NPO The Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) - JALT Event

Autoethnography for reflective practice, self-care, and professional development with Dr. Miso Kim (Osaka University)

Kyle Undem — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:44:16 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

Dr. Miso Kim

Saturday, April 19, 2025 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm

This hands-on workshop is designed for teachers who seek to turn their lived experiences and translingual identities into teaching and research. In the first half of the workshop, I introduce autoethnography, a research method for critically analyzing our teacher identities and experiences. I then invite attendees to reflect on their teacher identities and experiences, express them in creative forms, and connect with other attendees. In the second half, I demonstrate how to turn the reflection into pedagogy, research, and self-care by drawing on the concept of translingual identity-as-pedagogy and showcasing my ongoing action research project. Attendees will then collaborate to explore the links between their translingual identities and experiences with their teaching and research, as they discuss how to enrich their pedagogy and create a community for solidarity and care.

Address:

Hyogo

Kobe

Kobe Kokusai Seminar House Room 806

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Cost for JALT Members:

Free

Cost for non-JALT Members:

¥1000

Link:

See our website for registration information

Interactive Workshop: Digital Tools for Language Education - Kathryn Akasaka -

Jason Hill — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 05:00:30 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

Kathryn Akasaka

Sunday, April 20, 2025 - 1:30pm

Iwate-Aomori

Abstract: This interactive workshop introduces digital tools designed to streamline collaboration, engagement, and learning in a variety of educational environments. These tool are either completely free or have a free option. Busy teacher know how important it is to have a few tricks up their sleeve. In this practical workshop participants will be guided through hands-on demonstrations of five key platforms: Padlet, LingoLive, Classroomscreen, Mentimeter, and Wordwall. Each tool offers unique features, there is something here for everyone. Padlet facilitates collaborative information sharing and organization; LingoLive specializes in personalized language learning experiences; Classroomscreen offers a customizable virtual classroom management dashboard; Mentimeter enables engaging, interactive presentations through real-time polling; and Wordwall helps create interactive and fun educational activities. The workshop will provide practical applications, tips for effective usage, and strategies for integrating these tools into daily routines to maximize productivity and engagement.

Bio:Kathryn Akasaka has lived and worked in Iwate for more than 30 years. She graduated from Earlham College majoring in Education. Having taught all ages and levels she currently divides her time between a private combined Junior High and Senior High School and four universities a part-time teacher

Address:

020-0066

Iwate

Morioka

3 Chome-18-8 Ueda

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

Workshop

Email:

Send Email

Cost for JALT Members:

Free

Cost for non-JALT Members:

Free

SPIN Student Research Symposium 2025

Natsuho Mizoguchi — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:16:08 +0000

Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 1:00pm

Student Peer Interaction Network Committee (SPIN)

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Cost for JALT Members:

¥0

Cost for non-JALT Members:

¥500

Link:

Event Registration

YoJALT My Share

Mary Nobuoka — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 22:08:33 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

You!

Sunday, April 13, 2025 - 1:00pm

Yokohama

Join us to share or watch 10- to 15-minute presentations with practical ideas for the language-learning classroom at Keio University Hiyoshi campus! Doors open at 1pm. A social/networking get-together will follow this event.

Call for presenters: Submit an abstract and short bio at yojaltprogram@yojalt.org before March 31st.

***This is also an opportunity to publish a paper with Accents Asia.***

Register for the hybrid option on Zoom at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmAwxj4PDrpqP_8vWI6SMvplPcycCYMwPw87uhT_q95khL4g/viewform?usp=header

Address:

Kanagawa

Yokohama

Keio University Hiyoshi Campas

Across the street from Hiyoshi Station (Toyoko Line, Green Line, Meguro Line)

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

My Share

Email:

Send Email

Cost for JALT Members:

Free

Cost for non-JALT Members:

2,000

Inclusive Education: The Challenges of Educators with Disabilities in Japan インクルーシブ教育：日本における障害のある教育者の課題

Rudolf Reinelt — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:38:10 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

Teresa Stockwell

Saturday, June 14, 2025 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Matsuyama

Abstract:
While discussions on inclusivity in Japan’s education system often focus on students, the challenges faced by educators with disabilities remain largely overlooked. This presentation explores the barriers these educators encounter—including accessibility, workplace support, and policy implementation—and why their inclusion is crucial for fostering true diversity in education. Originally inspired by my colleague Gavin, who was diagnosed with ALS while teaching, the research highlights personal experiences taken from interviews with educators across Japan. This information is relevant for teachers, administrators, and policymakers seeking to create more inclusive school environments.

日本の教育制度におけるインクルージョンに関する議論は、主に生徒に焦点が当てられることが多い一方で、障害のある教育者が直面する課題は十分に議論されていません。本プレゼンテーションでは、教育者が直面するアクセシビリティの問題、職場でのサポート、政策の実施状況などの障壁を探り、真の多様性を育むために彼らのインクルージョンがいかに重要であるかを考察します。本研究は、ALSを発症しながら教鞭を執っていた私の同僚ギャビンの経験に触発され、日本全国の教育者へのインタビューを通じて得られた実体験を基にしています。本発表は、よりインクルーシブな学校環境の構築を目指す教師、管理職、政策立案者にとって、有益な視点を提供するものです。

Bio:
Teresa Stockwell from Okayama University is currently researching the experiences of educators with disabilities in Japan through interviews with teachers. She is particularly interested in how diverse educators contribute to a more equitable and representative school system.
岡山大学のテレサ・ストックウェル氏は、日本の教育現場における障害のある教育者の経験について、教師へのインタビューを通じて研究を行っています。彼女は、多様な教育者がより公平で包括的な学校制度にどのように貢献できるかに関心を持っています。

Address:

790-0844

Ehime

Matsuyama

Dogo Ichiman 1-1

Ehime Prefecture International Center (EPIC)

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

Inclusive Education: The Challenges of Educators with Disabilities in Japan インクルーシブ教育：日本における障害のある教育者の課題

Email:

Send Email

Cost for JALT Members:

free

Cost for non-JALT Members:

1000 yen

How to avoid falling prey to predatory publishers and conferences

Raymond Hoogenboom — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 04:01:54 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

James McCrostie

Sunday, March 23, 2025 - 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Gunma

Predatory publishers and conferences threaten academia around the world. This presentation defines predatory publishers and conference organizers as publications and events produced by a for-profit company that aim to maximize profits, employ deception, and have no genuine concern to contribute to academic knowledge. Research shows that both predatory journals and conferences outnumber legitimate journals and conferences. Despite the danger that they pose to professional reputations and research budgets, not enough is being done to address the problem.

Multiple predatory publishers and conferences now specifically target academics in the field of TESOL and pose a serious danger to the careers of both new and established academics. By examining screenshots of predatory websites, this presentation will identify red flags that will help academics avoid falling prey to predatory companies.

James McCrostie is a professor of English in the Department of Business Administration at Daito Bunka University. He has written articles on and been interviewed about predatory publishers and conference organizers for newspapers, magazines, academic magazines and blogs.

There is a short drink/snack/rest break midway through the event.

This is a face-to-face event sponsored by JALT Gunma Chapter.

Address:

379-2192

Gunma

Maebashi

Kyoai Gakuen University

1154-4 Koyaharamachi

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

Publishing, Presenting, Predatory Publishers, Predatory Conferences

Email:

Send Email

Cost for JALT Members:

Free

Cost for non-JALT Members:

Free for 1st-time visitors & students. All others ¥1,000. Yearly local membership of ¥4,000 available. For details, contact gunmajalt+membership@gmail.com.

Link:

Link to Kyoai Gakuen University

NaraJALT Lunch & Hike on Mount Ikoma

Leigh McDowell — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 05:39:13 +0000

Sunday, April 6, 2025 - 11:35am

Nara

This spring, join NaraJALT for a fun day out on Mount Ikoma, featuring wood-fired artisan pizza, easy-grade mountain hike, and exceptional spring views.

Times, Locations and Links:
11:36 Ikoma Cable-car Tori-mae Station
12:00 Kumotei Stone-Oven Mountain Pizza Restaurant
14:00 Ikoma-sanroku Park

Lunch
Following the annual NaraJALT MyShare event, participants will walk to the Ikoma Cable-car Tori-mae Station, and catch the 11:36 cable-car to the Hozan-ji Station. From Hozan-ji, it’s a short walk to the secluded Kumotei restaurant, where participants will enjoy the most delicious pizza set-lunch.
Cost: ¥3,630

Hike
After lunch, participants will set off on a 30-min easy-grade hike to the Ikoma-sanroku Park, where they can enjoy the afternoon among the cherry blossoms with spectacular views. For the return journey, participants can take a bus to Ikoma Station, or opt to hike the more challenging 60-min return-leg down the mountain.

You will not want to miss this unique opportunity to savour, stroll, and soak in the views of the beautiful Mount Ikoma in spring. Lunch reservation is limited and registration is essential, so be sure to fill in the form to reserve your spot.

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

Savour, Stroll and Soak in the Views

Email:

Send Email

Cost for JALT Members:

¥3,630 for pizza set-lunch

Cost for non-JALT Members:

¥3,630 for pizza set-lunch

2025 My Share for Primary/Secondary educators – 30 March, 2025

Edward Escobar — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:31:24 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

Celeste Beboso, Edward Escobar, Harmony Martin, Samia Haseeb Khan, Benjamin Robertson, David Wybenga

Sunday, March 30, 2025 - 9:00am

Kyoto

On Sunday, 30 March at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine’s Inamori Memorial Hall, join us for a morning of tips, tricks, and activities from primary and secondary educators in and around Kyoto.

Date: 30 March 2025
Time: 9:00 – 12:00
Online option: YouTube LIVE (register for this event to get the link)
Location: Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo Campus, Building 8 (Inamori Memorial Hall), Room 209 (Access information at KPU’s website HERE)
Language: English
Participation fee: Free

Abstracts

The Litterless Campaign: How a 3-year TBL initiative was implemented into a high school English curriculum

Edward Escobar – Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School

From 2022 to 2024, two high school classes part of a partial English immersion course in Kyoto participated in a world-wide project supported through UNESCO and the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) called “The Litterless Campaign”. During this 3-year initiative, the two classes participated in a number of scaffolded tasks to raise awareness about different waste-management practices in various countries. Each class took turns presenting their findings to the other class over the course of three years, coming to conclusions on best practices based on their observations in their home country Japan, and from surveys and observations conducted in New Zealand and Canada while on a short-term study abroad excursion. Students then used this information to participate in a Model United Nations conference focusing on the crisis of pollution and waste around the world. This presentation introduces the structure of the initiative and how it was implemented into a high school curriculum.

Does Speed Equal Success? Examining the Relationship Between Writing Fluency and TOEFL Results

Benjamin Robertson – Kousen Catholic Junior High School & Senior High School

This study investigates the impact of speed writing activities on students’ writing fluency and their performance on the TOEFL writing section. Over a three-month period, a group of six high school students participated in structured speed writing sessions, with their words per minute (WPM) tracked across practice intervals. To assess the potential relationship between writing fluency and TOEFL performance, students completed a questionnaire and participated in interviews at the end of the study, providing insights into their experiences and perceived improvements. The presentation will detail the methods used to track progress, including WPM calculations, comparative analysis of writing samples, and any correlation between fluency gains and TOEFL writing scores. Trends observed across different age groups will also be highlighted, along with practical recommendations for integrating speed writing into English language instruction. This session is designed for educators interested in the relationship between fluency and assessment and fostering students’ writing development.

Teaching With Picture Books

David Wybenga – Kyoto ETJ

What can you do with a picture book? Share a good story, teach about the world, motivate with some life lesson or moral, inspire a discussion, teach or practice new words or a sentence structure, change the routine, set up an activity. I will introduce a number of useful picture books for teaching English to children. As time allows I will demonstrate some activities to go along with those books, and materials that can be acquired or constructed. I can answer questions about picture books, and introduce an ongoing resource for more information, which participants can also contribute to.

A COIL Project: Philippine-Japan Exchange

Celeste Beboso – Kyoto Prefectural Yamashiro High School

With the rise of technology and globalization, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) has emerged as a promising pedagogical approach for fostering global citizenship and intercultural understanding. A project leveraging on the principles of COIL’s advantages was then launched to provide a valuable experience for students while strengthening bilateral ties between the Philippines and Japan. This was featured as one of the selected cases of JET-ALT initiatives in Kyoto Prefecture by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC) in 2023. This online language and culture exchange activity hosted over 20 participants annually from a Prefectural High School in Kyoto and a partner institution in the Philippines from 2022-2024. The synchronous meetings were designed to provide Japanese students with a platform to interact with global English speakers, learn about other cultures while sharing their own, foster open-mindedness, and develop cross-cultural communication skills. Conducted with a number of breakout room sessions, student presentations, and collaborative activities, student feedback indicated a significant interest in communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds and to experience a more immersive interaction.

Classroom Positivity After COVID-19: Strategies for Promoting a Supportive Learning Environment

Samia Haseeb Khan – Mukogawa Women’s University

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education worldwide, impacting students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being. As schools return to in-person learning, creating classroom environments that promote positivity, resilience, and overall well-being is crucial. This talk will explore strategies to support students through key psychological theories, including Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism (1978), which highlights the role of social interaction in learning; Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943), emphasizing emotional well-being as the foundation for academic success; and Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset Theory (2006), which focuses on building resilience through challenges.

In this session, I’ll also share specific exercises I’ve implemented in my classroom since the pandemic, such as mindfulness activities to help students manage stress, team-building games that promote collaboration, and emotion-sharing circles that create a safe space for students to express their feelings. I’ll also discuss using gamified learning to boost engagement and motivation, while focusing on social-emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed teachingto support students’ emotional needs.

By applying these theories and strategies, educators can create a classroom environment where students feel supported, engaged, and empowered to thrive academically and emotionally in the post-pandemic world.

Black-out poetry: A way to trick your teenage students into reading!

Harmony Martin – Kansai International Academy

Some students seem unwilling to read in English. With such students, sometimes tricking them into reading is the perfect solution. How to do so? Allow them to scribble or draw or mark all over the passage you want them to read. Students’ creativity and artistic skills are put to use when you let them make Blackout Poetry. Everyone can be a Blackout Poet; no artistic talent is required. Students of mine as young as 13 years old (second year of junior high school) have willingly read passages in textbooks with enough focus to be able to later recall and summarize the passage. The students believe they simply get to draw or otherwise show their unique creativity; they seldom notice that they have reached my goal for them — they read and understand English passages they wouldn’t otherwise feel any desire or need to read. In this session, I will explain what Blackout Poetry is, show you some examples, give details about how it encourages students to (am I allowed to use the phrase ‘trick them into’?!) not only read, but to read for comprehension, and even to build their vocabulary in the process.

Address:

〒606-8522

Kyoto

京都市

左京区下鴨半木町1-5

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

MyShare

Online Meeting:

Yes

Link:

MyShare 2025 Announcement

Registration Form

Tags:

EFL

MyShare

Kyoto

secondary

primary

PDF:

Attachment	Size
March-2025.pdf	107.62 KB

Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2025 Tenth Anniversary

Jason Hill — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:11:51 +0000

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 10:00am

Iwate-Aomori

Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025

Venue: Hachinohe Gakuin University – Hachinohe Art Museum Satellite Space, Hachinohe, Aomori

The 10th Anniversary of MEES

“Foundations and Frontiers of EFL: Past Lessons and Future Solutions”

We welcome any proposals with relevance to language use, learning, and teaching for any age group within the ELF context. Submissions may include action research conducted inside or outside the classroom, works in progress, teaching strategies and pedagogy, pilot studies, as well as proposals for discussion sessions and workshops.

Sessions are set at 30 minutes (including questions). Please advise us on your session format: formal presentation, workshop, discussion, or demonstration. Also, if you would like more than 30 minutes, let us know.

Abstract Submissions: Abstract must be no longer than 300 words in English, in either MS Word, Mac Pages, or PDF file.

Send all abstract submissions to: MEESjapan@gmail.com

Proposal Abstract Deadline: Friday, May 9th, 2025.

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme:

MEES 10th Anniversary

Email:

Send Email

Empowering Young Minds: An Afternoon of Insights on Teaching Ages 0-18 (Young Learners Forum 2025)

Amy Braun — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:32:59 +0000

Event Speaker(s):

Kensaku Yoshida

David Lissick

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 12:30pm to 5:00pm

Nagoya & Gifu

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Day of Learning and Inspiration!

Nagoya-Gifu JALT proudly presents the annual Young Learners Forum entitled Empowering Young Minds: An Afternoon of Insights on Teaching Ages 0-18, sponsored by Tryalogue Education and Englishbooks.jp—an event packed with ideas, innovation, and passion for teaching young learners!

Why You Should Be There:

1. Two electrifying plenary talks from leading experts
2. Four high-energy PechaKucha presentations
3. Amazing giveaways and Sponsors you won’t want to miss!
4. Connect with passionate educators and share fresh, fun ideas to supercharge your teaching

The Two Plenary Speakers are:

Kensaku Yoshida – "Teaching and Learning to Communicate in the Open Seas"
Navigate the changing tides of English education in Japan! Professor Yoshida will dive into how the shift from traditional methods to a communicative approach—driven by CEFR criteria—can help students thrive in a global world. Get ready to untangle common misunderstandings and discover practical strategies to help your students confidently set sail in the “open seas” of communication.

David Lissick – "Different, Not Less: A Summary of an Analytical Approach to Teaching Neurodiverse Children"
Unlock the power of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and learn how to tailor your teaching for every learner’s unique needs. David will explore how understanding neurodiversity can transform your teaching approach and help every child shine.

Plus, Fast-Paced PechaKucha Presentations!
Get ready for four rapid-fire talks that pack big ideas into bite-sized bursts of inspiration—perfect for sparking creativity and fresh classroom strategies!

Doors open at 12;30 pm! The location is No Borders Chikusa School near the Chikusa Station on the Higashiyama and JR Chuo Lines. If getting there by subway, please use Exit 1. It is highly recommended to come by subway or JR as there will be road closures due to the Nagoya Women's Marathon.

JALT Members, Undergraduate Students, and First Time Attendees are free! Non-members are 1,0000 yen.

Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and leave inspired!
Mark your calendar and join us for a day dedicated to making learning more exciting and meaningful for young minds.

Address:

466-0853

Aichi

Nagoya

3-17-21 Aoi, Higashi Ward

4F Daiichi Sky Building

Japan

Event in Planning:

Scheduled

Event Type:

JALT Event

Event Theme: