Call for Presentations at the ATEM Higashinihon Chapter Study Meeting on July 1, 2023
Dear ATEM Members:
ATEM Higashinihon Chapter will hold a Study Meeting at Reitaku University Shinjuku Satelite Campus, on July 1 (Sat.), 2023. We are planning on making the meeting hybrid, but this is subject to change depending on circumstances, so please check the website for details.
We are calling for presentations on English education (language education) that uses visual and/or audio multimedia including movies, TV dramas,
Youtube, etc. Your presentation should focus on class activities, the
development of language teaching materials, theoretical or empirical
studies, or cross-cultural communication studies, etc.
Each presentation will be 20 minutes with 5 to 10 minutes of Q and A. (This may be adjusted depending on the number of presentations and the related projects. Please note that you will be notified of your presentation request (acceptance or rejection) approximately one week after the application deadline.
We will contact you about the details later.
Application Period: May 22 to June 5, 2023
Acceptance notice will be sent by email around a week after the application deadline.
We would appreciate it if presenters could come to the venue as much as possible to avoid possible networking problems. If you wish to make an online presentation from outside the venue, please inform us at the time of application.
When submitting a proposal, please provide the following information by an attached Word file to the ATEM Higashinihon Chapter Office
1 Please title your email as “ATEM Higashinihon Presentation Proposal.”
2 Presentation title
3 Name
4 Affiliation
5 Email address
6 Language of presentation
7 Abstract （400 letters in Japanese or 200 to 300 words in English; As for a presentation in Japanese, we would appreciate a very brief description in English.)
何も不幸じゃないのに、不幸だ。You’ll be dead、お前はもう死んでいる。殺されるまでもなく、心が死んでいる。そして、ついに「僕」は無二の親友タイラー・ダーデンと劇的な出会いを果たす。バーでぬるそうなビールを飲む二人。物を所有することにしか楽しみを見いだせないと呟く「僕」にタイラーは遠慮しない———“The things you own end up owning you” (てめえの持ちもんに支配されてどうする)。 おまけに、バーの外でタイラーは “I want you to hit me as hard as you can”（できるだけ力強く俺を殴れ）と僕に奇怪な頼み事をしてくるじゃないか。
“Hit me as hard as you can”がファイト・クラブ始動のきっかけだった。戸惑いながらヒョロついたパンチを繰り出すと、間違ってタイラーの耳を殴りつけちゃった。仕返しとばかりみぞおちを思いっきり殴り返された僕は、なんとも言えない高揚感を覚える。また殴りたい。いや殴られたい。もっとだ、もっとやってくれ。もっとやろうぜ。ファイトクラブ創設の瞬間だ。「僕」とタイラーがバーの地下を借りて主催するファイトクラブに鬱憤を抱えた男たちが夜な夜な集まり、素手で一対一の殴り合いに興ずるようになる。最高に絶望だ。
タイラーは日常を生きる人々にさえファイトを仕掛ける。ある夜、タイラーは「僕」を連れてコンビニに押し入り、レイモンド K. ハッセルという名の若い店員を外に引きずり出して頭に銃口を押し当てる。“What did you want to be, Raymond K. Hassell?” （お前は何になりたいんだ？）と尋ねるタイラー。「じ、じっ、、じゅ獣医ですっ！」と無我夢中で答える気の毒なハッセル君。顔は恐怖に引き攣り、死がもう目の前に迫る。弾丸が脳髄にめり込んでぐちゃぐちゃに破壊するまで一秒もない——タイラーは銃を下ろす。
Gonna check in on you. I know where you live. If you’re not on your way to becoming a veterinarian in six weeks, you’ll be dead.
冒涜的で反社会的な描写に満ちた『ファイト・クラブ』は案の定、1999年の公開時に大きな物議を醸す。高名な映画評論家ロジャー・イーバートをして「最も率直かつ快活な、売れる俳優を起用したファシスト映画（the most frankly and cheerfully fascist big-star movie）」で、「暴力礼賛（a celebration of violence）」で、「マッチョポルノ（macho porn）」だと言わしめる（rogerebert.com, 1999）が、もはや褒めているのか貶しているのかよく分からない。しかし大事なことは、イーバートにファイトする気持ちがあるかどうかだ（イーバートにはあると思う）。To fight, or not to fight – that is the question; ————世界一高名なデンマークの王子がかつて僕らに問うていたことは、つまりはそういうことではなかったかTo be, or not to be – that is the question;の後に続く台詞はどうであったか。
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
どちらが人間らしい生き方だろう、
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
不条理な運命に殴られても黙ったままでいるべきか、 Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
押し寄せる困難の大波に向かって無謀にも殴りかかって And by opposing end them?
決闘を挑むべきか？ (以上、筆者による意訳)
確かに『ファイト・クラブ』は多様な解釈に耐えもすれば殴りかかりもする、実に刺激的な映画だ。消費主義社会と現代人の共依存関係に鋭く切り込む批評性はその一例であり、冒頭に引用したタイラー・ダーデン（Brat Pitt）の台詞“Gonna check in on you. I know where you live. If you’re not on your way to becoming a veterinarian in six weeks, you’ll be dead.”は観客の脳味噌にへばりつく。直訳すれば「お前のことを見ているからな。お前の住んでいる所はわかっている。もし6週間経っても獣医になる勉強をしていなかったら、お前は死ぬことになる」といったところ。you’ll be deadとは言ったものの、you（ハッセル君）を殺すのはタイラーその人である（ちなみに戸田奈津子は「ブッ殺す」と訳している）。check in on…は「（人・物の様子を積極的に）うかがう」、be on your way to …ingは「…をしている途中だ」で良いが、「お前の道の上（on your way）にいる」と直訳する方がむしろ格好いい。veterinarianは「獣医」。
さてタイラーの言葉の力強さを上手く日本語に変換できないものか。「お前は見張っとく。住所はわかってる。6週間たっても獣医の勉強してなきゃ、お前はもう死んでいる。」としてみたが、これではまだまだひよっこの日本語か。タイラーにボコられるのがオチである。台詞を解釈するなら、「明日があると思うな、今日の内にお前が本当にやりたいことをやれ！」ということになる。なんのことはない、『今を生きる』（Dead Poets Society, 1989）で提唱されたcarpe diem（Seize the day）がファイト・クラブの本質だったのか。『今を生きる』と『ファイト・クラブ』に近似性があるだって？冗談もほどほどにしなさいという向きもあろうが、しかし遡及的に見れば、あの生徒達はキーティング先生にcarpe diemを教えられるまではどことなく「僕」のように見えやしないだろうか。現に、彼らが最終場面で果敢にファイトを仕掛けることで映画の幕が閉じるのが『今を生きる』である。同じロビン・ウィリアムズ主演でも、『パッチ・アダムズ』（Patch Adams, 1998）が「もう一つのファイト・クラブ」こと『セシル・B/ザ・シネマ・ウォーズ』（Cecil B. Demented, 2000）に喧嘩を売られた事態とは大違いである（後者の映画に出てくる映画テロリスト達が『パッチ・アダムズ』の上映館に乗り込んで映画テロリズムをかますくだりがある。何を言っているかわからないと思いますがその通りのことが起こります。気になる方はご覧ください）。
話を元に戻すと、気の毒なハッセル君は獣医になりたかったにも関わらず、(環境のせいか本人のせいかはともかく)コンビニバイトで日銭を稼ぎ、勉強時間も捻出できずに日々を(死んだように)生きている。タイラーはそんなハッセル君に銃口を突きつけ、危機的状況に突き落とすことで真の欲望を強烈に再認識させる。実現に向かって死に物狂いで現実に立ち向かうよう発破をかける漢タイラー・ダーデン。だから、解放されて全力疾走で逃げるハッセル君の背中を見送る「僕」に理由を聞かれてタイラーはうそぶく——“Tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of Raymond K. Hessel’s life. His breakfast will taste better than any meal you and I have ever tasted. （明日はレイモンド K. ハッセル君にとって極上の1日になるだろうよ。奴の朝飯は、俺達がこれまでに食ったどんな飯よりも美味いに違いない）。
タイラーの極端すぎる「教育」は現実には到底容認できない。これを教育現場でやらかす狂人を見たければ『ブラックスワン』(Black Swan 2010)や『セッション』(Whiplash, 2014)を見よう。しかし、この場面を見た我々は、日々の雑務の中で人生の使命を見失いそうになっているかもと訝しみ、ほんの僅かでも、それでも前に向かって踏み出そうとする。“If you’re not on your way to becoming a veterinarian in six weeks, you’ll be dead.”を自分自身に向かって呟く言葉として、脳味噌に書き付けよう。“becoming a veterinarian”を自分がしたいこと、なりたいものを示す言葉に、“six weeks”を実現のための目標期限に置き換えれば、自分を鼓舞するパワフルな英語が出来上がる。英借文だ。ここでの代名詞“you”は、もちろんファイトを仕掛ける者、つまり我々を指す。ファイトしようぜハッセル君。『ファイト・クラブ』は今でもなおTo fight, or not to fight？と問いかけている。
TVドラマ『アンという名の少女』 ANNE with an‟E”（2019）では、カナダ開拓時代の興味深い料理を見ることができる。主人公のアンやマリラ達が作る朝食、昼のお弁当、夕食、クリスマスディナー等、ほとんどの食材が自給自足によるものである。台所の流し台の脇には井戸があり水を汲む。また収穫したベリーやプラムから作った自家製ジャムやクッキーを、友人や隣人たちにおすそ分けをする。そしてその友人や隣人たちが病気になれば、行って食事を作る。ひと昔前の日本でも似たような光景があったと思うが、開拓者同士の深い絆を物語る。また興味深い習慣として、学校に通う生徒達が、持参した水筒を校庭の脇の冷たい湧き水に浸す。さらに蜂蜜が傷薬に利用できることをネイティブカナディアンから教わり、ギルバートが医療を学ぶきっかけとなる。食事や食物の場面から開拓時代の人々の生活を垣間見ることができる。
次にアメリカの代表的料理として日本でも馴染みのフライドチキンについて、よく分かる映画『ヘルプ』The Help（2011）がある。この作品は公民権法制定(1964)直前のミシシッピー州ジャクソンを舞台とした、アフリカ系アメリカ人女性達がヘルプ（メイド）として働き差別と闘った話だ。そもそもフライドチキンは、メイドたちが、それまで捨てられていた鶏の手羽先や内臓等の部位を味付けし、油で揚げて食べたのが始まりという。この映画の中でヘルプの一人ミリが、フライドチキンはクリスコ（Crisco）というショートニング（豚の油）で揚げるのが定番で、‟The most important invention since they put mayonnaise in a jar.”と言う。そしてこのクリスコで揚げたフライドチキンがミリの子供達の食卓に並ぶ。現代のテキサスを舞台とした映画『リトル・ミス・サンシャイン』Little Miss Sunshine(2006)でも、少女オリーヴの母親が夕食にフライドチキンを箱ごとテーブルの上にドンと置く。それに対して少女の祖父が「また今日もフライドチキンかよ！」と怒鳴り散らす。だが結局のところ一家は美味しそうに食べる。かつてはメイドたちが自分たちのためにクリスコで揚げたフライドチキンが、今では広くアメリカ社会に根付いていることがわかる。
『レベッカ』Rebecca（1940）.株式会社オルスタックソフト販売 『アンという名の少女』 ANNE with an‟E”（2019）.NHKエンタープライズ 『へルプ』The Help（2011）.ウォルトディズニー・スタジオ・ジャパン 『リトル・ミス・サンシャイン』Little Miss Sunshine(2006) .２０世紀フォックス ホームエンターテイメント ジャパン株式会社
You are kindly asked to register through the following Google Form by December 15 (Th.) if you would like to join the meeting online. You will be informed of Zoom ID & Pass later.
https://forms.gle/RebLpxFGRVPcDv3r8
対面で参加される方はマスクを着用の上、感染対策にご協力ください。
If you join the meeting in person, please be sure to wear a mask and cooperate with other COVID-19 infection prevention
————————————————————
13:00~13:15 開会挨拶と支部総会(Opening & General Meeting)
その後発表者リハーサル（希望者のみ）
1．13:30~13:55
NAKAMURA Sachiko（Tohoku University）
Title:
How can we make the best use of pattern practice in the digital era?
Abstract: Pattern practice is one part of the audiolingual method, which was once popular but now tends to be considered “obsolete.” Pattern practice in the audiolingual method, also called the Army Method or Michigan Method, was created based on the theory of Behaviorism (Skinner, 1957) and Structuralism, and reached its peak in the 1960s. It has received a lot of criticism, most famously by Norm Chomsky, namely that it has limited effects.
However, in the current digital era, the method seems to have an enormous potential via internet audio files to promote language acquisition when used for autonomous study. This is because it includes multiple aspects that could have positive effects on language learning when used effectively. Specifically, it could help with: 1) information retention, 2) changing declarative knowledge to procedural knowledge and promoting language automatization, 3) vocabulary and phrase acquisition, 4) understanding grammar, 5) segmentals and suprasegmentals in pronunciation, and 6) the acquisition of the ability of learners to monitor their own language in real communication. Based on this, using pattern practice for autonomous study and increasing opportunities to use English in communication could create a positive spiral.
In this presentation, I will explore what was wrong with the audiolingual method in the past and how we can improve it in the new, digital era.
≪Q&A: 13:55~14:00≫
2.14:05-14:30
SPRING, Ryan（Tohoku University）
Title:
Statistics for Linguistics and Language Education Made Easy
Abstract: Many language educators and theoretical linguists have an allergy to statistics. While I understand that statistics can be daunting and therefore sticking with theoretical, qualitative, and descriptive methods can be appealing, there are many studies that could benefit from one of a few simple statistical tests. For example, in the 2018 edition of the ATEM Journal, I identified 3 (out of 8) papers (37.5%) that took numerical data and could have bolstered their arguments or discovered new insights by including statistical testing but did not (2019 = 30%; 2020 = 20~30%). Furthermore, some papers choose the wrong test, or either fail to report or to make an interpretation of the effect size.
I am by no means suggesting that all studies have to be quantitative or include statistics, nor am I suggesting that my colleagues papers are not good. Conversely, I find that many of these papers were very commendable, but that with just a little bit of help, the papers could have been expanded even further. Therefore, I created a simple, free, online tool (webpage) that can help language educators and linguists, specifically, to perform simple statistics tests for their research or educational purposes. The webpage helps researchers to choose the proper statistical test and to interpret their results in several ways. First, it provides simple explanations for each choice with practical examples of experiments and research designs that are common in linguistics and language education, that will hopefully be familiar to the user. Furthermore, it provides several computerized checks to ensure that users have made the correct selection.
For example, if users choose that their data is paired, but the number of data points in the data sets are different, it alerts the user. Furthermore, if a user selects that their data is continuous, a Shapiro-Wilks test of normalcy is conducted before allowing the use of parametric tests. Finally, the tool provides the user with: (1) an explanation of which tool was used and why, which can be included in the “methodology: analysis” section of a paper, (2) the test statistic, p value, and an appropriate measurement of effect size, (3) an interpretation of the effect size based on Plonsky and Oswald (2014). By showing the tool and how easy it is to use, I hope I can convince others to add simple statistical tests to their research to help them find new insights and bolster their arguments.
≪Q&A: 14:30~14:35≫
3．14:40~15:05 [Online presentation]
Kavanagh, Barry（Tohoku University）
Title:
The potential of satire to introduce global issues and enhance critical thinking skills
Abstract: With the advancement of globalization, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology (MEXT) has strived to reform English language education. One of its main aims is to nurture globally minded university graduates who excel in English communication, media literacy and critical thinking skills.
Satire within visual media can be described as the use of irony to mock and ridicule human vices within the context of contemporary politics and global issues. Satire also aims to criticize in order to evoke some sort of change and through traditional and social media outlets university students can be exposed to satire on a regular basis.
This talk looks at the work of the illustrator and animator Steve Cutts who has created a body of work that satirizes human behavior on a broad range of issues from materialism, animal cruelty, environmental issues and the corporate lifestyle. His satirical commentary on the excesses of society can be used as a tool to develop students’ media literacy and analytical skills within the EFL classroom. This talk will give some examples of classroom practice on how the animations of Steve Cutts were used to introduce Japanese university students to global issues, develop their understanding of visual media as a tool for satire and promote critical thinking skills.
[“Boss Baby”(2017) is a comedy film that can be enjoyed by all generations and makes one think about the nature of family. The phrases and words used by Boss Baby and Tim serve as a clear plot for those who do not usually watch movies, and at the same time, they are elements that emphasize the message of the film. Therefore, I will focus on the words they use and discuss how they influence the message of the bond in the film using specific examples. In the future, I would also like to consider the possibility of using comedy family films such as “Boss Baby” in academic settings.]
[Based on classroom practice in the first-year experience in higher education, this paper examines a speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who criticizes the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an English teaching material. It identifies what, to some extent, can be effective for shadowing English. The teaching process consists of reading comprehension of the text, the practice of reading the text aloud, and recitation in each class. In addition to some teaching methods for recitation training, this paper also focuses on Schwarzenegger’s father’s background and opinion about the 2021 United States Capitol attack revealed in the text.]
Call for Presentations at the 13th ATEM Higashinihon Chapter Conference
Dear ATEM Members:
ATEM Higashinihon Chapter will hold the 13th Chapter Conference at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Campus, on December 17 (Sat.), 2022. We are planning on making the meeting hybrid, but this is subject to change depending on circumstances, so please check the website for details.
We are calling for presentations on English education (language education) that uses visual and/or audio multimedia including movies, TV dramas,
Youtube, etc. Your presentation should focus on class activities, the
development of language teaching materials, theoretical or empirical
studies, or cross-cultural communication studies, etc.
Each presentation will be 20 minutes with 5 to 10 minutes of Q and A.
We will contact you about the details later.
Application Period: November 1 to November 20, 2022
Acceptance notice will be sent by email around a week after the application deadline.
When submitting a proposal, please provide the following information by an attached Word file to the ATEM Higashinihon Chapter Office
1 Please title your email as “ATEM Higashinihon Presentation Proposal.”
2 Presentation title
3 Name
4 Affiliation
5 Email address
6 Language of presentation
7 Abstract （400 letters in Japanese or 200 to 300 words in English; As for a presentation in Japanese, we would appreciate a very brief description in English.)
昨今は、自宅で観たい映画を選び楽しめる時代になりました。コロナ禍で外出を自粛せざるを得ない日々になって一層Amazon Prime VideoやNetflix, YouTube等々の動画配信サービスで映画を楽しむ機会が増えたのではないでしょうか。世界中の映画やテレビ番組を無尽蔵に観られるのですから、英語の勉強に活用しない手はありません。
本コラムで述べたAmazon Prime Video以外の配信サービスでも、同様の機能を有する言語学習アプリがあります。（例えば、NetflixにはLanguage Learning for Netflixなど）また複数の配信サービスで使用できるアプリもありますので、興味がおありでしたら環境に合うものを探してみてください。
【参考文献】
下郡信宏、池田朋男、関矢陽子：英語字幕による会議支援：字幕の制度と表示タイミングが理解に及ぼす影響, 情報処理学会研究報告, Vol. 2010-GN-75, No. 5, pp. 1-6, (2010).
Oxford, R. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. New York: Newbury House Publishers.
Steve Cutts is an illustrator and animator from the UK. He can be described as a social media Banksy. Much like Banksy, his artwork is a satirical commentary on the excesses of society.
His work is inspired by vintage cartoons of the 1930’s and graphic novel art. His most notable animations that have been watched millions of times on YouTube include ‘Happiness’, ‘The Turning Point’ ’Man’ and ’Man 2020’.
These short animations have no dialogue but use a soundtrack that compliments a visual feast that conveys multiple messages in each frame. In this respect, the adage ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is very much applicable here. His animation ‘Happiness’ looks at how we have become a rat race consumed by materialism and are never satisfied with what we have. ‘The Turning Point’ examines a world where humans and animals have changed places and it is humans who are on the verge of extinction. The video is a damming comment on what mankind has done to its environment but from the perspective and position of animals. ‘Man’ follows similar themes and portrays 500.000 years of destruction that man has caused the world from his contempt of the environment and cruelty to animals that stems from viewing the world as something that is to be consumed.
His sequel, ‘Man 2020’ sees our protagonist in lockdown at home with a huge amount of toilet roll in the background. Animals outside are rejoicing in a festival of song and dance as man’s absence has meant that nature has had a chance to flourish. However, it ends with man leaving his house and killing a bug in the process. The animals are seen to quickly vanish in fear as man once again is back to his old bad habits after lockdown. This video is a satirical take on the recent events that have surrounded the COVID-19 pandemic and reminiscent of news stories that illustrated how the environment and nature thrived when we were all under lockdown or running out to buy toilet paper based on the spread of misinformation on social media.
I have used the animations of Steve Cutts in content-based lessons that have looked at global issues, consumerism, media literacy and SDGs. Students have found them intriguing and with the right amount of context and scaffolding these animations can complement content or theme-based classes. English lessons can be made around these animations and be used as a tool for critical thinking and debate.
His work can be found freely on YouTube or at his website