In, I guess they will
enjoy meeting some people there. I have bookmarked your schedule and might be
ready to show up as a helpdesk and conversation partner. (By the way, I agree
with the idea of planning a second session during the week to support the not
so technical skilled Webheads?)
Greetings from Susanne in
Denmark
Shunito writes Dec 21, 2001
Hi, Rachel,
Thank you for your mail of Dec. 19. I had to cut two classes on Tuesday
but managed somehow other two classes on Thursday, the last classes before New
Year vacation. Whew!
You are talking about subjects. But don't we have to see if we agree on
time to meet? I have a very bad requirements. As I told Vance I'm not a full
time teacher and as such have no control over class hours or able to have
students meet out of the class. And the class hours are
- 14:10-15:30 JST (13:10-14:30 Taipei?) - a class with 12 girls (may
form 6 pairs)
- 15:40-17:00 JST (14:40-16:00 Taipei) - another class with four girls
- And this applies to Tuesdays, January 8, 15, 22.
I may be asking for too much with these tight constraints. So please do
not hesitate to say no.
As to the topics, I find your suggestion of "Weekend" is very good. The
first session might be just introducing each other and talk about what we do in
class or after school, etc., getting to know each other. Topic 2. would be
fine. But I'm not sure if "Racism" will catch the fancy of my students. To me
they appear to be unaware of such a thing existing in this world. What I fear
is they remain silent while your students keep talking. I'm afraid younger
Japanese are becoming even more provincial than their fathers and mothers.
I feel motivation is very important in getting them out to express
themselves in unfamiliar language. So it is important the topics refelct their
interest. What are the things in which young people in Taiwan and Japan share
their interest? Music, movies, school life? Can you think of any others?
Regards,
shunito
 |
Dan contacted Vance on Yahoo, Dec 25, 2001 (my time,
Christmas eve his) |
dan_bilitz: Hello, Vance. Do you have time for a question
about Shun and his class?
vance_stevens: hi, sure
dan_bilitz: I understand he wants to have people communicate with his
studentes for 3 Tuesdays in Jan. Is that right?
vance_stevens: so I understand
dan_bilitz: Is he looking for English speaking students for his
class?
vance_stevens: yes (I'm in and out of my office) - carry on ...
dan_bilitz: I cannot find the times in the TI transcript. Do you recall
them?
vance_stevens: yes, 14:00 to 17:00 JST
vance_stevens: I think that's 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. GMT
dan_bilitz: OK, thanks. I'll check to see what that is in GMT.
vance_stevens: (do you know your time in relation to GMT?)
dan_bilitz: I'm GMT - 6 hours
vance_stevens: uh oh
vance_stevens: so we're talking 11 pm to 2 a.m.
vance_stevens: nice try though
dan_bilitz: Well, it's not impossible. I'm not teaching until the 21st.
vance_stevens: if it's just you, and you're willing, that would be
great
dan_bilitz: I'm concerned that no one would be availabel, and that it
would discourage Shun.
vance_stevens: Shun's times are fixed so I think if he got ANYbody he'd
be encouraged
vance_stevens: also, keep in mind that Webheads are not all in US time
zones
dan_bilitz: I think I will email Shun for more details about what he's
expecting.
vance_stevens: For me, for example, that's around this time, an hour
from now I think (scratch scratch)
vance_stevens: only problem for me is I'm at work, and can't devote the
time BUT I might be able to get some students involved
vance_stevens: by devote the time, I mean I can't sit at my desk for 3
hours and converse with students but I could participate as I'm chatting
now
vance_stevens: What we need is two people, yourself and Shun for
example, to agree to be on hand and moderate, and then invite other webeads to
participate as they are able
vance_stevens: So if you'll contact Shun and then agree between
yourselves how to announce the even to Webheads that would be great.
dan_bilitz: I'm sure I can help on Jan. 8 and 15. It's the 21st that's a
problem.
dan_bilitz: 22nd, I mean.
vance_stevens: And in the longer term, another issue is whether to have
an additional session of webheads another day during the week with no chaos
browsing, just simple text chat, maybe using the Palace, which Michael and
Maggi are interested in getting off the ground, but so far not to the extent of
actually hanging the bell on the cat
dan_bilitz: I had gotten wind of that, but haven't seen anything
concrete yet.
dan_bilitz: Thanks for all the info, Vance. I better hit the sack. Have
a great week.
vance_stevens: merry christmas
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Last updated: June 2, 2002
