Curtis Kelly
Kansai University
Curtis Kelly (E.D.D.), the first coordinator of the JALT Mind, Brain, and Education SIG, is a Professor of English at Kansai University in Japan. He is the producer of the Think Tanks, has written over 30 books and 100 articles, and given over 400 presentations. His life mission, and what drew him to brain studies, is “to relieve the suffering of the classroom.”
Sessions
The Neuroscience of Language Learning
Learning and using language are key processes of the brain, so every language teacher needs to know the basics of how the brain does both. Four key concepts will be explained: a) network thinking and embodied simulation; b) why that boy who “doesn’t get it” might be the smartest; c) how emotion is at the root of everything; d) and how predictive processing is giving us a completely different picture of how the brain works.
Predictive Language Processing and Its Role in ELT
Predictive Processing (PP) is a fundamental and exciting theory in neuroscience. This forum will focus on the critical role PP plays in foreign language processing. Following an overview of PP, participants will be able to choose two topics to hear more about and discuss in separate breakout rooms (PP in depth, multi-word utterances, grammar, intensive reading, study abroad, extensive reading). With two rounds, everyone will be able to visit two rooms.