Some friends and colleagues have asked me to recommend some of our books that are particularly relevant to the Japanese context, so I will share a few of my favourites in this blog post. Hopefully, these recommendations will set you up nicely for the new academic year. Many thanks for supporting independent publishing and fellow language educators' work within and outside Japan.
Resources for teaching and research
One of our aims is to facilitate links between research and practice, so all our books are either practical books that are theoretically grounded or have a research focus but with practical applications. The following books will interest colleagues looking to enhance their own research skills and apply research to practice.
Research focused
1. Fostering Learner Autonomy: Learners, Teachers and Researchers in Action.
Edited by Christian Ludwig, Annamaria Pinter, Kris Van de Poel, Tom Smits, Maria Giovanna Tassinari, and Elke Ruelens (2018)
This volume, known as 'The Antwerp Collection,' is one of our most popular books and contains 16 chapters that bring together language learner autonomy and action research. Among the contributors are well-known European scholars, notably Leni Dam, Carol Everhard and Lienhard Legenhausen. In addition, there are chapters by Hideo Kojima and Mizuka Tsukamoto that are based on action research in Japanese classrooms.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/antwerp.html
Access options: Kindle | ePub | Print | Apple | Scribd | Proquest]
2. An Autoethnography of Teaching English in Japan: Bridging Life and Academia.
Sanae Oda-Sheehan (2022)
This book integrates L2 pragmatics and grammar pedagogy to promote the implementation of communicative language teaching. However, it offers a unique take on bridging gaps through autoethnography. In his review, Gregory Hadley of Niigata University says that the book "should be a primary text for anyone in second language education interested in autoethnography."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/odasheehan.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple]
3. Conversation Strategies and Communicative Competence.
Christian Jones (2021)
The book reports on research into teaching conversation strategies as a means of developing communicative competence. Specifically, we experience four research projects that all of us can relate to and replicate that have important implications for our practice. Chapter 4 describes research conducted in Japan. In his review Scott Thornbury describes it as an "eminently readable, evidence-based book" and that conversation strategies should be "at the forefront of any pedagogy aimed at developing the ability to manage and sustain informal talk in a second language."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/conversationstrategies.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Proquest | Apple]
4. Supporting Learners and Educators in Developing Language Learner Autonomy.
Edited by Jo Mynard, Michelle Tamala and Ward Peeters (2020)
In this volume, known as 'The Liverpool Collection,' we look at different aspects of learner autonomy that support both students and educators as they become more autonomous in their practice. Several contributors are based in Japan, making this book particularly relevant for educators based here.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/liverpool.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
Practice focused
5. Voicing Learning.
Tim Murphey (2021)
This book is described as a 'multi-voiced narrative' and is an engaging read inspired by interactions with the author's language learners in Japan. It's packed with creative ideas to help educators understand the worth and procedures of ideal classmates, action logging, social testing, juggling, songlets, storytelling, and class publications for developing educational well-being, meaningfulness and positive psychology.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/voicinglearning.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple]
6. Collaborative Leadership Through Leaderful Classroom Practices: Everybody is a Leader.
Soyhan Egitim (2022)
This book was published just last week and contains ideas for classroom practices that support learner growth and leadership. As the author says, "Establishing an open, democratic, and participatory learning environment for all learners is a major leadership responsibility of teachers, and this book intends to demonstrate how to accomplish this mission both in theory and practice."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/egitim.html
Access options: [ Kindle | Print | ePub | Scribd | Apple ]
Research focused
1. Fostering Learner Autonomy: Learners, Teachers and Researchers in Action.
Edited by Christian Ludwig, Annamaria Pinter, Kris Van de Poel, Tom Smits, Maria Giovanna Tassinari, and Elke Ruelens (2018)
This volume, known as 'The Antwerp Collection,' is one of our most popular books and contains 16 chapters that bring together language learner autonomy and action research. Among the contributors are well-known European scholars, notably Leni Dam, Carol Everhard and Lienhard Legenhausen. In addition, there are chapters by Hideo Kojima and Mizuka Tsukamoto that are based on action research in Japanese classrooms.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/antwerp.html
Access options: Kindle | ePub | Print | Apple | Scribd | Proquest]
2. An Autoethnography of Teaching English in Japan: Bridging Life and Academia.
Sanae Oda-Sheehan (2022)
This book integrates L2 pragmatics and grammar pedagogy to promote the implementation of communicative language teaching. However, it offers a unique take on bridging gaps through autoethnography. In his review, Gregory Hadley of Niigata University says that the book "should be a primary text for anyone in second language education interested in autoethnography."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/odasheehan.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple]
3. Conversation Strategies and Communicative Competence.
Christian Jones (2021)
The book reports on research into teaching conversation strategies as a means of developing communicative competence. Specifically, we experience four research projects that all of us can relate to and replicate that have important implications for our practice. Chapter 4 describes research conducted in Japan. In his review Scott Thornbury describes it as an "eminently readable, evidence-based book" and that conversation strategies should be "at the forefront of any pedagogy aimed at developing the ability to manage and sustain informal talk in a second language."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/conversationstrategies.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Proquest | Apple]
4. Supporting Learners and Educators in Developing Language Learner Autonomy.
Edited by Jo Mynard, Michelle Tamala and Ward Peeters (2020)
In this volume, known as 'The Liverpool Collection,' we look at different aspects of learner autonomy that support both students and educators as they become more autonomous in their practice. Several contributors are based in Japan, making this book particularly relevant for educators based here.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/liverpool.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
Practice focused
5. Voicing Learning.
Tim Murphey (2021)
This book is described as a 'multi-voiced narrative' and is an engaging read inspired by interactions with the author's language learners in Japan. It's packed with creative ideas to help educators understand the worth and procedures of ideal classmates, action logging, social testing, juggling, songlets, storytelling, and class publications for developing educational well-being, meaningfulness and positive psychology.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/voicinglearning.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple]
6. Collaborative Leadership Through Leaderful Classroom Practices: Everybody is a Leader.
Soyhan Egitim (2022)
This book was published just last week and contains ideas for classroom practices that support learner growth and leadership. As the author says, "Establishing an open, democratic, and participatory learning environment for all learners is a major leadership responsibility of teachers, and this book intends to demonstrate how to accomplish this mission both in theory and practice."
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/egitim.html
Access options: [ Kindle | Print | ePub | Scribd | Apple ]
Books about Japan and the Japanese language
In 2020, we launched an exciting new series called 'Life and Education in Japan' with the publication of three unique books that are still popular sellers. The titles speak for themselves, and they are all must-read resources for all educators in Japan. The series editors are Diane Hawley-Nagatomo and Melodie Cook, who are currently overseeing several more books for this series that will be published over the next couple of years – I can't wait! For more information about the series, see: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/japan.html
The first three books in the series were:
7. Foreign Female English Teachers in Japanese Higher Education:
Narratives From our Quarter.
Edited by Diane Hawley Nagatomo, Kathleen A. Brown, and Melodie Cook. (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/female-teachers.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
8. Intercultural Families and Schooling in Japan: Experiences, Issues, and Challenges.
Edited by Melodie Lorie Cook and Louise George Kittaka (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/families.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple ]
9. Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond "McEnglish."
Edited by Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/eikaiwa.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
10. Learning Japanese: Voices of Experience.
Belinda Kennett and Yuriko Nagata (2017)
This book deserves to be a best-seller, but it is still relatively undiscovered for some reason. My last blog post was dedicated to it, and it might be just what you (or your Japanese learners) need to stimulate enthusiasm for learning Japanese regardless of your age or current proficiency level.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/learningjapanese.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
The first three books in the series were:
7. Foreign Female English Teachers in Japanese Higher Education:
Narratives From our Quarter.
Edited by Diane Hawley Nagatomo, Kathleen A. Brown, and Melodie Cook. (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/female-teachers.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
8. Intercultural Families and Schooling in Japan: Experiences, Issues, and Challenges.
Edited by Melodie Lorie Cook and Louise George Kittaka (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/families.html
Access options: [ Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple ]
9. Teacher Narratives from the Eikaiwa Classroom: Moving Beyond "McEnglish."
Edited by Daniel Hooper and Natasha Hashimoto (2020)
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/eikaiwa.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
10. Learning Japanese: Voices of Experience.
Belinda Kennett and Yuriko Nagata (2017)
This book deserves to be a best-seller, but it is still relatively undiscovered for some reason. My last blog post was dedicated to it, and it might be just what you (or your Japanese learners) need to stimulate enthusiasm for learning Japanese regardless of your age or current proficiency level.
Read more: https://www.candlinandmynard.com/learningjapanese.html
Access options: [Kindle | ePub | Print | Scribd | Apple | Proquest]
How you can support us
Of course, we’d love you to purchase a copy of one or more of our books, and we genuinely hope that you enjoy them and that they contribute to your professional growth. Let us know what you think by posting an online review or by contacting us directly. If there are some titles that you think might be of interest to your colleagues and students, why not talk to your librarians and recommend that some of the titles be purchased for your institutional libraries? When Chris Candlin and I were setting up the company ten years ago, it was our dream to make the books accessible to anyone who wants to read them. Finally, if you feel inspired to write for us, have a look at our guidelines for authors and get I touch if you have a book idea. We love working with authors and helping them to bring their ideas to print.
