Professor Jack C. Richards

The official website of educator Jack C Richards

Confirmed events and activities from Dr.Richards’ Calendar for 2018

April 2018:

  • Plenary lecture at the RELC Seminar, Singapore.
  • Plenary lecture at the ASEAN ELT Conference, Malacca, Malaysia.
  • Lectures to the MA class at City University, Hong Kong.
  • Presentation to the Hong Kong Association of Applied linguistics.

May 2018:

  • Lectures at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, China

July 2018:

  • Course on teaching listening and speaking: RELC Diploma n Applied Linguistics, RELC Singapore

September 2018:

  • Workshop on curriculum development: TESOL Research Colloquium, Sydney University

October 2018:

  • Keynote address. National ELT Conference, Beijing, China.
News, Tours

Debut CD by Tony Chen Lin

Jack Richards has sponsored a debut CD  – Digressions – by pianist Tony Chen Lin (New Zealand/Germany). The CD contains Tony’s performance of Bartók’s Piano Sonata, Bach’s French Suite No.5, Schumann’s Humoreske and Tony’s own composition Digression (Meditation on R.S.). The CD is produced by the New Zealand music label Rattle.

The CD was launched at a reception at Jack’s Wellington apartment on April 7 2018.

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Arts, Music, News, Patronage

NZ Concerts by Jun Hong Loh & Tony Chen Lin

In April 2018 Jack Richards sponsored a series of concerts in New Zealand by Singapore violinist Jun Hong Loh (winner of the 2015 Gisborne International Music Competition) and pianist Tony Chen Lin. Their program consisted of music by Mozart, Gao Ping, and Grieg.

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Arts, Music, News, Patronage

Tiromoana in NZ Gardener

Professor Richards’ home in Gisborne has been featured in NZ Gardener Magazine

There comes a time in a well-travelled person’s life when the siren song of home becomes more insistent.

For many years, Jack Richards, a professor of linguistics, and his partner, Won Gyu Moon, divided their time between international work commitments, and their homes in Sydney and Korea. Richards’ frenetic schedule of lecturing, writing and touring made breaks in his home town of Gisborne all the more precious…

The article is available online here: Gisborne’s Garden Over the Sea: A Sanctuary for Nature and Art

Arts, News, Tiromoana

Current Scholarships and Grants 2018

  • Jack Richards sponsored recordings of CDs by Tony Chen Lin (piano) and Lixin Zhang. Both CDs will be published by Rattle Records, New Zealand
  • In April, Jack Richards is sponsoring a series of recitals by Singaporean violinist Jun Hong Loh (winner of the 2016 Gisborne International Music Competition) and New Zealand pianist Tony Chen Lin.
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne New Zealand– sponsorship of 6 concerts featuring students from the New Zealand School of Music
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne – grant for acquisition (Ruanuku award)
  • Toihoukura program in Contemporary Maori Arts, Gisborne – student scholarships
  • Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation – grant to support the Foundation’s support for emerging opera singers
  • Support for university studies: Lester Cajes Manila; John Yanson Manila; Sedigh Mohammadi  UK
  • Professional development grant: Tony Chen Lin (pianist), New Zealand/Germany
  • Sponsorship of websites for Jun Hong Lo (More Than Music) and Tony Chen Lin.
  • Dr Richards also provides ongoing sponsorship of The Gisborne International Music Competition.
Arts, Music, News, Patronage, Scholarships

Assessment and Evaluation

Question:

Submitted by Ahmad Alruhban, Marmara University, Turkey

What is the difference between assessment and evaluation in language teaching?

Dr. Richards responds:

Assessment is a general term referring to procedures that can be used to measure students progress in a course. Tests are one form of assessment but many forms of assessment are not tests, such as observations, interviews, or questionnaires.

Evaluation refers to procedures used to determine the overall effectiveness of a language course, and may involve many different procedures such as interviews with teachers and students as well as classroom observation. Students’ performance on texts may also be used as one component of evaluation.

Assessment, Methods, Questions & Answers, Teaching

Using Discipline Specific Materials

Question:

Submitted by Abbas Masoumi, PH.D student ELT, Iran

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using discipline specific materials versus general academic materials in an advanced ESL class?

Dr. Richards responds:

Discipline specific materials offer the advantage of preparing students for the discipline specific genres, text-types and vocabulary of their disciplines, and also connect more closely with the learners’ interests and needs.

Developing courses, In the classroom, Questions & Answers, Teaching Materials

Support for School Chamber Music Groups

Jack Richards is now offering travel support to all competitors who reach the finals in the New Zealand Chamber Music Competition, an annual competition for school chamber music groups that attracts over 500 entrants every year.

Some 40 make their way to the national finals that are held either in Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch and all will now receive a Jack Richards travel grant.

Arts, Music, News, Patronage

RELC July 2017

Dr. Richards and teachers from Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, India and Singapore taking his course on Curriculum Development, RELC July 2017.

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News, Singapore, Tours

Sponsored Young Musicians Receive Prizes

Dr. Richards' sponsored young musicians received prizes at the 11th International Competition for Young Pianists 'A Step Towards Mastery' in St. Petersburg, Russia June 2-9, 2017.

Both are in the Rising Stars program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

  • Leroy Ma – 3rd Prize Category B (aged 12-15 years).  Leroy is 13 and was the youngest in his category who made the final.
  • Calvin Abdiel – 2nd Prize Category C (16-19 years). Calvin is 16 and was also the youngest in his category who made the final.

In the final Leroy played Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with the State Capella Orchestra of St. Petersburg. Calvin played Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with the same orchestra.

Arts, Music, News, Patronage