The LiLT SIG, in collaboration with Nord University,  is very proud to announce that we will be hosting Janice Bland at the JALT2019 conference (Nov 1-4, 2019) in Nagoya City, Japan.

 

 

PRESENTATIONS:

Spinning a story – Weaving grammar and lexis (60-minute workshop)

Pres ID #799 (Featured Speaker Workshop)

  • Day: Sunday, November 3rd
  • Time: 4:35 PM – 5:35 PM (60 minutes)
  • Room: 902

Using a picturebook suitable for secondary-school students (Scieszka and Smith’s The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!), this workshop will illustrate how grammar and lexis are closely intertwined and not distinct from one another. It will be demonstrated how story imparts agency to the students – to confidently use and enjoy idiomatic language in ELT. While the power of story enhances student engagement, teachers gain in confidence in supporting the students in their discovery process. 

Language and literature learning with picturebooks (25-minute Presentation)

Pres ID #807 (Practice-Oriented Short Workshop)

  • Day: Saturday, November 2nd
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 11:25 AM (25 minutes)
  • Room: 1103

Contemporary and innovative creators of literature on serious themes are increasingly turning to visual narratives, and picturebooks on globally relevant topics can make a considerable depth of understanding achievable, also for young learners. This presentation will feature a selection of picturebooks from around the world that centre on global issues. We will discuss how teachers can make use of the visuals to support students in their language and literature learning, as well as intercultural competence. 

While we hope the times listed above are final, please be aware that the schedule may be subject to revision.

 

ABOUT JANICE:

Janice Bland is Professor of English Education, Nord University, Norway, where she focuses on the development of teachers of literature and language. Her previous experience in teacher education took place in Germany, most recently at the Universities of Münster and Vechta, after completing her doctorate at the University of Jena in 2012. Her core interests are concerned with creativity in ELT with primary and secondary-school children: creative writing, children’s literature from picturebooks to young adult fiction, visual and literary literacy, critical literacy and global issues, intercultural learning and drama methodology.

At Nord University, Janice works with students who are on a Five-Year Master programme to become teachers at primary and secondary level. She also coordinates in-service teacher development in English Language and Literature Learning, and leads the Nord Research Group for Children’s Literature in ELT.

In addition to preparing course books for schools in Germany, Janice has published: Children’s Literature and Learner Empowerment – Children and Teenagers in English Language Education (2013) and the edited volumes Children’s Literature in Second Language Education (2013, with Christiane Lütge) Teaching English to Young Learners – Critical Issues in Language Teaching with 3-12 Year Olds (2015) and Using Literature in English Language Education: Challenging Reading for 8–18 Year Olds (2018) all four books with Bloomsbury Academic. Teaching English to Young Learners is used as core reading on teacher education programmes at universities in a number of countries, including Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway and the UK. Also in 2018, Janice contributed the chapter ‘Learning through literature’ to the Routledge Handbook of Teaching English to Young Learners.

She is a member of two AILA Research Networks: Early Language Learning (ELL-ReN) and Literature in Language Learning and Teaching (LiLLT-ReN), as well as international associations including the International Research Society for Children’s Literature (IRSCL) and the C Group. Together with Sandie Mourão, Janice is editor of the peer-reviewed open-access journal Children’s Literature in English Language Education (CLELEjournal), a journal which has helped to intensify insightful discourse around the wide breadth of literature in language education within the ELT community as well as among children’s literature researchers.

Janice has been plenary speaker in the UK, Turkey, Germany, Greece, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Spain and Sweden.