John Rucynski Last updated: Dec 7, 2018 at 08:55
Name
John Rucynski Affiliation
Okayama University Section
Center for Liberal Arts and Language Education Job title
Associate Professor Degree
Master of Arts in Teaching(School for International Training)
Profile My research interests include the role of humor in language education and cross-cultural communication, the integration of language and culture teaching, and content-based instruction. I have co-authored three textbooks for use in English language classes at universities in Japan and edited a book on teaching with and about humor.
Academic & Professional Experience
Apr 2010
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Today
Associate Professor, Center for Liberal Arts & Language Education, Okayama University
Apr 2008
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Mar 2010
Assistant Professor, Institute for Language and Culture, Doshisha University
Apr 2004
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Mar 2008
Instructor of English as a Foreign Language, Intensive English Program, Kwansei Gakuin University
2002
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2004
Visiting Professor, English Foundation Program, International Pacific College
Education
Sep 2000
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Aug 2001
School for International Training
Published Papers
Super glocal education: Exploring and explaining Japanese culture in English classes
John Rucynski
Japan in the World, the World in Japan: A Methodological Approach December 2016 Symposium Proceedings 19-31 2018 [Refereed]
Second language learners’ ability to detect satirical news and the effect of humor competency training
Caleb Prichard & John Rucynski
TESOL Journal 2018 [Refereed]
Japanese perceptions of humor in the English language classroom
Peter Neff & John Rucynski
International Journal of Humor Research 30(3) 279-301 2017 [Refereed]
Designing a collaborative class for international students and Japanese students
Sueshige, M., Prichard, C. & Rucynski, J
Bulletin of Institute for Education and Student Services, Okayama University 83-92 2016
Critical thinking and learning commons: Initial observations and possible applications
Fast, T., Morioka, A., Prichard, C., & Rucynski, J
Bulletin of Higher Education, Okayama University 93-104 2014
Foreign reactions to Japan as a teaching resource
John Rucynski, Jr.
JALT 2012 Conference Proceedings 393-401 2013 [Refereed]
Tasks for integrating language and culture
Peter Neff & John Rucynski
English Teaching Forum 51(2) 12-23 2013 [Refereed]
Using the Simpsons in EFL classes
John Rucynski, Jr.
English Teaching Forum 49(1) 8-17 2011 [Refereed]
Proper prior planning prevents pitiful projects
John Rucynski & Todd Rucynski
JALT 2008 Conference Proceedings 698-707 2009 [Refereed]
Cross-cultural understanding in the EFL classroom
John Rucynski
JALT 2007 Conference Proceedings 808-819 2008 [Refereed]
Books etc
Surprising Japan! 2
Alice Gordenker & John Rucynski (Part:Joint Work)
Shohakusha Publishing Co., Ltd. 2017
New Ways of Teaching with Humor
John Rucynski (Part:Editor)
TESOL Press 2016
Working in Japan
Alice Gordenker & John Rucynski (Part:Joint Work)
Cengage Learning 2015
Surprising Japan!
Alice Gordenker & John Rucynski (Part:Joint Work)
Shohakusha Publishing Co., Ltd. 2013
Conference Activities & Talks
The Humor Barrier in Foreign Language Acquisition
John Rucynski
Multilingual Awareness and Multilingual Practices Nov 2018
Reactions of Japanese Students to a World Englishes Approach in a University Speaking and Listening Course
John Rucynski
World Englishes, Bilingualism, and Cross-Cultural Education in Japan Oct 2018
Cultural Considerations of Implementing Humor into the Language Learning Curriculum: Case Study of English Language Courses at Universities in Japan
John Rucynski
20th International Congress of Linguists Jul 2018
Using Documentaries about Japan as a Springboard for Intercultural Discussions
John Rucynski
Japan in the World, the World in Japan: A Methodological Approach Mar 2018
Integrating Language and Culture Teaching with a Focus on the Students’ Native Culture
John Rucynski
Hiroshima JALT 2017 Conference and Book Fair Dec 2017
Detecting Satirical News: A New Competency for English Language Learners in our Digitalized World
John Rucynski
2017 Association for Teacher Education in Europe Annual Conference Oct 2017
Using Humor to Enhance Language and Culture Instruction [Invited]
John Rucynski
TESOL International Association Online Webinar Sep 2017
Focusing on Japanese Culture in English Classes for Japanese Students
John Rucynski
Japan: Pre-Modern, Modern, and Contemporary Symposium Sep 2017
Detecting Online Satirical News: New Competency in the Digital World
John Rucynski
15th Asia TEFL International Conference Jul 2017
Building Bridges through Collaborative Projects between Japanese and International Students
John Rucynski
The Fourth Annual Conference on Global Higher Education Jun 2017
Fake News or Odd News?: Analyzing Japanese English Speakers’ Difficulty in Detecting Satire
John Rucynski
American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) 2017 Mar 2017
New Ways of Teaching with Humor to Enrich Your Classroom [Invited]
John Rucynski
TESOL 2017 Convention Mar 2017
Super Glocal Education: Exploring and Explaining Japanese Culture in English Classes [Invited]
John Rucynski
2nd “Japan in the World, the World in Japan: A Methodological Approach” Symposium Dec 2016
Using Satirical News for Increasing Media Literacy
John Rucynski
New York State TESOL 46th Annual Conference Nov 2016
Using Memes to Provide Insight into Language, Culture, and Humor
John Rucynski
New York State TESOL 46th Annual Conference Nov 2016
Stereotypes in Humor: From Taboo to Teaching Tool
John Rucynski
JALT 42nd Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exhibition Nov 2016
Transforming Humor in ELT from Ha-Ha to Aha
John Rucynski
JALT 42nd Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exhibition Nov 2016
Designing Japan-Specific Teaching Materials in a Borderless Era
John Rucynski
55th International JACET Convention Sep 2016
Real-World English: Creating Listening Materials for Exposing Students to Varieties of English
John Rucynski
中国・四国地区大学教育研究会 Jun 2016
Training English Language Learners to Comprehend and Respond to Humorous Memes
John Rucynski
International Society for Humor Studies 2016 Conference Jun 2016
Humor as a Medium for Cultural Education: Views from English Language Learners
John Rucynski
International Society for Humor Studies 2016 Conference Jun 2016
Using Humor as a Springboard for Exploring Cultural Boundaries in Language Classes
John Rucynski
4th International Conference on Language, Education, and Diversity Nov 2015
Humor-Based Classroom Tasks for Fostering Students' Real-World Cross-Cultural Competence
John Rucynski
6th International Conference on Task-Based Language Teaching Sep 2015
Factors Influencing EFL Learners' Reaction to Language Tasks
John Rucynski
6th International Conference on Task-Based Language Teaching Sep 2015
Think Global, Start Local: Focusing on Japanese Culture in English Language Classes
John Rucynski
Jun 2015
Global Skills in Language Education from Policy Maker, Teacher, and Student Perspectives
John Rucynski
Bridging Language Acquisition and Language Policy Symposium Jun 2015
Teaching Digital Literacy, Culture, and Humor through Internet Memes
John Rucynski
TESOL 2015 International Convention & English Language Expo Mar 2015
Stereotypes in Humor as a Springboard for Cross-Cultural Discussions
John Rucynski
44th Annual New York State TESOL Conference Nov 2014
Targeting English to Students' Interest in Jobs and Work
John Rucynski
JALT 40th Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exhibition Nov 2014
Borderline Funny: Humor in Language Education
John Rucynski
JALT 40th Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exhibition Nov 2014
"American Joke": How Japanese Students Perceive Humor in the Language Classroom
John Rucynski
Hokkaido Language Teaching Conference Sep 2014
Preparing Students for the Global Job Market with Work-Focused English
John Rucynski
JACET 53rd International Convention Aug 2014
Measuring Various Cultural Limits of Humor in Language Classes
John Rucynski
Australasian Humour Studies Network Conference Feb 2014
Integrating Language and Culture Teaching in EFL Classes
John Rucynski
Second International Symposium on Language and Communication Nov 2013
Research Grants & Projects
Evaluating the effectiveness of humor training in language education
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C):
Project Year: Apr 2016 - Mar 2019 Investigator(s): Rucynski John, Prichard Caleb
The role of humor in language education
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C):
Project Year: Apr 2013 - Mar 2016 Investigator(s): Rucynski John, Namba Ayako
