As every English teacher in Japan knows, Japanese-influenced English, or “interlanguage”, can lead learners to produce sentences that are (a) unintentionally comical, (b) very different from the intended meaning, (c) completely incomprehensible, or (d) all of the above. This presentation will focus on cross-linguistic studies to explain certain often-confused areas, such as the use of possessives in English, and the confusion of abstract nouns and adjectives that gives us “safety drivers”. It will include classroom activities to help clear up the confusion resulting from Japanese influence, and steps learners can take towards the ultimate goal of being able to think in English.
Charles Kowalski teaches English and directs the Japanese/English interpretation program at Tokai University in Kanagawa. He has presented extensively throughout Asia, and has twice received the “Best of JALT Award”.
One-day Meeting Schedule:
Registration at: 9:30 a.m.
Morning session: 10:00 - 12:00
Lunch break: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Afternooon session at 2:00 p.m. (Student Presentations)
Business Meeting 4:00 p.m.
Direction in English: http://www.kasei.ac.jp/JALT/tsukuba-gdirc.html
