Brett Mohar
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
About
Brett Mohar (MA) is a doctoral student and Japanese instructor (Graduate Assistant) in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His research interests include areas such as extensive reading, language socialization, and pragmatics. In particular, he is currently investigating how social interactions emerge during shared reading in extracurricular Extensive Reading clubs.Sessions
College and University Is Silent ER the Only Way? Exploring 'Loud' ER more
Most ER research has adhered to the principle that reading must be individual and silent (Nation & Waring, 2020). Utilizing Conversation Analysis (CA), this presentation introduces two studies that explore ER in a context where the silent reading rule was abandoned and readers could read together. Drawing on 30 hours of video data from a Japanese as a Foreign Language (JFL) ER club, we present video clips demonstrating how reading aloud and co-locally provided opportunities for collaborative language learning and ‘language enjoyment’ (Botes et al., 2022), how learners recruit peer assistance to make learning-relevant ‘noticings’ (Schmidt, 1990), and how learners used talk and gesture to negotiate the meaning of the text for learning during ER. Rather than relying on self-reports or an experimental design, these studies explicate how ER benefits language learning by examining ER in-situ. Based on our findings, we advocate and discuss a 'loud', interactive approach to ER.
All Levels Developing Extensive Reading Materials with Bloom and AI more
This workshop presents Bloom, a free, open-source software that enables users to easily create multilingual, leveled books for language learners. Originally developed to address the global shortage of reading materials in underserved languages, Bloom has supported the creation of over 19,000 books in more than 830 languages. Participants will receive hands-on training in using Bloom to develop open-access ER materials—whether to address resource scarcity or support educators interested in authoring their own texts. The session also introduces AI image tools (i.e., Leonardo AI, MidJourney, and Apple’s Image Playground) to generate illustrations for the texts. The workshop addresses both the possibilities and limitations of these tools. Bloom’s intuitive interface makes it ideal for local authors and educators, while AI-generated images raise occasional image distortion or inaccuracy concerns. By the end of the session, participants will be able to create open-source and level-appropriate ER materials.
