1. Creating contextand fosteringexpository reachin L2
writing:approaches andimplicationsLee ArnoldSeigakuin
UniversityJALT LD SIG 2014conferenceCreating Community:Learning
Together 2. IntroductionTwo issues among a number in writing
pedagogy include creation ofmeaningfulness in writing assignments
and extension of writing ability Meaningfulness in such assignments
may start by re-imaginingfor what and to whom learners write Such
re-imagination may include positioning learner writingbeyond
learner-teacher nexus Such positioning may be facilitated by way of
creating contextslearners can write to Such contextualization may
expand range and depth of learnerwriting 3. Traditional learner
writer classatmosphere 4. Creating contextPresentation by Matsuda
(2013) showed unique approach in creatingcontext for a typical
classroom writing assignment Learners were given task to write
about people they admiredsuch as family members or friends Learners
were told their writing would be gathered into a bookthat each
would contribute a chapter to Such approach merges autonomy with
collaboration 5. Creating context Adapted approach to assignment by
telling learners their workwould be selected for collection The
Small Book of Big People Such collection would be uploaded to
teacher-learner blog pagefor learners and others to read Asked
learners to write to best effort they could for purpose
ofpublication Would show samples of work to be published on blog
posts inadvance of page creation 6. Samples: The Small Book of Big
PeopleI respect my friend of my high school days.He was greatly
honored by the manypeople. He always was serious foreverything. He
belonged to soccer cluband practiced very hard. For instance hegot
up at 5:00, arrived at our school andran around our school every
morning inspite of he have practice after school. Hehad never
missed his morning training. IfI am he, probably Im tired of
morningtraining because I have to practice afterschool. Then he
usually prepared for classafter finish his training. So I think
hisschedule was very busy. I couldnt imitatehis daily routine.Then
he has a lot of friends because hewas very friendly and gentle. So
I respecthim and want to model my life after him.My exceptional
person is an office worker in cramschool of my working place. The
place name isRinkai seminar. Everyone called her Chansan,but she is
Japanese. She looks madam and brown.She was used to secretary. So
she is very steady andeveryone relies her on. Of course me too.
Manystudents and teachers love her. Though she doesnot get money,
she still works overtime becauseshe always thinks about students.
If I am same hersituation, I never do it. And she supports me formy
dream. For example, she negotiated to get toknow to work part-time
in my place where Iwanted to work in the future. After all, I cant
workthere, but I deeply appreciated to her.She has four people in
her family with herhusband, daughter, and son. She is housewife.
Herdaughter was good basketball manager. She guidedan
interscholastic athletic meet for basketballplayer. Therefore many
offers came to her from thecompany. Chansans son is good basketball
player.He participated in an international athletic meet. Ithink
that after all it is her power that was broughtup by such children.
I want to become a wonderfulperson being like her sometime. 7.
Samples: The Small Book of Big PeopleI esteem Haruki Murakami for
his writing ability.For example, he writes the books that are
composedof a unique statement and metaphor. They attractreaders.
When I read his books for the first time, Iwas also attracted to
them. Norwegian Wood wasespecially attracted me in the book written
by him.This book made me a little sad and caused a strangefeeling.
I want to be a novelist. I want to imitate hiswriting ability and
be a novelist like him.I do not have a person now that I
respect,but in the future I want to be be a personthat many people
respect.I have a dream that nobody has. Mydream is to be someone
that can changesomething in this world, this world withmany
problems and many dirty things,and many selfish people, but with
manymore things that are very beautiful.I dont know how to be a
great personthat is capable of changing the world, butI came to
this university to search that, tosearch how to evolve.So now, I am
not a person that can be inthis book, but in ten or twenty years
Ihope to be one of the big people.I respect Taylor Swift who is
singer in America. She has blondhair, blue eyes, red rouge lip, and
cute. Her songs are pop, ballad,and they cheer up me when I felt
down. She writes songs herselfand based on her experience. For
example, We Are NeverGetting Back Together is one of her big songs.
It has a brightand poppy melody! The song is popular with young
people. WhenI listen to this song, it gives me energy. Another one
is I KnewYou Were Trouble. The song is gloomy and with painful
lyrics.There is a meaning that unexpected things happened
andheartbreaking. When I feel down and listen to these songs, I
amencouraged. Especially, these songs are my favorite songs! I
wanther to be known by a lot of people, because she isnt well
knownby older. So I hope that every generation loves her. 8.
Expository reachArea of capability learners extend their writing
into beyond where theymay previously have writtenTeachers can help
learners toward such reach by: Devising simple but engaging writing
activities Making contextualization central to assignments
Encouraging creativity with learner latent vocabulary andemotional
response at center 9. Expository reach and contextConference
presentation by Milne (2012) on learner writer explorationof
feeling and vocabulary from ambient music inspired
contextualizedwriting project titled Words on MusicCreated similar
activity with photography contextualized into separateproject
collection called Places & Traces assigned learners to write
stories for each project from fourpieces of instrumental music and
four photographs told learners both projects would be published as
blog pagecollections 10. Samples: Words on MusicIn a certain house,
thief comes up. Thethief gets closer to the room on histiptoes.
When he goes into the room,there is a girl. She is a cute and
beautifulgirl, and fall asleep. The man falls inlove with her at
first sight. For a while,she wakes up and surprises him. And
heforgets an original purpose and kidnapsher.There is a girl who
goes on anadventure. She is going to be ina very good mood, but she
hearda strange noise. She was lonely.Just then, the figure
ofgrandfather emerged in front ofa girl, and he introduced hishouse
near here. This housewere five dwarfs, they welcometo her. For
example, they playedthe music, and cooking. But,after a short time,
she missedhis mother, and she was cried. Itcant be helped, they
gave her anight, and she was escaped bythem next day.An explorer
searches for a treasure. A treasuresleeps in the grave. He devotes
his life to it. Hefined a clue of treasure. He went to Egypt.
Thenhe solves cipher of treasure. He fined treasure atlast. It is
beautiful nature. There are manyanimal and fruit. And many animals
are anendangered species. Though the treasure wasnot treasures, he
feels very much. 11. Samples: Words on MusicThis song is like a
feeling of a young mothergoing somewhere to abandon her children,
shedoes not have money to feed her children, soshe will abandon her
children in front of ahouse that looks like with a rich family
inside,with a family richer than her, so probably thechildren will
have a better life. For me this songdemonstrate the unstable
feelings and thoughtsthat she had when she go to abandon
herchildren. At the beginning she feel that she isdoing the right
thing, with her act her childrenwill be more happier in other
family maybe herchildren can achieve something great! But inthe way
to the place she get regretful, she thinkabout her living with her
children, with manyproblems that her children causes but whichmakes
her happy.Once upon a time, there was the princess. Theprincess
learned piano for a long time. So shepracticed it. But one time,
she was interestedin one person. She saw him through thewindow. But
she didnt meet him and talk withhim. So she did not know him very
well. Andhe did not know her at all. But she fell in love.After a
while, her dad introduced her to theperson who dad wants her to
marry with. Shedid not decide to her destiny. Because herparents
right was strong. And she has everstood. But this time is special
for her. So shedecided to run away from her house in hermind. She
played the piano in her house atlast. She remembered her life.
Sometimes, shedid not want leave with her parents. But sheran away
from her house. 12. Samples: Places & TracesThe sea water is
the bright incomparable sky-blue. Its abeautiful day for the beach.
Crowds are heading to the oceanshore. Beach towel dot the sand with
color. Plastic bucketsand balls roll round in the breeze. You can
swim, you canwade or just rest. There are lots of things to do. It
seems thatpeople bring all the activities to the beach. But the
sandyshore is a busy place even without tourists.Look! There is an
abandoned pirate ship on the sandy shore.Do you want to know more
about the abandoned ship? Letme tell you.Long long ago, a young man
became a pirate after he ranaway from home and joined the crew on a
privateering ship.One day, he dreamt there be treasure on the sandy
shore. Sothe next day he began to dig. He dug until the hole was
deepand the dirt pile was high. He kept digging and sighed Imtired,
I cant dig anymore. Then he spied something. But heonly found a
pirate ship. He was quite disappointed. Whenhe wanted to give up
his friend told him lets get in the ship,maybe the treasure is
buried in it. Finally, they got a smallbox and a little treasure.
They took the treasure away but leftthe abandoned pirate ship on
the sandy shore. Now, we cansee it on picture. 13. Samples: Places
& TracesIn the ancient age, there was a man who worked in the
sea and hebrought his passengers from Italy to Israel. His name was
Michael.He looked so tough but he had great kindness in his heart.
Hisbrown eyes were full of love and many people liked his
gentlesmile. He was poor but he was happy because all the man
aroundhim loved him and God he believed so much loved him, too.One
day, when he was waiting for his passenger in Italy, a
beautifulwoman came and asked, Would you bring me to Israel? I have
togo. She had long blond hair with a glossy sheen, her blue
eyeswere so fascinating and her thick lips were attractive. She was
welldresses in red and it made her more and more wonderful. As
soonas Michael looked at the woman, he fell in love with her. Then,
hesaid to God, I love you and my heart must not be changed in
thefuture, but I come to love another now. Do not get angry and let
memarry to her with your power.Eight months later, there was
Michael with the smiling womandressed in pure white in the
restaurant near the sea. Michaelsfather got drunk because of red
wine and his wife enjoyed talkingwith the mother of Michaels new
wife. Michaels wish came truebecause of the special power and love
of God. He and his new wifewere happier. God was also happier and
thought how nice thismoment was.But the happiest time for the two
and God was not long. It was fouryears later that his wife came
down with an illness. She had a feverand she felt thirsty all the
time. As time passed, her condition waspaler and paler. Her
beautiful face was full of pain and with tears inher big blue eyes.
Michael did not sleep well at night because hethought that his wife
might die during his sleeping. He has lost hisweight and become
thinner and thinner and his eyes lost vitality.Everyone around him
could not see his gentle smile they lovedanymore. () 14. Analysis
Contextualization of writing assignments may have increasedlearner
expository reach Music and imagery may also have opened up greater
descriptiveand imaginative area for learners Role of blog supports
Dieus (2004) work on blogs to promotelearner ability to evaluate
and reflect on writing assignments Blog publication may also
endorse Sollars (2007) assertion thatblogs can serve as platforms
for creating writer community 15. Conclusion Simple yet
contextualized activities can bring forth imaginativeand expressive
learner writing Learner expository reach may be enhanced through
suchactivities Incentives for publication may also play role in
bolstering suchreach Blog-publishing writing may be inexpensive way
to create senseof peer writer readership 16. Thank you for
listening! 17. ReferencesDieu, B. (2004). Blogs for language
learning. Essential Teacher, 1(4), 26-30.Matsuda, P. (2013).
Teaching writing in context. Paper presented at TokyoJALT, Tokyo,
Japan.Milne, A. (2012). Music as a means of building vocabulary and
compositionskills. Paper presented at JALT 2012, Fukuoka,
Japan.Sollars, V. (2007). Writing experiences in a second/foreign
language classroom:from theory to practice. In M. Camilleri, P.
Ford,, H. Leja & V. Sollars (Eds.),Blogs: web journal in
language education, 15-24. Strasbourg: Council ofEurope. 18.
DisclaimerI do not own the rightsto the samples of musicor images
uploaded inthis presentation. Theyhave been includedsolely for
educationalpurposes.
