Below are two videos from the film 'Lost in Translation', about an American actor visiting Tokyo.  In this first clip, Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson are at a restaurant.  Do they manage to order, despite not knowing Japanese?

The other video (below), from the same movie, is actually a 'deleted scene'.  Watch the scene and then answer the following questions below (in a 'comment'): 

1. What is the difference between the first video and the second (for example, in terms of the nature of communication)?
2. Which scene depicts a 'transactional' language situation?
3. Which type of communication is highlighted most in textbooks: 'Interactional' or 'Transactional' - or both?

For our next meeting I would like you to observe your own classes, and take notes.  You will use those notes to complete the questionnaire (below), and you also will bring those notes to our next workshop.  You should focus on the following questions:

1. At the end of one of your classes (before October 2nd), ask your students:  "OK, what did you learn today?"  Write their answers on the board, and then keep a record of your answers to bring to our next workshop, and also to complete the questionnaire below.
   
2. Identify one student who seems less interested and/or motivated than the others.  Make notes about what might be negatively affecting the interest/motivation of that student.  Also write your notes in the questionnaire below.
   
3. Identify one student who seems especially interested and/or motivated than the others (it may be from the same class).  Make notes about what might be positively affecting the interest/motivation of that student.  Also write your notes in the questionnaire below.
   
4. Choose one class to monitor all the vocabulary that you focus on explicitly, and note down the items that were 'taught'.
   

Please be sure to answer all of the questions and do thee following:

1. Use your notes to complete the questionnaire below.
   
2. Bring your notes to class.
   

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you next week!

Hello!  I'm really forward to working with you.  On the right-hand menu, there is an article written by Rod Ellis entitled "Principles of Instructed Language Learning."  The article contains a number of principles that will provide a theoretical framework that we will build on in person throughout our time together, so it really will be key to getting the most out of the course.

After reading the article, please complete the quiz below by September 17th.  Also, please post below your thoughts on the article, or any other questions or comments you might have at this stage.