後楽園イングリッシュセンターでは、大学院で第二言語習得論を専門に学んだコンサルタントが定期的に外国人講師の授業を見学し、授業後にミーティングをして授業内容について議論します。最近では生徒中心のアクティブラーニングを取り入れたペアワーク活動などが多く実施されていますが、ひとクラスの人数が多い授業を外国人講師が担当する場合にはうまく行かない場合もあります。そこで、伝統的な教授法も含めて与えられた状況で最適な指導方法を臨機応変に実施してまいります。コンサルタントと外国人講師が授業後に議論した時に焦点となった事項についていくつかビデオで解説（英語）しています。

Drilling Target Structures

We observe our teachers' lessons regularly. This is a pedagogical concept that comes up regularly in our feedback sessions, and so we decided to make a series of videos about it. Please note, however, that the described pedagogical concept is one of many options when teaching English in Japan. We try many methodologies and they sometimes work but sometimes don't work depending of the given circumstances. There is no methodology which is always good and works.

Introduction

Introducing the concept of drilling target structures.

Keeping all eyes on you

The four key principles to holding the student’s attention and maintaining your role as the key decision-maker in the room.... You are always being observed. You are the most interesting thing in the room. Move with intention. Speak with intention.

What is a Target Structure?

In order to discuss drilling target structures, we need to define clearly what for our purposes is meant by “target structure.”

Shadowing the Target Structure

The primary value of shadowing the target structure is that it focuses the students on the structure’s rhythm and form. This is more fun for the students than you might imagine. Our metaphor for shadowing is a baby's rattle.

SIDEBAR: Establishing a Culture of Response Part One

I want to encourage teachers to think of what they are trying to accomplish in terms of gambits. In this video, I critique one very common opening gambit -- “The Small Talk.”

SIDEBAR: Establishing a Culture of Response, Part Two

I expand this discussion of gambits into an examination of five gambits that I often deploy in the interests of establishing a culture of response.

SIDEBAR: Establishing a Culture of Response, Part Three

I finish this sidebar by advocating for what I believe to be a vital element of establishing a culture of response, which is that the teacher needs to push Authentic Rhythm Melody, and Pronunciation (ARMP).

Patterning around the Target Structure　　　　　　　　　　　　

This is the second of four techniques component to drilling target structures. The metaphor for patterning is a set of Legos. Like Legos, patterning presents the learner with a simple structural concept and then encourages the learner to experiment with various ways to build upon the concept.

Transforming into and out of the Target Structure

The metaphor for transforming is a barbell. Like training with a barbell, transforming focuses the learner on a single isolated challenge -- an isolated language muscle group.

Dictation　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

The metaphor for dictation is a bridge. Dictation is most effective when it is used as a bridging tool -- a way to take what a student is already familiar with in the medium of text, and channel that into the medium of sound.

Teacher Interviews

Our teachers take their work seriously. Here are some interview excerpts where they talk about living and teaching in Japan. Music and production help by Grant Smith.