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Ritsumeikan University Students Publish Kyoto Guidebook in English
Policy Science students at Ritsumeikan University have published an English guide book entitled Kiyamachi Walker designed for foreign visitors. The books is part of the university’s “Decoding Kyoto” program which -- recognizing that Kyoto is an international city -- aims to help break down language barriers. For the book, students collected information about local shops and services, researched the history of the town and interviewed foreign residents. The guidebook examines the history of the Kiyamachi.
The university’s publications are available at local shops and tourist information centers. Their website is also open to the public.
Visit: Kiyamachi Walker
May 10, 2008
TOEIC to Revise Certificate and Scoring Comments for LPI
The Institute for International Business Communication has announced that the official comments on the score certificate are to be revised.
In the revised edition scores for fluency, consistency, connection and length of sentences, vocabulary, grammar, intonation, and listening have been added to provide a more exact analysis of an examinees’ speaking abilities. In addition, vocabulary, grammar, intonation and pronunciation mistakes from the interview are listed and corrections given. There are also comments and advice provided by the interviewer.
The revision will be take effect from June 2009.
The Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) is an oral test for advanced students of English conducted by IIBC. Exams are held every month in Tokyo and Osaka.
Visit: The TOEIC Official Website
May 09, 2008
SNS iKnow Starts New Learning Service for Finance and Accounting English
Cerego Japan has launched a new channel on its iKnow service targeting key finance and accounting terms. The channel ties in with the book “Pro no Eigo” published by Nikkei BP
iKnow is a participative English learning service which everyone can use for free. In March 2008 the service claimed to have over 100,000 users. This new release is the third version of its Professional English Series and there are many new words and expressions related to finance and accounting which are used in real business situations. iKnow has 74 learning courses in all.
Visit: Press Release
Visit: Nikkei BP
OUP and CUP Under Attack
Oxford University Press and Cambridge University press have come under attack for, allegedly, taking unfair advantage of their charitable status.
CUP and OUP generate large tax-exempt profits, much of which come from ELT publishing. These profits can be reinvested in publications that compete with commercial publishers. The managing director of Pickering and Chatto is quoted in the Bookseller as saying "I just want a level playing field...they look very much like a commercial business and certainly the US office is more commercial than anything." An OUP spokesperson, again quoted in the Bookseller said: "OUP as a university press and a department of the University of Oxford, furthers the university's objective of excellence in research, scholarship and education by publishing worldwide. The university, of which OUP is a part, has charitable status in the UK."
May 08, 2008
News from Eigo Kyoiku News
Our sister site, Eigo Kyoiku News has run the following headlines recently. For news about the English teaching profession and industry in Japanese, visit Eigo Kyoiku News.
* "Akibanana" Website Opens for International Otaku
* Itochu Launches Audio Books Overseas
* Montana University Co-Develops Online English Learning System
* Australia-based Pre-School Chain Enters Japan
* Aoyama Gakuin Releases English Text Books for Years 1-12
March 17, 2008
Longman Pulls Out of JALT Conference
Informed sources are reporting that Longman (part of Pearson Education, the world's largest educational publishers) will not participate in JALT Conference this year, or the Expos organized by ETJ. JALT Conference has for nearly 20 years been seen as the premier event for teachers and publishers in Japan.
February 13, 2008
ELTBOOKS.com Offers 20% Off Selected Titles
ELTBOOKS.com has started offering 20% discounts on selected titles to ETJ members. Best-sellers Let's Go, Passport, Headway and Finding Out are included in the selection. The discounts are for a limited period only but apply to orders of any size.
ETJ membership is free and customers of ELTBOOKS.com can join when they order.
February 08, 2008
eigoTown.com / SenseiBank / Interview Sensei on NHK
NHK's top-rated English-learning show "Eigo de Shaberanaito" featured eigoTown.com on January 28th. The show interviewed eigoTown president Russell Willis and followed celebrities through the process of using the free SenseiBank service (for matching private teachers and studens) and the paid service "Interview Sensei" (personalized job interview practice in English). eigoTown president Russell Willis commented "The response to the show has been fantastic, with our servers being nearly overwhelmed at one point. We've gained lots of new users and our SenseiBank service now needs lots more teachers." Teachers can sign up for free to offer private lessons.
The show will be repeated on NHK 1, February 1st, early Saturday morning at 1:40am.
Visit: eigoTown.com
Visit: SenseiBank.com
Visit: Interview Sensei
Visit: Eigo de Shaberanaito
January 30, 2008
Chris Paterson To Leave Macmillan
Macmillan Education chairman Christopher Paterson will be leaving Macmillan this month after 37 years with the company. Paterson, who as part of his brief lead Macmillan's global ELT efforts, is being replaced by Macmillan's chief operating officer Julian Drinkall.
The move followed a review by new Macmillan group CEO Annette Thomas. Paterson is a director of Macmillan Language House, Macmillan's Japanese subsidiary.
January 28, 2008
Newsweek Catalogs Eikaiwa Industry Woes
At the end of last year the Japanese version of Newsweek ran a cover feature on the problems of the English conversation school business in Japan. The special report by David McNeil quotes students as saying that Eikaiwa teachers "aren't motivated, and since they are working under short-term contracts, there is no sense of professionalism." Another states that instructors have told him that "They may be native speakers but are poorly trained and unmotivated." Another that "they are not punctual, and some even skip work."
A summary of the article in English appears on the excellent Let's Japan site run by Shawn Thir.
January 17, 2008
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discuss their latest co-authorship
titled Top Notch (2005), published by Pearson Longman.
