General Meeting

This month's meeting will be divided into two parts. First, we will hold the chapter Annual General Meeting (AGM). Officer reports will be tabled, and we will elect our officers for 2023.

Following this this will be our Lightning Session presentations on the theme of Focus on Classroom Practices.

Hudson Murrell
Small Group Discussion on DIM (Digital Instructional Materials) Homework
Students are required to do as homework a listening activity of their choice. I have set up a blog with links to such sites as ELLLO, BreakingNewsEnglish, and Ted Talks. For the weekly homework activities, students need to access one of these sites, choose something to listen to, and then fill out a simple online journal to record what they worked on. Three times during the semester they are required to fill out a "My Top 5" sheet of homework they have done, and bring this to class. They discuss this in small groups. I will outline multiple ways in which this discussion is effective for the students' learning.
Hudson Murrell is a professor at Sanyo Onoda City University in Yamaguchi. His research interests are in gamification, increasing speaking output and extensive reading.

Markus Yong
An AI-based Extensive Reading Program
In the first semester of 2023, my students participated in a weekly extensive reading program whereby they created and read their own stories via ChatGPT. This presentation will provide preliminary results from this experimental program.
Markus Yong has been teaching English in Japan for 17 years, and currently works at Kyushu Kyouritsu University.

Each presenter will have 15 minutes to share their ideas. After the presentations, there will be time for questions and discussion. Participants will also be encouraged to briefly share other ideas they may have related to classroom practices.

The CUE 2023 AGM will be held on Zoom on the evening of November 14th, 2023.

The ALL sig will be having their very first online meet up on Saturday, April 15th, 8-9PM.  We invite members and others to come and discuss,  ask questions,  and learn from each other about issues related to accessibility in language learning.  Our members and officers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share to help teachers make their class as welcome to all types of learners.  The Zoom link will be sent to you the day before the meeting.   Hope to see you all there.

会員の皆様へ  (English Below)

２０２３年も、本部会はつくば国際会議場で開催される全国大会で部会総会とフォーラムを企画しておりますので、すべての会員の皆様を招待します。日時は、２０２３年１１月２６日１：２０〜２：４０P Mです。今年度もフォーラムはラウンドテーブル形式で行い、さまざまな教育環境におけるアクセシビリティの問題を皆さんと議論する場としたいと考えています。主なトピックは、社会的・心理的困難を抱える学生のサポート、代替的評価方法の実践、UD教材開発、視覚的能力の多様性のある学習者のサポート、多様な学習者を教えるための教員養成プログラムの開発などです。参加者の皆さんには、それぞれの分野の専門家のリード受けつつ、 議論への積極的な参加が期待されます。本セッションは、アクセシビリティについての認知度の向上と個々の参加者が様々な学習者ニーズを満たすための経験や方法の共有を通して有効な解決策を探ることを目的としています。皆さんの参加をお待ちしております。

報告者

アンドリュー・ライマン　企画担当　青山学院大学

森谷亮太　部会代表　中央大学

鈴木菜月　会員担当　青山学院初等部

キャサリン・タカスギ　無任所役員　青山学院大学

佐藤良子　会計担当　麗澤大学

エイミー・ブラウン 無任所役員　瀬戸SOLAN小学校

マイケル・ヤップ　出版担当 明法中学・高等学校

Dear ALL SIG members and interested parties,

I invite you all to join us for the ALL General Meeting and Forum at JALT International Conference in Tsukuba, Sunday, November 26, 2023 - 1:20pm to 2:40pm. This roundtable discussion addresses key issues affecting accessibility in different teaching contexts. Topics for consideration include supporting students with social-psychological difficulties, implementing alternative evaluation, developing universal design materials, accommodating various reading and visual abilities and building teacher training and support systems for diverse learning styles. Participants will engage in practical discussions led by experienced professionals in the field. The goal of this session is to raise awareness of accessibility issues by sharing ideas, strategies, and experiences.

Location
1:20 PM - 2:50 PM
Room: 401 SIG
AGM & Forum

All chapter members are cordially invited to the chapter AGM, to be held online on the second Sunday of November, as follows.

Date: Sunday, November 12th, 2023
Time: 13:30 pm to 14:30 pm
Location: Zoom*
*The AGM is for Nara Chapter members in good standing. 

 Any chapter members in good standing who wish to attend the AGM please send an email to narajalt@gmail.com to request the Zoom link.  

The meeting agenda includes the following three items:

(1) Chapter officer ratification
(2) Officer reports for 2023
(3) Chapter prospective for 2024

Nominations for chapter officer positions in 2024 are sought throughout the month of October.

You can nominate yourself or any chapter member in good standing by simply replying to this email. Officer positions will be ratified by vote during the AGM in November. The five core officer positions are:

1. Chapter President
2. Membership Chair
3. Program Chair
4. Publicity Chair
5. Treasurer.

Additionally, there is plenty of room for members to get involved as a Member-at-large, taking on peripheral roles, such as shadowing the main chair positions.
JALT is a volunteer organization run by its members, and as such depends on our involvement, so please consider becoming more active by joining the Nara JALT officers team

Although the AGM is the chapter’s official business meeting, it is also a great opportunity to get to know more about your chapter, so please mark the date and join us in the meeting.

All current Kyoto members are invited to attend our annual general meeting (AGM), which will be held on Sunday, November 5th, from 10:00 JST in Kyoto at Campus Plaza Kyoto. Meet your new and continuing officers, hear about what we’ve achieved this year, and work with us to help plan what to do in the coming year and beyond.

View Candidates for the Kyoto Chapter 2023-2024 Executive Board @kyotojalt.org

Event Information

• Event type: Annual General Meeting
• Date: 5 November, 2023 @ 10:00am
• Location: Campus Plaza Kyoto (find maps and directions HERE)
• Online Option: none

Schedule

• 10:00 - Doors open & registration
• 10:15 - Featured Keynote Address: Dr. Misuzu Asari (Beyond SDGs) (both English and Japanese will be used / 英語と日本語の両方を使用します)
• 11:00 - Annual General Meeting

Schedule is subject to change

Beyond SDGs

Dr. Misuzu Asari: Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies

Kyoto, a city with a 1300-year history, is full of hints about sustainability. Based on this legacy, we have started the "Global Youth Summit" to pass on this knowledge to the next generation. Students can participate in both English and Japanese, and it's an opportunity to connect with the world.

Biography

京都大学大学院工学研究科卒。博士（工学）。京都大学環境科学センター助教を経て京都大学地球環境学堂准教授。

Dr. Asari holds a Ph.D in Engineering from Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering. She formally served as an Assistant Professor at Kyoto University Center for Environmental Sciences, and currently holds the position of Associate Professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies.

November is the month of the JALT National conference, and many people join JALT just in time to attend. CUE would like to welcome new SIG members (and interested others) to attend an online meet-and-greet event on Saturday, November 18th, from 2-4 PM. 

11月はJALT全国大会が開催される月で、それに合わせてJALTに入会する人も多いです。 CUE は、11 月 18 日土曜日、午後 2 時から午後 4 時まで開催されるオンライン交流会イベントに新しい SIG メンバー (および興味のある人) が参加することを歓迎したいと考えています。

Please register for the Zoom link: Registration Link | 登録リンク - Zoomリンクを受け取るにはここに登録してください

Presenter: Carlos Budding

Abstract: This presentation has two main foci. The first one is a brief historical account of the university’s Self-Access Center (SAC) known as the Development and Intercultural Studies Center (LDIC) and how it has evolved since the university opened almost 20 years ago. The other focus will address how assessment of students’ independent work was modified due to the pandemic and how this change has yielded very positive results in terms of the work being produced independently by students. 

Bio: Carlos Budding moved to the USA from Argentina at 12, where he learned English, American Sign Language, and French. His studies led him to get an MA in Linguistics from Gallaudet University, and another MA in Education from George Mason University. Prior to moving to Japan, Carlos worked as an ESL/ASL Teacher. Currently he works at Akita International University as an Associate Professor in EAP and is the Coordinator of the university's Self-Access Center. 

Venue: 

Yamagata University,

Faculty of Education, Art and Science Bldg. 4th Floor 

共通第1実習室Room443(Bldg.A2)

All members and interested people are invited to join an open meeting to discuss the future of the Kitakyushu JALT Chapter. We will be talking about the viability of the chapter, future plans and projects, and openings for chapter officers. If you have any ideas for revitalising our chapter, please come and join us.

Why are Japanese’ communication skills lagging behind their Asian counterparts? What is missing in Japanese EFL education? What is necessary to achieve fluency? What can Japan　learn from EFL/ESL teaching and language environments of other countries? Professionals from diverse cultural background in JALT Ibaraki Chapter will discuss these issues and suggest ways to successfully achieve the goal of effective English instruction in Japanese elementary schools. (Cecilia Ikeguchi)

Venue:  Ibaraki University, Mito, Ibaraki-prefecture

Theme: Towards an Effective Implementation of EFL Education in Japan

Date: Ibaraki-JALT Meeting on September 17, 2023 

Fee: Members:Free, Non-Members: 500 yen

Venue:  Ibaraki University, Mito, Ibaraki-prefecture

　Address:  2-1-1, Bunkyo, Mito
    Location map in Japanese:  https://www.ibaraki.ac.jp/generalinfo/campus/mito/
    Access in English:  https://www.ibaraki.ac.jp/en/access/
    Meeting Room: First Floor of the University Library (in front of the main gate)

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How to reach the library and/or park your car
The only thing you need to do on the day is to write your name and so on at the main gate. Then the guard will give you a parking card.
  Her instructions are:  
1.  Meet the guard first at the main gate.  They’ll give you a parking card.  
2. Enter from the right gate (来客用駐車場入り口（Visitor's parking lot entrance).  You can park in A or B.  
3.  Go to the first floor of the library. 
(by Rika Otsu)
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Morning session: 

The speakers in the morning session will describe the general situation of English language education in elementary schools and identify the problems. 

10:30:  Greeting from the president 

10:40-11:00  Presentation 1:  Naomi Takagi

                Title:  Elementary English Education: Goals, Practice, and Challenges 

11:00-11:10  Q&A

11:10-11:30  Presentation 2:  Rika Otsu

                Title: Voluntary Reading English picture books to elementary school students 

11:30-11:40  Q&A

11:40-12:00  Presentation 3:  Naoko Ochiai

               Title: Let's make your classroom a fun place to speak: Empowering Teachers through

Educational Apps and the CEFR

12:00-12:10  Q&A

12:10-13:30  Lunch break

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About lunch, there are Coco's and Gusto near the university. Or, we can buy Obento at a convenience store near the university and eat at the table outside the auditorium or nearby park if it's not too hot. (by Rika Otsu)

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Afternoon session: 

The speakers in the afternoon session will discuss the situation of English in different language environments suggesting reasons based on realities and research why Japan lags behind.

13:30:  Greeting from the president

13:40-14:00  Presentation 3:  Timothy Cook

Title:   ELT situation in Finland

14:00-14:10  Q&A 

14:10-14:30 Presentation 4:  Deborah Grow

Title:  Observations  on differences in learning English between Japanese, Chinese & Vietnamese students.

14:30-14:40  Q&A

14:40-15:00  Presentation 5:  Cecilia B-Ikeguchi

Title:  Look Outside: Issues in FLE Reforms in Japan

15:00-15:10  Q&A 

15:10-15:40  Overall comments & discussion 

15:40-16:00  Business meeting