Dear chapter members,
We are back to school and the emergency declaration has finally ended. Some of you might still be teaching online, or face to face, or a hybrid of the two. We hope that you all are having a good semester and are staying safe and healthy.
Before we get to the event and other JALT news, if you could take a few minutes of your time and give us some feedback by filling out this survey by clicking on the icon below or on the link: https://forms.gle/ksT8q54WyeqYR81e7 we would very much appreciate it.
All Kyoto chapter members and friends are invited to our annual general meeting. This year it will be held on November 6th. We are honored to welcome Makimi Kano (Kyoto Sangyo University) ,Yoko Kita (Kyoto Notre Dame University) and Kahori Kobayashi (Ritsumeikan University) Details are below. After the three talks, we’ll announce the officer election results and the incoming officers will outline their plans for the 2021-2022 PD season. It’s a chance for normal members to come participate in the business of the chapter and something you don’t want to miss
JALT 2021 will be held November 12-15th. The Early Bird payment options are available to you if you register before November 11, 2021 (or November 1 for Postal Payment). JALT members will save 8,000 yen, and non-members will save 3,000 yen. The conference will be fully online from November 12-15. The workshops on Friday that usually cost extra are included at no extra cost. Full details are available here: https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021/registration-payment.
Kyoto JALT officer elections
The Kyoto chapter of JALT is proud to announce the following slate of prospective candidates for the 2021-2022 officer election. Elections will be held online in October 2021, and the results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) planned for early November 2021.
All chapter members in good standing as of October 1, 2021 will receive an email with a link to the ballot on October 15 at 7 AM. Follow the instructions in this email to submit your ballot. The election will close on October 31 at 11:59 PM.
Important:We welcome any member who wishes to Co-chair or ‘shadow’ a position to learn the ropes. Join us! Email jaltkyoto@gmail.com for more information
President - Gretchen Clark
Treasurer - Martin Hawkes
Programming Chair - Chelanna White
Publicity Chair - Donny Sparrow
Webmaster/ Publicity Co-Chair -Edward Escobar
Membership Chair - Thomas Amundrud
Facilities Chair - Yoshimi Ochiai
Outreach Chair - Christina Coslian
Social Justice Working Group Coordinator - open
What if I don't get an election email? If you were a Kyoto chapter member in good standing as of October 1, 2021, you should receive your election ballot email at the email address you gave when you joined JALT. If you do not receive a ballot, please contact the Kyoto chapter officers at jaltkyoto@gmail.com as soon as you can.
Kind regards,
Richard Sparrow
Publicity Chair
On behalf of the Kyoto JALT Team
Kyoto JALT’s 2021 Event Schedule (Upcoming)
Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/39Ufjv6
News
JALT2021 Schedule
Plan ahead with this provisional schedule for JALT2021. It covers November 13-15.
https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021/schedule
The Technology in Teaching workshops and Professional Development workshops on November 12th are listed separately, here: https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021/tnt-pd-workshops
Our Plenary Speakers are highlighted on this page:
https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021/plenary-speakers
Each plenary speaker will do a plenary session as well as an additional session or workshop during the conference.
The Featured Speakers are highlighted here:
https://jalt.org/conference/jalt2021/featured-speakers
Each featured speaker will do a featured speaker workshop as well as a short workshop during the conference.
JALT Research Ethics Committee seeks member applications
Looking for three JALT members to be part of the newly-formed JALT Research Ethics Committee. If you have experience in research publications as an editor or researcher and are interested in joining a JALT committee that will discuss issues related to research ethics in JALT publications and JALT-related research issues, please send a message to Robert Chartrand vp@jalt.org
Calls for Papers/Participants
PanSIG 2022 Call for Presentation Proposals
PanSIG is an annual conference organized by many of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT). The conference brings together leading scholars and practitioners in language education from Japan, Asia, and throughout the world. It is meant to be a smaller, more intimate conference than the annual international JALT conference, and is a place where SIG members can network with each other.
PanSIG 2022 will be held at the University of Nagano, Nagano Prefecture on the weekend of July 8-10, 2022. The Call for Proposals (CfP) will open from October 10th. Proposals must be submitted by December 20th, 2021. Notifications of final acceptance of proposals will be sent via email between the end of January and mid-February, 2022. Presentations in Japanese, English, as well as other languages, are warmly welcomed. For more information about JALT SIGs and their areas of interest, please refer to https://jalt.org/main/groups under the SIG listing. General information about the PanSIG conference can be found here: https://pansig.org/.
Online Events
Teaching Entrepreneurship Through Experiential Learning
Tokyo
Event Speaker(s): Steven E. Quasha & Daniel J. Mills
Saturday, October 9, 2021 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm
JALT Event
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
At this year's PanSIG, Steven Quasha and Daniel Mills did a poster presentation on Teaching Entrepreneurship Through Experiential Learning. We are happy to welcome them for an extended discussion and workshop on the topic and hope you'll be able to join us.
To receive the Zoom link for this event, please RSVP at https://forms.gle/VbeYc4eT8mV7Df828
Abstract:
The rate of women entrepreneurs in Japan is abysmally low compared to other nations. In fact, Japan ranks last among OECD countries, and data indicates that a mere 17% of Japanese women declared to have knowledge about starting or growing their own business. The current situation indicates the need for learning materials that not only introduce the topic of entrepreneurship to all students but also showcase female models of business success. To this end, the presenters have created a series of experiential learning materials centered around a strong female character, Mirai Takahashi, who is in the process of launching a business start-up with the guidance of her mentor, Catherine Sakamoto. Through Takahashi’s successes and failures, students experience the risks and rewards of starting their own company.
This workshop will showcase how to utilize these materials and demonstrate how perceptions of entrepreneurship, gender equality, and digital transformation in business are crucial for students. The presenters will describe their current efforts to gather both quantitative and qualitative data for these studies and share their initial results.
Speaker bios:
Steven E. Quasha is an associate professor in the Faculty of Modern Management at Sugiyama Jogakuen University in Nagoya. He holds an MA in Asian Studies from San Diego State University and an MA in TESOL from Macquarie University. He also has a teacher trainer certificate from the School for International Training (SIT). His research interests include language assessment, business English, and using technology in the classroom.
Daniel J. Mills is an associate professor at Ritsumeikan University in the Faculty of Economics and holds an MS.Ed. in TESOL from Shenandoah University along with an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from the University of Wyoming. His research interests include Informal Learning with Technology, Mobile Learning, and Technology Adoption.
For a look at the poster presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qagb1C8q9OahRBW5Uq0qbChMpT0KtP_m/view?usp=sharing
Link: RSVP link
Promoting Diversity and Unity in the Classroom
Hiroshima
Event Speaker(s):
Jenny Morgan (Sophia University)
Sunday, October 10, 2021 - 3:00pm to 4:30pm
Online meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
In classrooms, people make conscious and unconscious choices about what parts of our identities will be invisible, and what parts of our stories we will share together. This renowned speaker from Sophia University in Tokyo will share personal stories of being both visible and invisible, insider and outsider, and how identity informs our practices. She will share three activities to promote diversity and unity in the classroom. This talk is jointly supported with the Learner Development SIG. For details and the Zoom link, see the Hiroshima JALT Newsletter, or the Hiroshima JALT homepage at Google.
JALT Oita 12th Symposium
Saturday, October 16, 2021 - 10:00am
Join us online for our 12th symposium.
Online Meeting:
Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: 0
Cost for non-Jalt Members: 0
Link: Zoom Link
International Intelligibility in the Context of Japan: Theoretical Insights and Instructional implementations
Kobe JALT Tech Day
Event Speaker(s): Bill White & Mehrasa Alizadeh
Saturday, October 16, 2021 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: None
Cost for non-Jalt Members: None
Adding Interactive Activities to Classwork and Homework Conducting classes online during the pandemic
Abstract:
Adding Interactive Activities to Classwork and Homework Conducting classes online during the pandemic has given us a new outlook on how we can add more interactive work to our classes as well as homework. Using H5P allows the students to practice using language in many ways as well as a good scaffolding for in-class activities. This talk will go through how to make an Image Drag & Drop, Text Drag & Drop, Interactive video, and if time allows a Dictation activity. All of these can be added to a website, WordPress Blog or Moodle. Students live online and use their mobile devices, so why not capitalize on that and put their homework at their fingertips and available anytime anywhere.
Speaker's bio:
Bill White is a part-time instructor at Kindai University and Kwansei Gakuin University.
Implementing Immersive Learning in the Language Classroom with WebVR
Abstract:
The global pandemic has forced teachers, tech-savvy or not alike, to shift to remote teaching. For many, this translates into teaching into the void and lecturing to black Zoom squares. As daunting as this one-person show may sound, there are ways to reduce Zoom fatigue and feelings of isolation for teachers and improve students’ engagement. A potential solution to this problem is implementing immersive learning by using social WebVR platforms such as Mozilla Hubs and Frame. This hands-on presentation focuses on the use of Mozilla Hubs in language classes. The presenter will introduce this free browser-based VR application that can be used to create virtual environments for collaboration and co-creation. When used effectively in combination with video conferencing apps, this application can reduce feelings of isolation and online fatigue as well as improve student engagement and collaboration.
Speaker's bio:
Mehrasa Alizadeh is an assistant professor at the Cybermedia Center, Osaka University. She conducts collaborative research on the use of multimodal learning analytics to support learners in face-to-face and remote learning settings. Mehrasa is interested in immersive learning and virtual reality for language education.
For registration, visit Kobe JALT website.
Living Newspaper Readers Theatre: Oral Performance with Accelerated Feedback
Fukuoka
Event Speaker(s):
David Kluge (Nanzan University)
George MacLean (University of the Ryukyus)
Saturday, October 16, 2021 - 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: 500 yen
Before the presentation, we'll have our Chapter AGM (Annual General Meeting) from 18:00 to 18:30. Each chapter officer will give a report on how the chapter is doing, and what we've accomplished in the past 12 months. We will also hold officer elections. For details on this, please see http://fukuokajalt.org
Following the Chapter AGM, we'll have our featured presenation. This presentation provides two new perspectives about language teaching and a way for more effective reflection on student performance. Long and Crookes (1991) described Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and stated that it, of three approaches to syllabus design, "holds special promise." In the same paper, they mentioned that "focus on form" (FonF) was an important aspect of TBLT. Both TBLT and FonF are topics of this presentation. One new perspective on a TBLT task is introduced: Living Newspaper Readers Theatre (LNRT). LNRT is a Readers Theatre performance by a group of students of a script stitched together by selecting sections of topically-related news articles (Kluge, 2019). Another new perspective regards providing almost instantaneous evaluation of performances to students via cloud-based feedback.
The presentation will first describe what LNRT (Living Newspaper Readers Theatre) is, then how to do it, with examples of performances. The latter part of the workshop will concern how to effectively give immediate online feedback about performances, focusing on form. Specifically, we will show examples of rubrics and discuss how they can be used for giving students feedback, training them about what to look for when giving each other feedback, and how to articulate such feedback to peers. Most importantly, we will describe research we conducted on LNRT and cloud-based feedback, including a focus on form (FonF). We will end with Q & A by attendees.
David Kluge (Nanzan University) is co-coordinator of the JALT Performance in Education SIG and has been teaching English for over 40 years. His interests are speech, drama, debate, Readers Theatre, oral communication, and materials writing. He has published four books for Cengage/National Geographic Learning and Macmillan.
George MacLean is a professor at the University of the Ryukyus. He has given over fifty workshops and presentations in over a dozen countries in the past decade. He serves on editorial and review boards for several educational journals and international conferences. His research interests include SLA and ICT implementation.
The Zoom details will be available on fukuokajalt.org on the day of the event. We will start the Zoom an hour early (5 PM) for an hour of informal discussion and networking.
October Grand Forum
Event Speaker(s): Robert Murphy, Catriona Chalmers, Ann Mayeda, and many more!
Register for the event at: https://forms.gle/4nzjRw1Bduczg827A
Language Portfolio in the Classroom - A Round Table Talk
CEFR and Language Portfolio
Event Speaker(s): Maria Gabriela Schmidt, TBA
Saturday, October 23, 2021 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
The European Language Portfolio has been at the core of the CEFR. The ELP is connected to learner autonomy, reflective learning, formative assessment and many more areas. The implementation had its ups and downs. The Round Table Talk invites those in the field of foreign language teaching who are interested in the use of a portfolio in language teaching and want to discuss and share implementations, case studies, experiences with the ELP, language portfolio, learning portfolio, journal etc. The ELP is connected to learner autonomy, reflective learning, formative assessment and many more areas. At recent conferences, since the launch of the CEFR/CV there is a steady increase on papers on language portfolio. This Round Table Talks wants to initiate a synergetic working group. You are welcome to take part and share and listen and discuss. CEFR & Language Portfolio SIG wants to emphasize on the CEFR and CEFR/CV as well on the second part of its name, the Language Portfolio.
Link: Sign up form see
CEFR & LP SIG HP
Teaching Younger Learners
Tokyo
Event Speaker(s): Kim Takeda, Satomi Miura, Nicholas J. Wilson
Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
Kim Takeda
Satomi Miura
Nicholas J. Wilson
This event, sponsored by Tokyo JALT and the TYL SIG, is for teachers of kids to young adults, so teachers of preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school, are all encouraged to come! As always, there will be great, short presentations and lots of time for discussion and networking. Here is the line-up of presenters:
Session 1
Presenter: Kim Takeda
Title: Adapting and Developing Teaching Strategies to Meet the Challenges and Innovations of Teaching English in Japan
Abstract:
Back in 1988, I was one of the 848 participants selected to become an Assistant Language (English) Teacher in the second year of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Having taught elementary school for 8 years in Los Angeles, I felt well-prepared and ready to teach English to my new students. Well, much to my surprise, English Education in Japan was not exactly what I expected. I had to quickly adjust and revise my teaching strategies to best meet the needs of my students and the Japanese school system. Five prefectures, 50 plus schools, and 33 years later, it’s been interesting watching how English Education in Japan has evolved. I think most of the changes have been extremely positive, but change also brings about new challenges. So, what can teachers of English do to level up their game and prepare themselves for these challenges and innovations? In this presentation, let’s take a look at some of the biggest challenges and innovations in English Education in Japan today. I will be sharing some tips and ideas about how any teacher of English can adapt their current teaching styles and/or develop strategies to meet these challenges.
Bio:
Kim Takeda is from Los Angeles and has taught for over 40 years, 33 of them being in Japan. She is now teaching English for Global Communication at Keio Yokohama Elementary School which is an affiliate school of Keio University. Before coming to Japan, she taught elementary school for 8 years in Los Angeles and earned her Master's degree in Humanistic Education. After teaching high school for 13 years in Tottori prefecture, she returned to teaching elementary school and has taught at various elementary schools, including 2 English immersion schools, in Osaka, Shizuoka, and Gunma prefectures. In her free time, Kim enjoys hanging out with her dog Sinbad, live streaming, and watching her favorite shows and movies. She is probably best known at school as the teacher with the most unusual Halloween costumes.
Session 2
Presenter: Satomi Miura
Title: The importance of incorporating more hands-on activities into our upper level primary school English classes
Abstract:
After a two-year transition period, a foreign language (English) became a formally assessed subject in primary schools in Japan from April 2020 alongside new textbooks for Year 5 and Year 6. Consequently, the amount and content of English to be learned in upper primary school has increased, resulting in some confusion amongst both teachers and children. Some children even seem to have become demotivated at this early stage of learning an additional language. Amidst all this, educators have become keenly aware of the importance of hands-on or experiential activities. These types of activities allow children to become more engaged with the topics and content being studied while helping them retain knowledge by stimulating multiple areas of the brain. In this presentation, I will introduce some of the activities that have been effective in my classes, including “Let’s Fetch Water!” and “Lap Book Project: Food Chain.”
Bio:
Satomi Miura has been involved in foreign language activities as a JTE and ALT at elementary schools in Iwate since 1999. Between 2005 and 2006, Satomi studied at Camosun College in Canada, focusing on ESL, psychology, and counseling. She received her Canadian TESL certification in 2006 and was a recipient of that year’s International Student Award. In 2007, Satomi opened her own English conversation school, IE TreeHouse. She is currently an ALT at Hanamaki Board of Education in Iwate, and teaches at four public primary schools. She is also a J-SHINE Trainer and a part-time lecturer at Iwate University.
Session 3
Presenter: Nicholas J. Wilson
Title: Exploring the World through ICT in Elementary School
Abstract:
The new English textbooks for elementary schools include units and sections dedicated to foreign countries and cultures. However, these are limited in both content and variety. What if we could empower students with the autonomy to explore the world, and give them the opportunities and skills to research, discover and share the tales of their virtual trips with their classmates? In this presentation I will discuss how a digital approach to foreign language education can help teachers switch roles with their students, and let their curiosity become the fuel for creating engaging and entertaining classes.
Bio:
Nicholas J. Wilson teaches English in public elementary schools in Nagano. He is also a Google Certified Educator, focused on fostering student’s 21st-century skills through foreign language education. An active JALT officer, Nicholas organizes independent professional development opportunities for ALTs including Agorà, a monthly interactive live event as part of the ALT Training Online grassroots initiative.
Link:
RSVP link
Event flyer
Creative Writing in Language Teaching Contexts
Shizuoka
Event Speaker(s): Mary Hillis, Luke Draper, Jared Michael Kubokawa, Tara McIlroy
Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
Four members of the Literature in Language Teaching SIG will share their ideas on using creative writing in language teaching contexts.
Speakers: Mary Hillis, Luke Draper, Jared Michael Kubokawa, and Tara McIlroy:
Topics:
Rereading, Retelling, Reimagining: Literature and Creative Writing in the Classroom: Mary Hillis
Activating Scripts: Japanese Literature and Creative Writing in the EFL Classroom: Luke Draper
Providing Digital Literacy Spaces to Mimic Publication in an L2 Poetry Writing Course: Jared Michael Kubokawa
Literary competence, creative writing and CLIL: Textual interventions and beyond: Tara McIlroy
Speakers will speak for twenty minutes each with ten minutes allocated for questions for each. Please join us. The zoom link will be on the Shizujalt homepage ten minutes before the event.
Link:
Shizuoka JALT
Teaching English with Zoom as a Newbie: A Self-Reflection & Discussion on Problems, Solutions, and Activities
Gunma
Event Speaker(s): Duangsamorn Haruyama
Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Email: Send Email
Cost for Jalt Members: FREE ... To access this event, send a request through the 'Send Email' link above. State that you are a JALT member and to which chapter you belong to.
Cost for non-Jalt Members: FREE to all admitted guests. To access this event, send a request to the 'Send Email' link above. State your name, industry affiliation, and reason for interest in attending.
Since the onset of COVID-19, almost all of us have been experiencing a constant evolution of life style, work methods, study habits, and relationship dynamics in order to meet the demands of the new reality. Especially in Japan, the pandemic has affected the field of Education. Depending on prefecture, city, or institution, we have been faced with temporary closings, prolonged holidays, telecommuting from home, entire online courses, hybrid online/face-to-face courses, and limitations to the numbers of students in classes, among other challenges. The goal, however, continues to be the best education possible for students, as well as a healthy and safe environment for all.
As online distance learning is on the rise, teachers must learn how to teach online through platforms and softwares such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. This presentation focuses on reflecting, sharing, and discussing teaching English online through Zoom during the past year. I will reflect on my own experiences with problems during teaching, and share solutions I was able to find and to implement. In the latter part of the presentation, online English classroom activities will be shared for discussion. All participants who are in the same boat will be welcomed and encouraged to share their own experiences in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
DUANGSAMORN HARUYAMA is from Thailand. She is a part-time lecturer at Gunma University (as well as a part-time gardener and a full-time mother). Her interests include Elementary School English Education, Teaching English to Young Learners, Applying Positive Discipline into English Classrooms, Using ICTs in English Learning and Teaching, and NNEST-related topics.
Following Duangsamorn's presentation, after a short break, Gunma JALT will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM), in which we will choose our officers for 2022.
JALT2021 Preview
Sendai
Event Speaker(s):
Various JALT members
Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Online Meeting: Yes
Email: Send Email
Cost for Jalt Members: Free
Cost for non-Jalt Members: Free
Presenting at JALT2021? You can use our JALT Sendai October 24 meeting to practice before a live (online) audience. (JALT Sendai members presenting at JALT2021 will be given priority, but presenters from other communities, or presenting at other conferences are welcome to sign up.)
Sign up to present. Deadline: October 17.
As with all JALT Sendai online events we'll continue with a virtual kampai and social time starting around 5pm.
Link:
Register to attend
Call for Research Participants
Seeking Research Participants
LINK TO SURVEY: HTTPS://FORMS.GLE/UFF1PUOCMWPIZSHZ9
Davey Young
PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Waseda University
Lecturer, Department of English Studies, Sophia University
Outgoing Chair, Supporting Students with Disabilities Interest Section, TESOL International
“You are being invited to participate in research in completion of a PhD dissertation at the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies at Waseda University. The research is focused on English language teachers’ orientation towards inclusive education for students with disabilities using the Japanese postsecondary context as a case. As such, please only complete the survey if you currently teach (part- or full-time) in such a context. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will help fill a critical research gap, as little is currently known about English language teachers’ preparedness to teach students with disabilities. Please note that participation is completely voluntary and anonymous, and that your consent will be indicated by submitting a completed response. Finally, you are encouraged to forward this message and link to your colleagues. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Link to survey: https://forms.gle/uFf1puocmwPizshz9
Finally
Kyoto JALT on Social Media
Visit our website https://kyotojalt.org/
To keep up to date with all the things from Kyoto JALT via Facebook, please join our Kyoto JALT Facebook Group
Follow us on Twitter: @JaltKyoto
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Hope you have a safe and productive October
Richard Sparrow,
Publicity Chair
On behalf of the Kyoto JALT Team
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