The Japan Foundation, Manila successfully conducted the IRODORI Workshop 2024 in collaboration with TESDA National Language Skills Center. It was a five-day training seminar for Nihongo teachers who want to integrate IRODORI in their own classes.
The four main language skill focus in IRODORI were spread out into four different sessions: 1st) Speaking, 2nd) Listening, 3rd) Reading, 4th) Writing. The fifth and final session, on the other hand, focused on how and when grammar learning is facilitated, clarifying its purpose in an IRODORI lesson.
Each session was composed of a demo lesson where participants all experience the IRODORI class; a lecture on an activity basic flow; and practice time where participants were tasked to create their own lesson plan and slide presentations and facilitate a mock lesson. Time for self-reflection and peer feedback was also given after every mock class.
On the last session, participants discussed the differences and similarities between the facilitation of each language skill in an IRODORI class in comparison to their own classes. Everyone reflected and shared insights as to how they plan to apply the IRODORI-based methodologies and resources into their actual courses.
The workshop ended with participants vowing to pass on these new knowledge and skills to their colleagues as well as to initiate the changes in course curriculum including teaching practices in each of their respective institutions.
