Hi everyone! Hope you all are managing okay in this humidity. Holidays are just on the other side of that rainy season horizon, so just hang on these next few weeks! Nearly there....And now a few items for you merry LiLT folk:
1. Best of JALT nominees We’d like to make requests for nominations of own and others for 'Best of JALT'. LiLT will be participating in this for the first time in 2013. The prize is for ‘best’ presentation of the year. To be clear: presentation, not publication.
To nominate please state:
â— Name of nominee
â— Event, venue, date of presentation
◠Why nominating for ‘best’ – why was the presentation so good?
◠Note – self-nominations are acceptable.
2. Pan-SIG Pan-SIG held 18-19th May at Nanzan University, Nagoya University was an enjoyable affair. For LiLT indeed this was the first time that many officers had actually met face to face! The Forum was co-led by Tara McIlroy (LiLT), Jane Nakagawa (LiLT), Dawn Kobayashi (SDD, also a LiLT member) and David Gann (Critical Thinking). We look forward to the next one in sunny Miyazaki, 2014.
(Photo, left to right: Jane Nakagawa, Tara McIlroy, David Gann, Dawn Kobayashi)
3. JALT National SIG Forum The forum will be on the theme of ‘literature and the stories of our lives’ and we’ll have an eclectic mix of presentations from SIG members including (but not limited to): talking about texts for use in class, stories of learning about literature, using creative writing with students, and the choices we’ve made around reading material. We look forward to meeting you at JALT national to share ideas about literature there.
4. Events brainstorm for 2014 Soliciting ideas/suggestions for 2014. We are at the early stages of discussions with other SIGs concerning possibly co-arranging a mini-conference in 2014. Planning is in the very early stages, but we are currently thinking of a one-day Saturday event. We would be happy to hear any ideas for how you might like to see this work: themes, sub-themes, format etc. Send your suggestions to us at <liltsig@gmail.com> and watch this space for news of an event in the making.
5. Positions Vacant: Need a Treasurer! We are a frugal bunch here, so there is very little paperwork. And to make matters even easier, there is a detailed JALT handbook on how to keep track of everything. So if you could spare around 10 - 20 minutes a month, and a wee bit more at the end of the fiscal year, to help us, that would be super!! It’s good for your resume too of course - gets the ‘organisation/responsibility’ section covered in spades due to the financial aspect. We very much do need this covered ASAP due to the resignation of the previous incumbent. Contact us: liltsig@gmail.com.
6. Submissions to Journal of Literature in Language Teaching We have had some admissions submitted already and things are looking good for another strong issue. Please do share any possible articles, reviews, etc. you might have that would be suitable for the journal. Deadline for the next issue is August 15 and you can find more details on the publications page of the LiLT SIG web site.
7. LiLT Logo We are in need of a logo now. It seems horrific to use the ‘branding’ word, but a logo would help us all. This is your group, so if you have an idea for an image, please let us know.
8. JALT Executive Board Meeting Representing you and your views, Simon Bibby will be attending the JALT EBM in Kyoto at the end of this month. There has been much discussion recently, with plenty of emails flying backwards and forwards, about SIG and Chapter responsibilities. There have been some complaints about some SIGs (not this, not us, not yours) not doing enough in terms of communicating with members, and in terms of the frequency and quality of the publication(s). Some folks have mooted a maximum number of SIGs. It has even been suggested that perhaps some declining SIGs should be encouraged to merge.
While we try our best to keep the lines of communication open, we are always looking for new ways to improve the SIG and help develop a stronger sense of community. If you have the time, do let us know what you want and how you wish for things to progress. What would you like us to do in the way of events, publications and communication? How we can help you?
And now a brief note from Simon:
I have certain feelings of my own regarding SIG responsibilities, but feel it appropriate to ask members for their views and I will seek to voice your views as best I can at the EBM. You can also choose to voice your views through your respective Chapter Representatives if that is the route you feel more comfortable with.
9. Events Listing here things outside of the usual JALT arena. Three events you may have missed, and our HUGE thanks to Jane Nakagawa for letting us know about all these events. Jane – you are a star!
September 28, Kyoto, 100,000 Poets for Change There will be a free poetry reading in Kyoto in conjunction with the worldwide 100,000 poets for change events. Readers: poets Atsusuke Tanaka, Eric Selland, Goro Takano, Ikuyo Yoshimura, LiLT publicity co-chair Jane Joritz-Nakagawa, Kiyoko Ogawa, Leah Ann Sullivan, Sean Lotman, Trane DeVore, and Yoko Danno.
November 2-3, Okinawa, Japan Writers Conference This is an event for published writers, translators, editors, agents and publishers. LiLT officers Tara McIlroy, Simon Bibby and Gavin Brooks all aim to be there, subject to acceptance of our proposal. See you at the conference, see you on the beach!
10. Shakespeare job As we informed you last year, well in advance of publication to give you the time needed to get your paperwork in order, the Shakespeare job is now online at JREC. Kobe College, Kansai.
Okay, that’s all for now. Don’t forget your umbrellas! Hang on in there until the end of semester...!
