This is an archive of the old (pre-2025) JALT website.
For the new website, visit https://jalt.org

JALT Event

Multilingual Café (OLE-SIG) on Hokkien, a dialect of southern Min Chinese

Event Speaker(s): 
Timothy Ang
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - 7:30pm to 9:00pm

The next Multilingual Cafe (OLE SIG) is scheduled for Wednesday November 30th, 2022 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm and will be held online. -
Timothy Ang, an IEFL (Instructor of English as a Foreign Language) at Kwansei Gakuin University will present on Hokkien, a dialect of southern Min Chinese that is also spoken in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

The OLE SIG wants to provide a space to meet and share using languages other than English, creating a community of practice. This is the Multilingual Café: meet and chat in your favorite language. The languages available depend on those attending on the day (for example French, German, Spanish, Thai, Hungarian, Chinese, Tagalog, Japanese and many more). After a short presentation we will meet in breakout rooms where different languages are used for further discussions. (Lingua Franca: English and Japanese)
We meet online using zoom, please sign-up for receiving the zoom-credentials.

Address: 
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Cost for JALT Members: 
free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
free

ELT Lightning Talks Seminar

Event Speaker(s): 
Various speakers
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 - 6:00pm to 8:30pm

JALT East Shikoku JALT Chapter is now accepting lightening talk proposals that focus on language teaching and research. The Lightening Talk format will combine 15-minute focused presentations with a follow-up group interaction session. Discussion will continue with an informal 2022 Chapter bonenkai. Lightening Talks should be submitted by Tuesday, November 1st. This will be a face-to-face event (our first attempt in a long time!)

Lightening Talk Submission Guidelines

Include the following information in the text using the chapter email contact at: https://jalt.org/groups/chapters/east-shikoku

· Name:
· Affiliation:
· Lightening Talk title:
· Abstract: (maximum: 100 words)
· JALT Member: Yes / No

Fees:
1. Any JALT member may attend the Conference free of charge.
2. There is no presentation fee for JALT members with accepted proposals.
3. One-day membership for non-members: 1000 yen
4. There will be a presentation fee of 5000 yen for accepted proposals from all non-members (this includes the one-day membership)
5. Co-presenter submissions are welcomed but the main speaker shall be responsible for any payment of presentation fees for non-member co-presenters prior to the Conference.

Location:
Kochi University of Technology Eikokuji Campus (Downtown campus)
Room A106

Address: 
780-8515
Kochi
Kochi City
Eikokuji-cho 2-22
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Email: 
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
1000 yen

Hiroshima JALT October Monthly Meeting - Face-to-Face

Event Speaker(s): 
Carol Rinnert
Monika Szirmai
Jim Ronald
Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Now that we are approaching the final quarter of the year and have the JALT2022 Conference coming up, we offer you the opportunity to have a SNEAK PEEK. We have three speakers lined up, Carol Rinnert, Monika Szirmai, and Jim Ronald.

Carol Rinnert - Professor Emeritus, Hiroshima City University, has taught English writing and linguistics in the US, Yemen, and Japan.

Her presentation: How to Be Clear and Engaging in Academic Writing: Use of Metadiscourse

Monika Szirmai - Professor, Kanda University of International Studies, she started teaching in Japan in 1995.

Her presentation: Literature and Communication: Arch Enemies?

Jim Ronald - Professor, Hiroshima Shudo University, has a PhD is in Vocabulary Acquisition.

His presentation: A Year of Online End-of-Class Feedback: Lessons for Teachers and Learners

There is also room for one more! If you are presenting at the JALT2022 Conference and haven't contacted us yet, you still have some time!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you

Address: 
Hiroshima
Hiroshima YMCA – brick building
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Email: 
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
500 yen

ZPD (Zoom for Professional Development)

Friday, October 28, 2022 - 8:00pm

JALT's ZPD (Zoom for Professional Development) is a monthly, 1-hour networking event with several themed breakout rooms, including orientation for new and potential JALT members, getting published, teaching online, and more. Please join us for networking, informal chat, and in building a community of practice with JALT members and prospective members. The special speakers of October's ZPD are: Members of the Domestic Affairs Committee (DAC), Members of the International Affairs Committee (IAC). Afterwards, we'll break up into smaller groups to discuss those topics and, as usual, we will also have an orientation for new officers and new members, tips and best practices in teaching, getting published, Eikawa & ALT Issues, Online teaching, Hybrid teaching, and more. This event is free and open to all. Please register to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/ZPDRSVP

Address: 
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Cost for JALT Members: 
0
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
0

Can an old brain learn a new language? Neuroplasticity and the critical period hypothesis of foreign language learning

Event Speaker(s): 
Yuwen Takahashi
Friday, October 21, 2022 - 7:30pm

Nagano JALT are pleased to announce our upcoming October event with Nagano’s very own Yuwen Takahashi:

Date: October 21st, Friday 7:30-8:30pm

Fee: Free

Location: Online/Zoom

Registration: https://forms.gle/vcfHUsdnzMWBHftVA

Can an old brain learn a new language? Neuroplasticity and the critical period hypothesis of foreign language learning

大人になっても言語習得ができるか? ―外国語習得における神経可塑性と臨界期仮説―

English has become a required subject from the third grade in Japanese elementary schools in 2020. This requirement might be attributed to a belief that people can acquire language skills most efficiently if they are exposed to language stimulations during a special period, or critical period, in development for language acquisition. In this presentation, a brief review of the research literature on the issue of critical period hypothesis in foreign/second language acquisition and findings from neuro-structural changes as a result of language learning will be presented.

2020年

より日本の小学校で外国語活動は3年生から実施することになった。こういった政策は、人間は言語獲得によりに効率的な時期、いわゆる「臨界期」に言語的刺激を与えるとより良い習得結果につながるという思考に影響を受けたと考えられる。このプレゼンテーションでは、外国語習得における臨界期仮説および神経可塑性の研究結果を紹介する。

Yuwen Takahashi teaches English and psychology at Shinshu University and at Bunka Gakuen University Early Childhood Education Technical College. She became a JALT member in 2021.

高橋ユウエンは信州大学と文化学園大学保育専門学校で英語と心理学を教えています。2021年にJALTの会員になりました。

Address: 
Nagano
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Event Theme: 
Brain, Psycholoy
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Email: 
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
Free

1) Improving Minority Language Competence in a Toddler Using the “One Parent, One Language” Method. 「一親、一言語」方式による幼児のマイノリティ言語能力の向上; 2) Language and Cultural Awareness Through Haiku 俳句を通した言語・文化認識; and 3) Critical Thinking from the Student Perspective 学生から見

Event Speaker(s): 
1) Charles Paul Kelada, Gifu Chapter ケラダ・チャールズ・ポール(JALT岐阜チャプター)
2) Ian Downer, Assistant Professor, Ehime University English Education Center イアン・ダウナー(愛媛大学英語教育センター助教)
Sunday, December 11, 2022 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
1) Charles Kelada
2) Ian Downer

This is going to be a hybrid meeting. We meet at Ehime University, but online participation is also welcome!

 <Consisting of two parts--one part being canceled from previously planned three parts>

1) Zoom presentation

After struggling to get my first child to use his minority language, I realized that I made many mistakes early on with my own behavior. Authors such as Yamamoto (2001) suggest that it is unlikely for children to use their minority language in the Japanese context unless both parents speak the minority language with their child. However, in this case study, I use the “One Parent, One Language” method to improve my child’s minority language competence, eventually allowing him to produce the minority language on his own. This presentation focuses on my hearing child and his struggles with learning a second language. If time allows, I will share some observations I’ve made on my younger deaf son’s language development. For more information on young bilinguals, please read Byers-Heinlein and Lew-Williams (2013): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6168212/

最初の子どもがマイノリティ言語を使うようになるのに苦労した後、私自身の行動で早くから多くの間違いを犯していたことに気づいた。山本(2001)などの著者は、両親が子供と一緒にマイノリティ言語を話さない限り、子供が日本の文脈でマイノリティ言語を使用する可能性は低いと指摘している。しかし、この事例では、「一親一言語」方式で、子供のマイノリティ言語能力を向上させ、最終的には自分自身でマイノリティ言語を提示できるようにすることを目指している。 このプレゼンテーションでは、私の健聴者の子供と、彼の第二言語の習得の苦労に焦点を当てる。また、時間が許せば、私の下のろう児の言語発達についての観察も紹介する。

Charles has taught English in Japan for 8 years and has worked in international trade. His focus is on bilingualism in young children, and he hopes to research bilingualism in deaf individuals, especially young children.

チャールズは日本で8年間英語を教えた経験があり、国際貿易に携わった経験もある。彼の関心は、幼児のバイリンガリズムにあり、聴覚障害者、特に幼児のバイリンガリズムを研究したいと考えている。

2) Face-to-face presentation

Critical thinking skills are widely recognized as important assets for academic and professional success. However, they are not always easy to teach. The presenter will outline some of the challenges he has faced related to the fostering of critical thinking skills on a professional studies course at a Japanese university, and put forward some strategies that have helped to motivate the use of these skills by the students in this context. He will conclude by suggesting that undertaking an appraisal of the students’ existing concepts of critical thinking may positively enhance pedagogical instruction in this area.

クリティカルシンキングのスキルは、学業や仕事で成功するための重要な資産であると広く認識されている。しかし、それを教えることは必ずしも容易ではない。本講演では、日本の大学の専門職大学院のコースでクリティカル・シンキングのスキルを育成する際に直面した課題を概説し、このような状況下で学生がスキルを使用する動機付けに役立った戦略をいくつか提示する。最後に、クリティカルシンキングに関する学生の既存の概念を評価することで、この分野における教育的指導を積極的に強化できる可能性があることを示唆する。

Note: If you are planning to join online as a one-day member, please pay the fee to the following bank account:

Shinsei bank 
Account number : 400 1656054 (柳在熙 Jaehhee Ryu) 
Branch:本店(Head office)、
Account type : 普通(Saving account)

Endorsements: Matsuyama City; Matsuyama City Board of Education (後援: 松山市、松山市教育委員会)

Address: 
Ehime
Matsuyama
M215, Aidai Muse Building, Ehime University Johoku Campus
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Email: 
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
1,000 yen (payable at the door, or for online participants see the bottom of the description for the account details)

Kobe JALT hosts Global Issues, Sustainability and Language Education co-sponsored by GILE and THT

Event Speaker(s): 
Dr. Joshua Jodoin
Mr. Anthony Torbert
Dr. Erin Noxon
Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

This event is hosted by Kobe JALT and co-sponsored by the Global Issues in Language Education (GILE) and Teachers Helping Teachers (THT) Special Interest Groups of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT).

The focus of this multi-speaker professional development event is the planning, preparation, and delivery of language education that is focused on global issues, sustainability, and/or ethical behavior.

Presenters

Dr. Joshua Jodoin (Konan University) will offer participants insights into Language Education for Sustainable Development (LESD) through the SCOPE Framework, which can immediately be used in classes, courses, and curriculum to enhance the content and language in purposeful and worthwhile ways.

Mr. Anthony Torbert (Kobe Gakuin University) will share a collection of activities and ideas for teaching Ethical Investing (ESG/SDGs).

Dr. Erin Noxon (Kyoto Prefectural Sagano High School) will reflect on her experiences developing and delivering a global education curriculum in a Super Global High School program. 

Pre-registration is required. Register here!

Access to the venue: https://www.kih.co.jp/access

 

 

Address: 
651-0087
Hyogo
Kobe
VENUE: Kobe International House (神戸国際会館/こうべ こくさい かいかん)Room 802
Gokodori 8-1-6
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Event Theme: 
Professional Development
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
1,000 yen

TBLT Tuesdays 2022: Jonathan Newton - “Do we really know what a task is? Insights and from textbook analysis”

Event Speaker(s): 
Jonathan Newton
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 - 7:00pm

Do we really know what a task is? Insights and from textbook analysis

 Jonathan Newton
Victoria University of Wellington

Commercially published ELT textbooks are the mainstay of many language classrooms around the world, and especially in Asia. Growing awareness of, and policy mandates for some version of TBLT raise the question of what affordances for teaching with tasks are available in these textbooks. In this talk, I present findings from an analysis and coding of textbooks activities from a selection of widely used secondary school textbook series in China and Vietnam. The analysis drew on the four features of tasks proposed by Ellis (2018): a primary focus on meaning, a gap, learners relying on their own resources, and a communitive outcome. The analysis revealed complexities and fuzziness around these constructs which need to be addressed if they are to be of practical use to teachers. The talk focuses on how the problems encountered in coding textbook activities were resolved and on steps to develop a heuristic that teachers could use to identify and maximize affordances for TBLT in the textbooks they use.

 

Please join us for this talk by a distinguished figure in the TBLT community. Sign-ups are limited. You can register here.

And also check out our other talks in the TBLT Tuesdays 2022 series at TBLT Tuesdays 2022 | Task-based Learning Special Interest Group (tblsig.org)

Address: 
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
Free

TBLT Tuesdays 2022: Masatoshi Sato - Learner engagement and TBLT: Marrying the wisdom of teachers and researchers

Event Speaker(s): 
Masatoshi Sato
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 8:30pm

Learner engagement and TBLT: Marrying the wisdom of teachers and researchers

Masatoshi Sato
Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile.

In this seminar, I will critically evaluate TBLT research and its relevance to second language (L2) teaching. On the one hand, researchers have produced an amount of evidence supporting the impact of task-based interaction on L2 learning. This research has primarily investigated the nature of tasks, implementation processes of tasks, and students’ and teachers’ perceptions of tasks. On the other hand, teachers around the globe have reported difficulties when they implement tasks in their classes. Those include the lack of L2 production, first language use, and social relationships between learners, all indicating that learners may not engage with a task even when its effectiveness has been proven by researchers. To tackle this gap, I will explore psychological and social variables that may mediate learner engagement with tasks. I will argue that one option to increase learner engagement is to manipulate learner beliefs of and attitudes towards tasks. I will conclude the seminar by proposing research directions that may ultimately aid teachers to use tasks in more effective and efficient ways.

 

Please join us for this talk by a distinguished figure in the TBLT community. Sign-ups are limited. Please register here.

And also check out our other talks in the TBLT Tuesdays 2022 series at TBLT Tuesdays 2022 | Task-based Learning Special Interest Group (tblsig.org)

Address: 
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
Free

TBLT Tuesdays 2022: Andrea Revesz - “Methodological issues in exploring task-based speech production processes”

Event Speaker(s): 
Andrea Revesz
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 7:00pm

Andrea Revesz

Methodological issues in exploring task-based speech production processes

 

The last few decades have seen significant advances in describing and understanding the behaviours of L2 speakers during task-based work. Less is known, however, about the neurocognitive processes in which L2 speakers engage. In this talk, I will first propose that, to promote L2 theory-building and advance task-based pedagogy, it is essential that more research attention is allocated to task-generated processes. Then, I will turn to a review of various methods that have been used to explore task-based processes. I will also demonstrate how an interdisciplinary approach, combining cognitive and neuroscience methods, can help us obtain a fuller and more complete understanding of L2 speech production. In doing so, I will draw on my own and colleagues’ work examining the processes in which L2 learners engage during oral task performance. I will end the talk with methodological recommendations for future task-based research into speech production processes.

 

Please join us for this talk by a distinguished figure in the TBLT community. Sign-ups are limited. You can register here.

And also check out our other talks in the TBLT Tuesdays 2022 series at TBLT Tuesdays 2022 | Task-based Learning Special Interest Group (tblsig.org)

Address: 
Japan
Event in Planning: 
Scheduled
Event Type: 
Online Meeting: 
Yes
Cost for JALT Members: 
Free
Cost for non-JALT Members: 
Free