Class Information

(underconstruction)

Basic English Class

Class for civil engineering students who are worried about their basic English ability. We will practise pronunciation and basic conversation.

Links::Reference

Cambridge Advanced Learners' Dictionary

Free and easy to use. UK and US English.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary

US English dictionary

http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm

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Google Scholar

Specifically for academic searches: papers, books, abstracts etc.

http://scholar.google.com/

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Columbia Guide to Online Style

For referencing electronic sources.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/basic.html

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Harvard Citation Style Guidelines

For Harvard referencing.

http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/harvard.html

Professor's Profile

Michael Handford

Hi, I'm Mike and this is my third year at Todai. Before that I was teaching and lecturing on English at the University of Nottingham in England, where I am from. I chose to be an English teacher because I love language, and I like working with people. I really enjoy working here because the students are wonderful: we have a good international mix, and I don't have to motivate them very much because they are so motivated anyway. Seeing my students become independent language users is really satisfying. When they don't need me anymore I think I've done a good job!
As for my teaching philosophy, I think the concept of English as an international language is key to what we do in class: rather than attempting to be like idealised native speakers of English, the goal is to express our own selves, to understand what others mean, and to get them to understand us. As such, we look at negotiating meaning, meaning in context and developing in particular strategic, discourse and sociocultural competence. We measure success in class by effective co-construction of meaning. Everything else is secondary to that. If you don't understand any of this, then join my classes and find out! It's really quite simple.
I graduated from the LSE in 1993, where I studied Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method. After teaching in Japan for six years I returned to the UK to do an MA in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham, which really inspired me, and opened my mind to language and teaching. I recently completed my PhD in Linguistics, also at the University of Nottingham. I analysed the language in business meetings, so if you have any questions about business English, please come in for a chat.

Undergraduates Class

Class Information

The main class for undergraduates is the International Communication class, which is on Monday morning at the lovely time of 8.30 a.m. This class runs for an hour and a half. Even though it is a big class, you will get lot of opportunities to speak in English becuase we do lots of small-group work and look at different topics. We also practice giving and responding to presentations.

These are some comments from last year's students:

Before this class I was feeling embarrassment when I was talking in English especially with Japanese students. But now, I don't hesitiate to use my poor English.

I feel my English competence has improved because there were many chances to speak English in the class

I guess this class was the most meaningful of all classes I took in this semester.

Masters' classess

Class information

Most of the classes I offer are for postgraduate students. In general, you will students three times a week, with each class lasting for one hour. Classes usually take place in the morning.

In class we practice mainly speaking and listening. You will get lots of opportunities to improve your presentation skills, discussion skills, and overall communicative ability. This is a comment from one student who took this class last year:

You always taught us not only English but also every aspect ofcommunication. Your
class were always exciting and fresh for me, who is good at TOEIC but not good at actual international
communication.

All levels are welcome. Think about it: a small investment of your time for a great future!!

classes for internship students

Classes for intership students

There are various preparatory classes for internship students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. For details, please speak to your professor or come to see me.

Conversation Lounge

Information about this class

The Conversation Lounge is open from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. every Friday. You can come in for as long as you like: the can stay for five minutes, or the whole two hours. There is no set topic, and there are no textbooks. I don't correct the students. The point of the class is for you to be able to practice starting conversations and to enjoy chatting in English. Sometimes, there may be a little silence, but generally speaking in this class 'silence is silver, but speech is golden'. Everybody is welcome.

Links::Presentation

The Oral Presentations Skills Website University of Hong Kong

An excellent site for improving your presentations, taking you through the process.

http://ec.hku.hk/tops/

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Giving an Oral Presentation

A brief site.

http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/learning/oralpres.html

Links::Writing

Academic Phrasebank, University of Manchester

A wonderful site which can help you construct sentences in the appropriate style. Strongly recommended!

http://www.phrasebank.man.ac.uk/index.htm

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Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students

As it says. From the University of Texas at Austin.

http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/

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Purdue University's Online Writing Lab

This site is very extensive and offers consultations and email tips. If you spend time here you will really improve your writing.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

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Institute of Education The Centre for Academic and Professional Literacies

A very thorough site with information on dissertation and thesis writing. Also has tasks and links to other sites.

http://www.ioe.ac.uk/caplits/writingcentre/index.htm

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Academic Writing

A very clearly organized site.

http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

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Plagiarism and How to Avoid it

Essential reading!

http://ec.hku.hk/plagiarism/

Links::Online Lectures

MIT Lectures

Over 200 lectures on a variety of subjects.

http://mitworld.mit.edu/index.php

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The Vega Science Trust

A very good series of science lectures.

http://www.vega.org.uk/video/

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The World Lecture Hall

The University of Texas at Austin's lecture site. Lots here!

http://web.austin.utexas.edu/wlh/search.cfm

Links::General Sites

General sites

BBC World News

listen to and watch news clips.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

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BBC Video Nation

short videos of members of the public talking about various issues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/

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The Guardian Audio Website

This online newspaper has lots of audio news files.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/audio/

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CNN Student News

Watch CNN news videos

http://www.cnn.com/EDUCATION/

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Favourite Poem Project

People reading their favourite poems!

http://www.favoritepoem.org/thevideos/index.html

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Breaking News English.com

You can download these audio files onto your iPod. Very convenient!

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/index.html

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Links::Listening Comprehension

Using English for Academic Purposes

Andy Gillett's excellent academic English listening website. Lots of stuff for improving your ability to actively listen to lectures.

http://www.uefap.com/listen/listfram.htm

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Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lounge

Possibly the most visited listening site on the web. Both academic and non-academic activities.

http://www.esl-lab.com/

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English language Listening Lab online

Lots of variety of tasks and accents. Not so difficult!

http://www.elllo.org/

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BBC World Service

An excellent site for news and other stuff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/

Links::Grammar

Capital Community College Grammar Guide

Excellent grammar explanations and exercises.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

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Edict Writing Site

Activities and advice. Good site.
http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/

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The Writers' Workshop: Grammar

Lots of very detailed explanations and advice on academic writing.

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/writer_resources/grammar_handbook/grammar_handbook.htm

Links::Pronounciation

The Sound of America University of Iowa

A very good site which lets you listen to the sounds of English, and you can also watch instructional videos showing you how to make the sounds.

http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eacadtech/phonetics/#

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ESL Learning Centre

This covers many aspects of pronunciation such as; individual sounds, stress, intonation, homophones, how to say linking words in English, and links to other websites.

http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/index.htm

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English Pronunciation Tip of the Day

A great site, which is well worth exploring.

http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/johnm/eptotd/tiphome.htm

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New Okanagan College Pronunciation Course

A very good site if you want to study pronunciation systematically.

http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/johnm/eptotd/tiphome.htm

Links::Vocabulary

Using English for Academic Purposes

http://www.uefap.com/vocab/vocfram.htm

This is an excellent site, which will give you a thorough grounding in academic vocabulary.

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University Word Web

http://ecourse.hku.hk:8900/public/xwords/

This site allows you to build your vocabulary through weekly tests. Also has non-academic vocabulary.

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BBC Learn English

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/index.shtml

Lots of good activities here.

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Word Surfing

http://www.wordsurfing.co.uk/

Vocabulary development strategies.