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Japanese Teachers' Association of NSWABN 94 045 344 808 |
June 2008 Newsletter
Hi Everyone
Hope you are surviving the writing of reports, parent teacher nights and the wet rainy days. We are almost there for the holiday.
Mailing Address
Just want to remind you again that JTAN's mailing address is P O Box 419, Belrose 2085. If you are sending your late order forms, membership applications, etc., please make sure you send to this address.
Year 12 Continuers Day
We had the Year 12 Continuers Day on Saturday 14th June at North Sydney Boys High School. It was a great success. All students who came on the day were tested by experienced teachers on their Japanese speaking skills. Students were given feedback on the spot about their performance and how they could improve for the HSC speaking exam. Students thought the day was very worthwhile and felt more confident in tackling the frightening speaking exam.
We must also thank the participating teachers who braved the rain and the wind to come to the Continuers Day. These teachers gave up their Saturday and took students to the Continuers Day, while others just volunteered their expertise to help out even though they did not have any students. The day would not be successful without your generosity in offering your time.
Year 12 Beginners Day
It was another successful JTAN activity. The Year 12 Beginners Day was held for the first time on Saturday 21st June, at St Scholastica's College. Like the Continuers Day, students had the opportunity to practise the new one-on-one conversations covering all topic areas for the HSC speaking exam.
Written suggestions and corrections were offered as well as oral feedback following each 5 minutes interview. The participating students also attended a reading session in which they focused on how to respond to various question styles which assess new syllabus outcomes. At the end of the day, some students, while feeling utterly exhausted after immersing themselves in Japanese for three hours, felt more equipped for the HSC speaking exam.
A round of applause must go to the teachers who gratefully gave up their Saturday and volunteered their time to come to the Beginners Day. This activity would not be successful without your participation and support. We salute you!
Regional Workshops
JTAN is also supporting regional teachers to hold the HSC workshops in their respective regional areas so that students and teachers do not need to travel hours to metropolitan schools for the HSC Day. This is an initiative JTAN has taken to back our regional colleagues in the promotion of teaching and learning of Japanese language and culture.
There will be a regional workshop on Coffs Harbour on 23rd June, while Ballina area will have the workshop on 28th June. We wish them well for the days. Regional organizers must be complemented for their enthusiasm in co-ordinating the HSC Day in their area. Regional teachers are reminded that you welcome to organize the HSC Day in your areas again next year.
Year 10 Day
The interest in the Year 10 Day was overwhelming. Because we can only take 200 students, we had to turn some schools away. First come, first served!!
Students and teachers are eagerly waiting for the Year 10 Day. Participating students will work with fellow Japanese learners from other schools for speaking, reading and writing activities. The performance by TaikOz will certainly thrill the students. We will report to you more details of the inaugural Year 10 Day in the next newsletter.
Year 12 Extension Workshop and AGM
Our energetic Workshop Co-ordinator, Mami Izuishi, is already organizing the Year 12 Extension Workshop on 11th October. The workshop will mainly focus on the teaching of the new extension syllabus. We are also recruiting writers who may be able to contribute to the workshop materials. If you think you can help, please contact Mami mizuishi@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
The Extension Workshop will be followed by the Annual General Meeting where we will report on JTAN activities to members. We will also be nominating committee members for next year. We always need new blood. Why not consider becoming a committee member yourself. It is both challenging and rewarding. More details on nomination will be available soon.
Late Exam Orders
If you have not placed your JTAN exam orders, you may still do so. However, there is an administrative cost of ten dollars ($10.00) per exam (ie, if you order 3 exam papers, you need to pay extra $30.00 for the administrative costs).
The order form is available on our website www.jtan.org.au. You may also access the order form from the same email where you get this newsletter.
Embargo Date
Schools that have ordered the Trial HSC and Preliminary Yearly exam kit will have received these by now (except in cases where we are still awaiting signed forms or extra payments). Please be reminded that the papers are embargoed until 31st August, ie, the beginning of week 7 of Term 3. The Preliminary Yearly papers are embargoed until 22nd September, ie, week 10 of Term 3.
It is of the utmost importance that the embargo rule is adhered to strictly so that the integrity of the exams can be maintained. Of course it is ok to discuss the exam papers with your students. However, please remember to collect the exam papers back after the discussion. Students are not allowed to keep the exam papers until after the embargo date. Please note that independent schools may have less than 10 weeks in Term 3. If this is the case, please make sure that your students do not keep the Preliminary Yearly papers until Term 4.
That's all for now! Have a well deserved break!
Regards
Angela Lam
JTAN Communications Officer
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