JALT2025 - Tokyo

Principled Teaching: Investigating ELT Philosophies

Nov 1, 2025, 1:20 PM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Research-oriented Presentation (30-minutes) Pedagogy Room 411

Speakers

Brendan Garland (Sophia University) Katsuya Yokomoto (Sophia University) Matthew Schaefer (Sophia University)

Description

This presentation describes an analysis of a university language center’s English language program and individual teachers, undertaken to determine if there were shared principles guiding course design and delivery. Data was derived from lesson plans, in-class observations, and semi-structured interviews. Significant overlap and synergy was observed in teacher principles and classroom practices. Although findings are limited to one center, the research methods and analysis can be applied to any establishment hoping to investigate shared principles.

Summary

This presentation describes an analysis of a university language center’s English language program and individual teachers, undertaken to determine if there were shared principles guiding course design and delivery. Data was derived from lesson plans, in-class observations, and semi-structured interviews. Significant overlap and synergy was observed in teacher principles and classroom practices. Although findings are limited to one center, the research methods and analysis can be applied to any establishment hoping to investigate shared principles.