Francesco Bolstad
Nara Medical University
Francesco Bolstad is professor and head of the Department of Clinical English at Nara Medical University. In this role he coordinates a team of teachers dedicated to a collaborative teaching approach which focuses on fluency through task based learning. Originally a New Zealand qualified high school biology and economics teacher Francesco has over 25 years of teaching experience, which spans a range of teaching environments and subjects. Francesco is especially interested in creating connections and opportunities for collaboration and would encourage any members interested in working on joint projects, or just a drink and a chat, to get in contact.
Sessions
Foreign Language Learning as EFL Teacher Training
This presentation examines the advantages and difficulties of EFL teachers learning beginner level French as a soft approach to teacher development. The presenters are the teacher, a student, and the class administrator. Using student questionnaires and testimonials, they highlight the students’ successes (team bonding, insights into student motivation, and practical teaching ideas), and challenges (time commitment, conflicting schedules, and frustration at the class level). Lastly, they discuss how these challenges may be addressed.