Yu Kanazawa (2023, May). Challenger's Reading Circle: A deep active learning activity that fosters 21st century skills (NATESOL2023)

Saturday 13th May 2023
Northern Association of Teachers of English to
Speakers of Other Languages (NATESOL)
Online Annual Conference 2023, the UK.
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Associate Professor (Lecturer),
Osaka University
Yu Kanazawa 金澤佑
yu.kanazawa.res@gmail.com
Twitter: @knzw783

Acknowledgement
∙This work is partly supported by Japan Society for the
Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for
Scientific Research (C), Grant Number JP22K00806
Epistemic Emotions in Foreign Language Learning
https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/en/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-22K00806/
Section: Foreign language education-related (02100)
PI: Yu Kanazawa (金澤佑)

Introduction
• Despite its fundamental importance in the context of
English as a foreign language (EFL), reading-skill
classes have tended to be conducted in teacher-
centered lecture-style passive manners.
Yu Kanazawa (2023, May) NATESOL 3
• However, in the age of VUCA,
21st century skills (e.g., critical
thinking, creativity, collaboration,
communication, etc.) need to be
fostered through dialogic
approaches and deep active
learning pedagogies.

Introduction
• A radical idea – Changing everything into PBL?
• In reality – Difficulties in Curriculum Renewal
• Importance of developing deep-and-active reading activities based on
the principles of HOTS and "learning communities" with the aim of
cultivating 21st century skills within the existing framework
• A promising way forward
• Learning from dialogic pedagogical approaches in different disciplinary
fields (e.g., philosophy education, business education, K12 education)

Yu Kanazawa’s humble attempts: just a few examples
@knzw783
1-2-3 Emotion Model

Reading Circle
• One well-used deep-and-active learning approach of
reading classes is literature circle or reading circle (RC),
in which students form small groups to discuss a
designated reading in depth.

Reading Circle – Typical Role Examples
Summarizer
• Summarizing
the story and
sharing it in
group.
Word Master
• Choosing
important
words from
the story and
explaining
the reasons.
Connector
• Relating the
story with a
personal
experience
and sharing
it in group.
Discussion
Leader
• Guiding the
discussion.
• Preparing
discussion
questions.

Problem of RC
• Although RC is widely used and reported to be
effective in fostering critical thinking and deeper
understanding (HOTS-part), reading aloud what each
student prepared (LOTS-part) in groups could end up
being monotonous, less challenging, and thus dull,
especially for advanced learners in tertiary education.
Creating
Evaluating
Analysing
Applying
Understanding
Remembering

Reading Circle – Typical Role Examples
Summarizer
• Summarizing
the story and
sharing it in
group.
Word Master
• Choosing
important
words from
the story and
explaining
the reasons.
Connector
• Relating the
story with a
personal
experience
and sharing
it in group.
Discussion
Leader
• Guiding the
discussion.
• Preparing
discussion
questions.
ChatGPT
Active speaking / Passive listening
Active
interaction

Challenger’s Reading Circle (CRC)
• To overcome this problem, an effective solution of the
researcher’s own invention is introduced.
21st century
skills
*This slide was made on 4-May (May the 4th).

Challenger’s Reading Circle aka 闇のリーディングサークル
• What is unique about CRC is that each role (Wicked
Summarizer, Language Master, Knowledge Connector,
Discussion Leader) entails preparing not just reports
of specific aspects of reading but questions that
challenge other group members.
I challenge you to
answer my riddles!

RC vs. CRC – [要]約
•Summarizer (RC)
• Summarizing the story and sharing it in group.
• Group members quietly listen to it.
•Wicked Summarizer (CRC)
• Summarizing the story, intentionally making
three factual errors, and challenging group
members to detect the mistakes.
• Group members actively try to correct the
content mistakes.

RC vs. CRC – 言[語]
• Word Master (RC)
• Choosing important words from the story and
explaining the definitions and reasons.
• Language Master (CRC)
• Choosing important words from the story and make
quizzes: “What is the word that means [definition]?”
• Choosing a sentence and intentionally making
grammatical errors: “How do you improve this sentence?”
• Group members actively try to correct the mistakes.

RC vs. CRC – [繋]ぐ
•Connector (RC)
• Relating the story with a personal experience and
sharing it in group.
•Knowledge Connector (CRC)
• Relating the story with relevant knowledge
beyond text and making questions.
• Group members actively try to answer the
questions and have Aha! experiences.

RC / CRC – [導]く
•Discussion Leader (RC & CRC)
• Guiding the discussion.
• Preparing open-ended discussion questions.
•Model discussion flow (CRC):
• Greetings -> Summary -> Language ->
Connection -> Open-ended Authentic
Discussion Questions -> Peer-evaluation

Peer-evaluation
• While-discussion
• Best answers to my questions were given by ( [Q1]),
( [Q2]), and ( [Q3]).
• Post-discussion
Groupmate names Preparedness Elocution Participation Comment
Wicked Summarizer:
( ) 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5
Language Master:
( ) 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5
Knowledge Connector:
( ) 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5 1・2・3・4・5

Challenger’s Reading Circle
• By transforming the knowledge sharing LOTS-part
into question making and competitive responding, the
LOTS-part has become more engaging, preparing
students better for HOTS discussions, and fostering
21st century skills.
• Theories (advanced)
• Gamification: Roger Caillois’ (1958)
Agôn (competition), a form of play
• Epistemic emotions: arousing
curiosity, TOT states, etc., that lead
to Triadic Emotions (Kanazawa, 2022)

Ready-to-use CRC Worksheets & Examples
•https://researchmap.jp/setting/
yu-kanazawa/CRC?lang=en

FYI: LET Kansai Fundamental Theory SIG
• Leader / coordinator: Yu Kanazawa
• Twitter: @LET_FMT_SIG
• Free online meeting every two months
• Various presentations – psychological
theories, empirical studies, policy
studies, classroom practices, etc.
• Blog & Log http://let-kansai-fmt-
sig.blogspot.com/
• Looking forward to your participation!
If you would like to receive
our event announcement
emails for free, send an
email to
let.fmt.sig@gmail.com !
Email subject: Subscription
Text: Include your name.

Yu Kanazawa (2023, May). Challenger's Reading Circle: A deep active learning activity that fosters 21st century skills (NATESOL2023)

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Yu Kanazawa (2023, May). Challenger's Reading Circle: A deep active learning activity that fosters 21st century skills (NATESOL2023)

Similar to Yu Kanazawa (2023, May). Challenger's Reading Circle: A deep active learning activity that fosters 21st century skills (NATESOL2023) (20)

More from Yu Kanazawa / Osaka University

More from Yu Kanazawa / Osaka University (6)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Yu Kanazawa (2023, May). Challenger's Reading Circle: A deep active learning activity that fosters 21st century skills (NATESOL2023)