[GFD Event] University English Education in the Age of AI
Details
| Type | Lecture |
|---|---|
| Intended for | General public / Enrolled students / International students / Alumni / University students / Academic and Administrative Staff |
| Date(s) | November 5, 2024 12:00 — 13:00 |
| Location | Online |
| Venue | Zoom |
| Capacity | 150 people |
| Entrance Fee | No charge |
| Registration Method | Advance registration required
Register here: |
| Registration Period | October 15, 2024 — November 5, 2024 |
| Contact | gfd-tokyo@adm.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
University English Education in the Age of AI
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 12:00~13:00
Online: Zoom
Language: English
Speaker: Tom Gally
Abstract
English education in Japan faces a number of long-standing issues. While English is widely studied, it is relatively little used, leading to questions about its purpose in the curriculum. The complex and diverse nature of the language and the individuality of the learners are often overlooked in favor of standardized approaches to teaching and assessment. While language is fundamentally social, young people are evaluated as individuals at key transition points in their academic and professional lives. This talk will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by these issues, considering how English and other curricula can be reformed to better prepare students for a future in which they will be able to use powerful AI tools to tackle the difficult problems facing humanity. It will consider how to foster more interactive problem-based learning and how to reconcile such approaches with the enduring emphasis on individual assessment in the Japanese educational system. It will also address the need for more effective communication and collaboration between classroom faculty, particularly those on fixed-term contracts, and tenured/administrative faculty to facilitate meaningful curricular reform in a bottom-up manner.
Speaker Bio
Tom Gally is Emeritus Professor of the University of Tokyo and Project Professor at the 春雨直播app Global Education Center. He formerly served as managing director of the ALESS/ALESA program and chair of the Graduate Program on Global Society (GSP). He is the author or editor of numerous articles, dictionaries, and books, including Eigo no Aporia [The Problems of English] (Kenkyusha, 2022), which explores the complex status of English in Japanese society. Website:
