Seoul Chapter April Workshop

Games and Communicative Activities: Not Just Entertainment

by Prof. Tory S. Thorkelson, Hanyang University

Date/Time: April 18th (Saturday, 3-5PM) 
Venue: Rm. 105, Injaegwan, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea

Workshop Coordinator: Dr. Ian Done D. Ramos / workshop@seoulkotesol.org
or professionalworkian@gmail.com

For more information, visit our website - http://www.koreatesol.org/seoul

Abstract

Having heard many teachers belittling the value of games in the language classroom, this presentation aims to encourage the planned and meaningful usage of games and communicative activities as an integral part of a lesson or unit or simply as a reward for good behavior on the part of students. Beginning with definitions of games and activities, I will compare the strengths and weaknesses of both. I will look at students’ behavior, the uses of games and communicative activities, samples of both types and conclude with some suggestions for the proper usage of these activities in the classroom. This will be a hands-on workshop with chances for participants to use and/or create some of their own materials to share, discuss and hopefully take away to use in their own classrooms.

Biography

Tory S. Thorkelson (BA, B.Ed., M.Ed. in TESL/TEFL) is a proud Canadian who has been an active KOTESOL member since 1998 and has presented at or worked on many local and international conferences. He is a Past-President for Seoul Chapter and Immediate Past-President of KOTESOL (2008-2009) as well as an active KOTESOL Teacher Training (KTT) member. He is an Associate Professor for Hanyang University’s English Language and Literature Program. He has co-authored research studies (see ALAK Journal, December 2001 & June, 2003 as well as Education International September 2004 V1-2) and a University level textbook, “World Class English”, with a team of fellow KOTESOL members. Currently, he is working on his dissertation for a Doctorate through Middlesex University, United Kingdom as well as a Business Communication textbook and entries for Wiley’s ELT encyclopedia.