Sessions /
OLE SIG Annual General Meeting #828

I am teaching conversation to beginner students of German at Osaka University. My research interest is fluency in speaking. I am focusing on the verb, the word order and the use of chunks. Currently I am wondering if students need to talk a lot to gain fluency or if writing texts helps them to become more self-confident and as a result more fluent.

I am a professor at Hiroshima International University. I taught English at Kanda University of International Studies (1995-1998) before my present job. Although I have only been teaching English in Japan, I have a Master's degree in teaching French language and literature. I had taught French as well before coming to Japan. I joined the OLE SIG because I believe that students should have a wide choice of languages not just English.

Eric Fortin is a professor of English, French, and intercultural studies at St. Mary' College, where he has been teaching for over 20 years. His interests include learner autonomy, complex systems theory, and plurilingual education.

I came to Japan in March 1986, I will retire in March 2022. I am teaching German at the Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Kyushu-University.