This document announces a day-long event featuring presentations by experts on vocabulary acquisition for EFL learners. Sponsored by JALT West Tokyo Chapter, the Vocabulary SIG, and Oxford University Press, the event will include talks on using technology like Word Engine to boost vocabulary learning, creating vocabulary lists tailored to students' needs, utilizing pictures to teach vocabulary formatively, and selecting appropriate online tools. It provides details on location, registration, and contact information for attendees interested in the professional development opportunities around vocabulary instruction offered at this event.

1.
JALT West Tokyo, JALT Vocabulary SIG, and Oxford University Press
are pleased to present…
A day of lexical intrigue and discovery…
Spreading the Good Word:
Introducing the Vocabulary SIG.
Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012
Time: Doors Open 10:30 am. Complete Program 10:45 - 5:15 pm
Speakers: Charles Browne, Rory Rosszell, Jeffrey Stewart, Charles J. Anderson, & Rob
Waring.
Fee: JALT members, Vocabulary SIG members and TKU faculty: Free!
Non-members/one-day members: ¥1000
#You can join or renew your memberships at the event!
Venue: Tokyo Keizai University, 中会議室５(chu-kaigishitsu 5), 2nd floor, Building 6
See “More Info” link below for online video of simple 12min walk to TKU from station.
Registration : You may pre-register by contacting Andy Boon <andrew.boon@tyg.jp>
More Info: <http://jwt.homestead.com/home.html>
Contact: <www.westtokyojalt-owner@yahoogroups.com>, or 050-5806-9771 on the day
JALT's West Tokyo Chapter, Vocabulary SIG and Oxford University Press are pleased to
present an interesting series of presentations by a diverse range of speakers, all of whom
represent excellence in the field of vocabulary education for EFL learners in Japan. This is a
great opportunity for all ELT professionals who seek to expand their knowledge and gain useful
insights which may well assist them with their teaching practice in the English language
classroom. All are welcome!

2. 10:45-11:00 ► Introduction to the Vocabulary SIG – Mark Howarth
11:00-11:45 ► Embracing the Vocabulary Challenge in Comprehending Authentic Video
Charles Browne, Meiji Gakuin University
Although there are now many online resources for accessing authentic video in and out of the classroom, this presentation
argues that the gap between the average vocabulary size of typical EFL language learners and the amount of vocabulary needed
to comprehend those videos is usually quite daunting. In this session, the presenter will begin by developing the argument for
the importance of teaching high frequency vocabulary, citing some of his background research on the serious vocabulary gaps
that face EFL learners in Asia. After a discussion of the differences between high frequency vocabulary needed for proficiency
in reading and that for listening, he will then describe the theoretical underpinnings of several online scaffolding tools he helped
to develop for assisting students to be able to better comprehend unsimplified videos (as well as many freeware and shareware
equivalents). Participants will also be introduced to an approach for rating the difficulty of videos by their vocabulary content
and simple techniques for developing targeted special purpose vocabulary lists based on corpus research of the transcripts of the
video.
12:00-12:45 ► Using
Word
Engine
to
boost
learners’
vocabulary
knowledge
Rory Rosszell, Meiji University
Word
Engine
is
an
on-­‐line,
fee-­‐based
vocabulary
study
program
that
incorporates
spaced
repetition
and
allows
learners
to
target
various
kinds
of
vocabulary.
After
introducing
the
program
and
demonstrating
a
number
of
its
features,
I
will
provide
a
description
of
how
its
use
has
been
integrated
into
a
number
of
my
classes
over
the
past
couple
of
years.
Descriptive
and
questionnaire-­‐based
data
will
then
be
introduced
to
provide
a
more
detailed
picture
of
my
students
use
and
perceptions
of
the
program,
and
finally,
the
session
will
round
up
with
an
opportunity
to
ask
(further)
questions.
1:00-2:00 ► Lunch – food and drink courtesy of OUP.
2:00-2:45 ► Creating vocabulary word lists using yes/no checklists
Jeffrey Stewart, Kyushu Sangyo University, Swansea University
Word lists used in ESL curricula are often organized by word frequency, as this is a strong predictor of their occurrence in text.
However, while frequency lists can indicate which words are most important for students to learn, they tell us less about which
words students already know. By identifying gaps in students’ knowledge of frequent words, we can create more effective and
succinct wordlists. Using a case study involving 2000 learners and checklist tests of 900 words, the presenter will detail how
educators can collect, compile and analyze checklist data of their students’ word knowledge. Topics addressed will include
scanners, OMR software, and equating estimates of word difficulty under Item Response Theory. Finally, using data collected
in the case study, major contributors to word difficulty for Japanese learners will be examined using a logistic regression
analysis.
3:00-3:45 ► Utilizing pictures for formative vocabulary instruction
Charles J. Anderson, Kyushu Sangyo University
This presentation’s intention is twofold. First, it will theoretically justify, then outline, a relatively uncommon but effective way
to assist students in acquiring vocabulary knowledge. Second, it will situate this teaching approach within a larger, more
important reconceptualization of feedback practice. Drawing on recent research in psychology, neurobiology and language
acquisition, this paper will argue that drawing pictures, in conjunction with appropriate feedback, may be the most effective
way to encourage logographically literate students to establish a strong initial L1-L2 association for core English vocabulary
that can then be elaborated upon. While this research is still largely theoretical, preliminary findings from a large scale
ecologically valid, longitudinal study indicate it to be effective in promoting vocabulary acquisition.
4:00-4:45 ► A framework for selecting appropriate online vocabulary learning environments
Dr. Rob Waring, Notre Dame Seishin University
This talk will first present an overall view of the vocabulary needs of learners - receptive and productive as well as language
focused and fluency-focused activities. We will then examine many of the online resources that can fit this framework from
decontextual memorization environments such as Anki, iknow or Quizlet to the more integrated environments such as
EnglishCentral and graded reading online. The participants will then be tasked to deciding which ones would best fit their
needs.
5:00-5:15 ► Book draw by OUP / Closing remarks. Hope to see you there! J