LLL SIG at the 2008 JALT National Conference

The 34th Annual JALT National Conference was held from October 31 to November 3 at the National Olympics Memorial Center in Tokyo. This was the seventh time that the conference has been held jointly with the Pan-Asian Consortium (PAC) and the sixth time with the Asian Youth Forum (AYF). In attendance were language teachers from across Japan and other nations; PAC members from ThaiTESOL (Thailand), KOTESOL (Korea), ETA-ROC (Taiwan), FEELTA (Russian Far East), ELLTAS (Singapore), and PALT (Philippines); and AYF sponsored young people from across Asia. LLL SIG activities at the conference are briefly outlined below.

LLL SIG Featured Speaker Presentation (co-sponsored by LLL SIG and GALE SIG)

Neela Griffiths, a lecturer in academic language and literacy at the ELSSA Centre, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, spoke about her volunteer placement with Australian Volunteers International in Siem Reap, Cambodia, between July 2007 and July 2008. During this time, she taught English to young women who worked in the local beer gardens, restaurants, and karaoke bars in order to improve their employment prospects. This very interesting and well-attended presentation included a description of the selection process for program participants, teaching methods used, challenges faced by teachers and learners, and the immediate and long-term positive impact on the women after their graduation. Supported by a large selection of pictures and video clips, the presentation gave attendees a glimpse of the program in action and a sense for the hard work and enthusiasm needed for the undertaking.

LLL SIG Forum

This year’s forum served as an extended question-and-answer period for Neela Griffiths, with attendees requesting anecdotes on and further elaboration of her experience in Cambodia.

LLL SIG Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The AGM was attended by SIG officers and several members-at-large. It included a brief election of SIG officers and a discussion of LLL activities for 2009. The focus of our discussion this year was the September 2010 LLL SIG special issue of The Language Teacher, JALT’s monthly journal. If you are interested in contributing to this special issue, please check the Special Call for Papers section in this newsletter.

LLL SIG Dinner

LLL SIG and GALE SIG members had dinner at Sizzler’s in Shinjuku, along with featured speaker Neela Griffiths. Held just after the AGM, the dinner offered members an opportunity to meet and talk about their respective SIGs and their teaching situations in a relaxed atmosphere.

LLL SIG Table

Every year officers and members staff a table at the conference where they can meet people interested in lifelong language learning and in the LLL SIG. This year’s table displayed Tadashi Ishida’s book on lifelong learning; Yoko Wakui’s TOEIC study manual for older learners; recent newspaper articles about Japan’s aging society; and sample issues of the newsletter. For those interested in the LLL SIG, this is the place to find us at future national conferences!

Donation to the Asian Youth Forum (AYF)

LLL SIG donated 50,000 yen to help sponsor the Asian Youth Forum (AYF) that was held as part of the Pan-Asian Consortium at this year’s JALT National Conference. AYF brought 110 students from 15 Asian countries to Japan for eight days to study Asian issues, gain leadership skills, and make commitments to promote international understanding through self-initiated projects in their home countries. More information about AYF can be found at the following websites:
　　AYF 2008 photos <http://picasaweb.google.co.in/waliaclear>
　　AYF 6 Website <www.ayf6.weebly.com>
　　AYF Main Website <www.asianyouthforum.org>