JALT Events by Month

Below you see an overview of JALT's events for May 2007. (Also see next month.) For other views of event information, see the search menu.

May 2007

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

18th Annual Suwako Charity Walk

Sponsor: Shinshu Chapter
Speaker: Tomoki Murakami, Liu Tiegang
Time: 8:10 AM - 1:30 PM (Thu., May 03, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Nagano
City: Suwa
Venue: Meet at the Katakura Fureai Nagisa (the outside auditorium next to Lake Suwa)
Description: Please join us for an educational walk halfway around Lake Suwa! After meeting at 8:10 at the "Katakura Fureai Nagisa", we will walk appr. 8 km to the "Kamaguchi Suimon" while learning about life in ... read more

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

TESOL2007 Report and Chapter Meet

Sponsor: Wakayama Chapter
Speaker: Kent Hill
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sun., May 06, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): n/a
Prefecture: Wakayama
City: Wakayama
Venue: the Rankin house, Musota
Description: Getting Coordinated:

Following a TESOL conference report, Kent will share a look at the new services online from Google and how they might help us to better coordinate our chapter work.

Saturday, May 12th, 2007

Pan-SIG Conference 2007 (May 12-13)

Sponsor: Materials Writers SIG
(the Materials Writers Special Interest Group)
Speaker: Plenary and Featured speakers Trevor Bond, Marc Helgesen, Martina Gunske von Koelln, Kazumi Sakai, Mayumi Usami and John Wiltshier.
Time: To Be Announced - (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): Various
Fee (One-Day members): Various
Prefecture: Miyagi
City: Sendai
Venue: Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai
Description: Description: The Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Pedagogy conference will be co-hosted by JALT'S Other Language Educators SIG, Materials Writers SIG, Pragmatics SIG, Teacher Education SIG, Testing and Evaluation SIG and the Sendai JALT Chapter. ... read more

The 6th Annual JALT Pan-SIG Conference 2007

Sponsor: OLE SIG
(the Other Language Educators Special Interest Group)
Speaker: see below and the website
Time: To Be Announced - (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): TBA
Fee (One-Day members): TBA
Prefecture: Miyagi
City: Sendai
Venue: Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai
Description: May 2007 Note: This site is presently under construction Pan Sig Conference http://www.jalt.org/pansig/2007/pansig07/ Call for papers: Deadline : 9 Feb 2007 (for 12-13 May 2007) - Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Pedagogy 12-13 May 2007 ... read more

Pan-SIG Conference 2007 (May 12-13)

Sponsor: Sendai Chapter
Speaker: Various, including Marc Helgesen, Martina Gunske von Koelln
Time: To Be Announced - (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): tba
Fee (One-Day members): tba
Prefecture: Miyagi
City: Sendai
Venue: Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
Description: The Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Pedagogy conference will be co-hosted by JALT'S Other Language Educators SIG, Materials Writers SIG, Pragmatics SIG, Teacher Education SIG, Testing and Evaluation SIG and the Sendai JALT Chapter. It ... read more

The 6th Annual JALT Pan-SIG Conference 2007 (12th and 13th May)

Sponsor: Teacher Education SIG
(the Teacher Education Special Interest Group)
Speaker: TE Plenary Speaker: John Wiltshier (in association with Longman)
Time: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): TBA
Fee (One-Day members): TBA
Prefecture: Miyagi
City: Sendai
Venue: Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
Description: Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Pedagogy

The conference explores the relationship between second language acquisition and the mechanics of the second language classroom.

Details: http://www.jalt.org/pansig/2007/pansig07/

Egypt in Terms of its History, Culture, Education and Language

Sponsor: Yamagata Chapter
Speaker: Doaa Mohamed
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 800 yen
Prefecture: Yamagata
City: Yamagata
Venue: Yamagata Kajo Kominkan Sogo Gakushu Center, Shironishi-machi 2-chome, 2-15, Tel. 0236-45-6163
Description: The speaker who is a researcher at Yamagata University will share her insights into her life in Egypt and how it relates to teaching English in Japan.

Public Speaking in Japanese

Sponsor: JSL SIG
(the Japanese as a Second Language Special Interest Group)
Speaker: Peter Sakura
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Kyoto
City: Kyoto
Venue: 京都教育文化センター Kyoto Kyoiku Bunka Center
Description: Effective Methods for Japanese as a Second Language Public Speaking--this workshop, for Japanese teachers and learners, will identify effective public speaking methods. Using examples, actual speeches may be composed. Participants are invited to bring teaching ... read more

Effective Methods for Japanese as a Second Language Public Speaking

Sponsor: Kyoto Chapter
Speaker: Peter Sakura
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Kyoto
City: Kyoto
Venue: Kyoto Kyoiku Bunka Center, Marutamachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Description: When do Japanese learners typically make speeches? What specific phrases can be used in formal situations? How are speeches evaluated? What resources are available? This workshop, intended for people who are either teaching or learning ... read more

Incorporating Thinking Skills and ESD in the FL Classroom

Sponsor: Kitakyushu Chapter
Speaker: Judith Johnson
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., May 12, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Kitakyushu
Venue: Kitakyushu International Conference Center, room 31 (a 5-minute walk from the Kokura train station for shinkansen, JR train)
Description: Linking foreign language learning and thinking skills to the world outside of school is a practical and holistic approach to education. This approach can help students better understand the world in which they live and ... read more

Sunday, May 13th, 2007

Developing and Implementing Simple Class Websites

Sponsor: Shizuoka Chapter
Speaker: Robert McLaughlin
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Shizuoka
City: Shizuoka
Venue: Kyouiku Kaikan (across from Shin-Shizuoka) in the basement (5-minute walk north from JR station)
Description: Despite time constraints, lack of familiarity with available 'user ready' technology, or even hesitation or aversion to the idea of 'webpage construction' nearly anyone can easily build a class website. By utilizing 'user ready' pre-constructed ... read more

"Kids' Pier": A Space for Children and Teachers

Sponsor: Chiba Chapter
Speaker: Yuco Kikuchi and Naoko McLellan
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Chiba
City: Chiba
Venue: SATY Bunka Hall, Room 1 (4th Floor), 1 min. walk from Inage Station east exit on JR Sobu Line. map
Description: Unlike most teacher training programs, Kids' Pier offers on the job training through team-teaching and observing experienced teachers' lessons. For children, Kids' Pier is an anchorage, a place to promote positive attitudes toward learning and ... read more

Mission Impossible? Teaching Debate to Large, Multi-level Japanese EFL Classes

Sponsor: Himeji Chapter
Speaker: Maggie Lieb
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Hyogo
City: Himeji
Venue: Hanakita Shimin Hiroba (Located directly across from Nozato Station on the Bantan Line. Plenty of free parking.) Bantan Line train leaves Himeji Station at 13:46
Description: Teaching debate skills to Japanese EFL students presents a unique set of challenges. Aside from the fact that debate is a sophisticated form of interactive discourse, often posing challenges even for native English speakers, teaching ... read more

Indispensable... but how do you do it?

Sponsor: Omiya Chapter
Speaker: Daniel Stewart / Richard Ascough
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1000Y
Prefecture: Saitama
City: Omiya
Venue: Sakuragi Kominkan 5F (near Omiya Station, west exit,see map).
Description: Extensive reading(ER) is becoming more and more popular in Japan. A few years ago many people agreed it was a good idea to have students do ER. Now, ER Guru Rob Waring, calls ER �ga ... read more

Brazilian or Japanese: choosing the best education

Sponsor: Yokohama Chapter
Speaker: Toshiko Sugino (National Defense Academy)
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Kanagawa
City: Yokohama
Venue: Ginou Bunka Kaikan (Skills & Culture Center) near JR Kannai & Yokohama Subway Isezakichojamachi [See yojalt.bravehost.com for details & a map]
Description: According to a 2004 Immigration Control Office survey, Nikkei-Brazilians account for nearly 300,000 of the 2 million registered foreign nationals in Japan. Why do some Nikkei-Brazilian parents choose Portuguese-mediated Brazilian schools over Japanese public schools ... read more

Entry Level L2 Critical Thinking: Clear Communication

Sponsor: Matsuyama Chapter
Speaker: Lawrie Hunter, Kochi University of Technology
Time: 2:15 PM - 4:20 PM (Sun., May 13, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Ehime
City: Matsuyama
Venue: Shinonome High School Kinenkan 4F
Description: Second language learners need certain linguistic background knowledge and a number of foundation language skills before they can embark on the study of critical thinking. In this presentation Lawrie Hunter explains the structured content and ... read more

Saturday, May 19th, 2007

What You See Is What You Get? Learner Preconceptions of Native-Speaker-Taught University EFL

Sponsor: Okayama Chapter
Speaker: Paul Hullah, University of Miyazaki
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., May 19, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen for the day
Prefecture: Okayama
City: Okayama
Venue: Sankaku A Bldg. 2F near Omotecho in Okayama City
Description: A questionnaire surveying Japanese student advance expectations of native speaker (NS) taught university EFL courses was developed and extensively administered. Results led the presenter to seek to identify exactly how shared preconceived ideas regarding NS ... read more

ELT teaching: A disadvantaged profession in Japanese tertiary education?

Sponsor: Okayama Chapter
Speaker: Peter Burden, Okayama shoka university
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sat., May 19, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen for the day
Prefecture: Okayama
City: Okayama
Venue: Sankaku A Bldg. 2F near Omotecho in Okayama City
Description: Japanese tertiary education has entered an epoch-making phase where the shrinkage of the number of college-age students and the decline in the market for academic personnel has resulted in an audit culture expressed through cross-curricular ... read more

"From a Silk Cocoon", viewing the award winning film with its co-writer and director.

Sponsor: Osaka Chapter
Speaker: Satsuki Ina - California State Univ., Sacramento
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Sat., May 19, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): 500 yen
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Osaka
City: Takatsuki
Venue: 1 minute from JR Takatsuki Station, at the Sogo Shimin Koryu Center http://www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/db/kurasu/db4-koryu.html
Description: Dr. Ina is a cross-cultural psychotherapist who was born in the U.S. internment camps during World War II and who made the Emmy award-winning docudrama about her family's heartbreaking story of their incarceration. Although the ... read more

Two Presentations by Terry Fellner

Sponsor: Fukuoka Chapter
Speaker: Terry Fellner, Saga University
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Sat., May 19, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukuoka
City: Fukuoka
Venue: Fukuoka Jo Gakuin Tenjin Satellite Campus (9F), Tenjin 2-8-38, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi map
Description: Presentation 1: Developing Writing Fluency Through Blogs. This presentation will examine the use of student blogs to improve writing fluency among Japanese students studying English at a Japanese university during the summers of 2004, 2005, ... read more

The Ins and Outs of Getting Published

Sponsor: Gifu Chapter
Speaker: Steve Cornwell, Ed.D., Osaka Jogakuin College
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Sat., May 19, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Gifu
City: Gifu
Venue: Heartful Square (southeast section of Gifu JR Station), Gifu City, Gifu-ken
Description: Whether studying for a masters or a doctorate; conducting quantitative or qualitative research, or working as a teacher or administrator, one thing that almost all of us working in education have in common is the ... read more

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

Differences Between Public Schools in Japan and the United States

Sponsor: Fukui Chapter
Speaker: Amiena Mahsoob
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (Sun., May 20, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Fukui
City: Fukui
Venue: Fukui International Activities Plaza
Description: Many teachers in Japan instinctively know that teaching techniques in the United States and Japan are different, but how and why are they different? This seminar will provide context for some of the key differences ... read more

Increase students interest and motivation by drawing more

Sponsor: Nagoya Chapter
Speaker: Ray Goering
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Sun., May 20, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Aichi
City: Nagoya
Venue: Nagoya International Center, 3rd Fl, Lecture Room # 2
Description: Vision is the strongest sense, especially in Japanese culture. We rely on it most heavily in our interpretation of the world around us. The old adage is true: A picture is worth a thousand words. ... read more

Japanese Public Elementary School Life and International School Life: How Do They Compare?

Sponsor: Kobe Chapter
Speaker: Amanda Gillis-Furutaka
Time: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Sun., May 20, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Hyogo
City: Kobe
Venue: Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club (www.krac.org) 1-20, 2-chome, Hachiman-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0085
Description: Parents with children approaching school age face many important decisions about their children's education. The first of these is often whether to send their child to the local Japanese school or to an international school. ... read more

Choice by Choice: A Workshop on Curriculum Design

Sponsor: Hiroshima Chapter
Speaker: Timothy Buthod (Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University)
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., May 20, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Hiroshima
City: Hiroshima
Venue: Hiroshima Peace Park, International Conference Center 3F.
Description: The presenter will walk participants through the decisions he had to make in designing a course on presentation skills. At each step, participants will have the chance to reflect on what they would do in ... read more

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Task-Based Teaching: Sorting out the Misunderstandings

Sponsor: East Shikoku Chapter
Speaker: Professor Rod Ellis, University of Auckland
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Wed., May 23, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Kochi
City: Kochi
Venue: Kochi University Asakura Campus, room 211
Description: This talk is in four parts. The first part will consider the design of task-based courses and the methodology for implementing tasks in the classroom. The second part will present my rationale for task-based language ... read more

Saturday, May 26th, 2007

Sign Language in the Language-teaching Classroom

Sponsor: Akita Chapter
Speaker: Martin Pauly
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., May 26, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen for non-members, 500 yen for students
Prefecture: Akita
City: Akita
Venue: Room B103 at AIU (Akita International University)
Description: abstract: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are entering mainstream schools and mainstream society. A knowledge of Sign Language may aid teachers and hearing students in communicating with, and creating a more friendly environment for, these students. ... read more

Using Graded readers in an Extensive Reading program

Sponsor: Nagasaki Chapter
Speaker: Steven Donald, Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sat., May 26, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Nagasaki
City: Nagasaki
Venue: Dejima Koryu Kaikan, 5F, Free Space (this is the large white building next to Dejima Wharf and Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum; take #5 streetcar to Shiminbyoinmae stop, or take #1 streetcar to Dejima stop.
Description: This presentation will introduce its audience briefly to Extensive Reading theory with an explanation of what graded readers are and their relationship to extensive reading. Following this, the presentation will show how the two work ... read more

Sunday, May 27th, 2007

Annual Picnic & Barbecue

Sponsor: Toyohashi Chapter
Speaker: No scheduled speaker
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): free
Prefecture: Aichi
City: Toyohashi
Venue: Toyohashi Ryokuchi Koen (Takashi station, Atsumi Line)
Description: Toyohashi will hold its annual May barbecue and picnic at the usual place, in Takashi Ryokuchi Park. Everyone is welcome - members, guests and visitors - and we would ask you to bring something to ... read more

The 'Too Easy' Guide to Self-Publishing

Sponsor: Hokkaido Chapter
Speaker: Paul Gemmell
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Hokkaido
City: Sapporo
Venue: Hokkai Gakuen University - Subway Building 6, 3rd floor
Description: This presentation will outline the steps in publishing material using a self-publishing site on the Internet. A live demonstration will be performed and ample time will be given to address any questions from participants during ... read more

Sign Language in the Classroom

Sponsor: Iwate Chapter
Speaker: Martin Pauly, Tsukuba University of Technology
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Iwate
City: Morioka
Venue: Aiina, west exit, Morioka Station, next to Marios. 6F, dantai katsudo shitsu.
Description: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are entering mainstream schools and mainstream society. A knowledge of Sign Language may aid teachers and hearing students in communicating with, and creating a more friendly environment for, these students. I ... read more

More Community and Motivation through Coloring

Sponsor: Gunma Chapter
Speaker: Miori Shimada
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Gunma
City: Maebashi
Venue: Maebashi Kyoai Gakuen College, 1154-4 Koyahara-machi, Maebashi, Gunma (tel: 027-266-7575)
Description: The presenter will discuss and demonstrate activities to strengthen the community of a small group of low-level students and enhance their motivation based on their reading textbook of English anecdotes. The main activities consist of ... read more

Going 'Multimodal' in the Writing Classroom

Sponsor: Hokkaido Chapter
Speaker: Bob Palmer
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 500 yen
Prefecture: Hokkaido
City: Sapporo
Venue: Hokkai Gakuen University - Subway Building 6, 3rd floor
Description: In this presentation, the speaker will introduce several examples of multimodal writing produced in his classes with special focus on a WebQuest project he designed and implemented in a writing class at Hokkai Gakuen University ... read more

TPR-S Storybook Fun

Sponsor: Kagoshima Chapter
Speaker: Melinda Kawahara
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Sun., May 27, 2007)
Fee (JALT members): free
Fee (One-Day members): 1,000 yen
Prefecture: Kagoshima
City: Kagoshima
Venue: Seminar Room 117, Ground Floor Kousha Biru, Shinyashiki opposite the Shinyashiki Tram Stop
Description: Even the best teachers sometimes run out of ideas for their next class. Especially when teaching young learners, lessons must be well prepared and full of fun. In this workshop the presenter will demonstrate how ... read more

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