Keynote Speakers

Day2: Nov 16, 2024 (Sat) – Panel Speakers

Session Title

Exploring, Understanding and Discussing All Aspects of Japanese Language Education

Abstract

This comprehensive panel session will feature five expert speakers who will delve into the multifaceted world of Japanese language education. This session aims to provide a thorough exploration of the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities faced by educators in this field. It will explain latest research into the Japanese language educator community and explore the current situation for teachers, new teachers and pre-service teachers.

Our distinguished panelists will cover a wide array of topics, ensuring a holistic view of Japanese language education:
Each expert will deliver a presentation, providing valuable perspectives and actionable insights. Following the presentations, there will be an interactive Q&A session, offering the audience an opportunity to engage with the speakers, ask questions, and participate in meaningful discussions.
Objectives
  • To highlight and address the key challenges and opportunities in Japanese language education.
  • To disseminate the latest research findings and their practical implications.
  • To share experiences and strategies from experienced, new and pre-service teachers.
  • To foster an interactive and collaborative environment for educators to discuss and exchange ideas.
This panel session promises to be a rich, informative, and engaging experience for all attendees, equipping educators with the knowledge and tools to enhance their teaching practices and better support their colleagues and their students.

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Dr Gary Bonar 

Senior Lecturer in Languages & TESOL
Monash University, VIC 

Biography

Gary Bonar is a Senior Lecturer in Languages and TESOL at Monash University. His research is in the areas of language teacher education and language teacher identity. Previously he taught languages (Italian, Japanese and EAL) and was a member of secondary school leadership. He also has extensive international experience teaching English as a foreign language in parts of Asia and Europe. Gary’s research focuses on language teacher identity dynamics, aiming to optimize the preparation and support for language teachers in schools. 

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Ms Katherine Brownlee

President

Japanese Teachers Associations of NSW (JTAN), NSW

Japanese Teacher

Gosford High School, NSW

Biography

Katherine Brownlee is a Japanese teacher at Gosford High School on the Central Coast of NSW. Passionate about the learning and teaching of languages, Katherine has taught Japanese at tertiary level, and in comprehensive and selective secondary schools in NSW. Katherine has a strong interest in student retention, engagement and motivation at all levels of learning and is always looking for more effective strategies, techniques and approaches to further increase student interest in learning a foreign language. Katherine is a strong believer in the power of research and data, particularly student feedback, to enhance her teaching, and is constantly seeking to extend and improve her practice in the classroom. 

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Ms Sherryl Saunders

Former Treasurer
The Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (AFMLTA), QLD

Biography

Sherryl Saunders is currently Treasurer of the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (AFMLTA). She has a well-established relationship with AFMLTA, fulfilling a variety of roles on the national body’s executive including a term as President. 

Sherryl has been a teacher of students from Year 1 through to secondary students in schools and a teacher of pre-service education students.  She has been a teacher, including languages, in particular Japanese;  a curriculum consultant and an assistant principal.  Sherryl has a keen interest in maximising teacher quality to ensure maximised opportunities for learners. She has recently completed her PhD investigating the support provided to beginning language teachers. 

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Mr Andrew Scrimgeour  

Adjunct Research Fellow
University of South Australia, SA 

Biography

Andrew is an adjunct research fellow at the University of South Australia. He was course coordinator for the Master of Teaching, Languages Education specialisation for over 20 years.  He was recently involved in a national project to review of program provision and student participation in languages learning in Australian schools, as part of a national project to develop a strategy and plan for Language Education in Australian schools. Andrew’s research interests focus on aspects of languages teaching and learning in schools, including curriculum design, textbook design, learner engagement, and assessment practices, with a primary focus is on Chinese language teaching and learning. 

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Arranged in alphabetical order

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