Hello, and welcome to another monthly edition of JALT Talk, the announcements newsletter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching. If you're insterested in submitting an abstract to JALT2025 Conference, join the writing workshop room at Tuesday's ZPD (sign up here: http://bit.ly/ZPDRSVP).
In this issue:
JALT International Conference NewsJALT2025 Basic details:
Call for presentation proposals due March 2nd
The JALT2025 Call for Vetted Presentation Proposals opened January 18th. The process and format has changed this year, so please read the instructions carefully.
Childcare will be available during the conference. Details will be announced soon. We hope that this encourages parents and caregivers to apply to give a presentation or poster at JALT2025.
Online workshop video: How to write a better abstract for the JALT2025 Conference call for presentation submissions
Trevor Holster, Program Chair for the JALT2025 International conference, conducted a workshop on January 18th on how to increase your chances of getting your presentation proposal accepted for the JALT2025 conference. He covered
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/CDn5kadyFJc?si=qcXPImPWgMa21Rnr
There will be one or two breakout rooms at the next JALT ZPD that will be dedicated to helping you write a better abstract for your submission to JALT2025. ZPD is JALT's monthly Zoom for Professional Development event, held online the final Tuesday of the month.
Sign up to join the next JALT ZPD: http://bit.ly/ZPDRSVP
Instead of holding TNT and PD workshops on the Friday of the conference, these workshops will move online, on a different date in the summer (details TBA). JALT2025 will still be a full 3-day conference; the difference is that we will start with a full day of presentations on Friday, October 31, and finish on Sunday, November 2.
Reminder: Photos from JALT2024 have been posted
Photographers Bradford Lee, Tim Cleminson, and Becky Alp were busy capturing the moments during the JALT2024 weekend. Thanks to their efforts, skills, and diligence, we have a wonderful collection of photos to document and commemorate this landmark conference. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/jalt/albums for the full collection.
Revisit the JALT2024 Conference Handbook
To get an idea of the broad range and large scope of a JALT Annual International Conference, take a look at last year's conference handbook.
Job listings
JALT receives a number of job advertisements each month. If you're looking for a new position, please check out our job posts on our JALT Publications site: https://jalt-publications.org/tlt/departments/career-development-corner/jobs
JALT Hokkaido Winter Conference: Pre-register for discounts (Feb 15-16 in Sapporo)
...AND....do you want to broaden your mind and up your game regarding teaching tools for the classroom?
Then come and join us for the JALT Hokkaido Winter Language Conference 2025 (Feb 15-16)
Pre-registration prior to the conference is necessary for JALT members to avoid paying fees at the door. Non-members can pre-register and earn a discount. Click here for more information: https://hokkaido.jalt.org
JALT Hokkaido Winter Conference: Keynote Interview on YouTube
In this interview video, Dr. Louise Ohashi shares her excitement about using AI in language teaching, and talks about her upcoming keynote presentation and workshop at the 2025 JALT Hokkaido Winter Conference (February 16th, 2025 in Sapporo). https://youtu.be/GIOzWoP6W4Y
PanSIG is an annual conference usually held in May, and organized by many of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of JALT. Information about past PanSIG conferences (including photos, conference handbooks, etc.) can be found in the PanSIG Archive.
2025 Call for Presentation Proposals was successful!
The call for presentation proposals successfully closed on January 14th with 250 submissions covering research-oriented oral face-to-face presentations, in-person poster presentations, and the brand-new SALC Showcases. Submission status information is expected to be sent out around the end of February.
Registration opens on March 15th
Plenary Speakers for PanSIG2025
Saturday: Johnmarshall Reeve
Professor, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University
Dr. Johnmarshall Reeve is an educational psychologist. His areas of expertise are autonomy-supportive teaching, teachers' motivating styles, students' agentic engagement, and the neuroscience of intrinsic motivation. [Read more]
Sunday: Toshie Agawa
Professor, English Research Lab at Hoshi University in Tokyo
Dr. Toshie Agawa's research specializes in learner motivation, autonomy, engagement, and cooperative/collaborative learning. Recently, her work has focused on how fostering learner autonomy impacts the motivation and engagement of Japanese EFL learners, as well as scaffolding strategies to support learner autonomy in e-learning environments. [Read more]
Friday Night Workshops: Autonomy & Agency
Come see what the theme is all about in four featured speaker workshops on Friday evening. More information on this coming in the new year!
Introducing the brand new Showcase presentation format
This year JALT is introducing a new presentation format called the "showcase." PanSIG 2025 is being held at KUIS, home to the largest SALC in Japan. Thanks to this and this year's theme we decided to introduce this new style highlighting Self Access Learning Centers (SALCs) from all around Japan and even one from Mexico. Come join us to learn about SALCs from the following universities:
Dress your best! (free business portraits)
Returning to this year's PanSIG conference, we will be offering a free business portraits and headshots service. [See the portraits taken at PanSIG 2023!]
Childcare Available Throughout Conference Weekend
Want to attend but need someone to look after your little one while you pop into some sessions? PanSIG2025 has got you covered at this family-friendly conference. Childcare will be available on Saturday and Sunday for busy parents looking to develop professionally. More details coming in the new year.
Call for Presentation Proposals for the JALTCALL 2025 Conference now open!
The call for proposals for the JALTCALL 2025 conference is now open! The conference is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on 18-20 July at Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika Campus. The deadline for submissions is 28 February.
Conference Theme: Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent AI boom, language teachers have all in effect now become CALL practitioners. The 2025 conference theme, CALL for All, recognizes this new reality in the educational profession. [Read more]
Call for Presentation Proposals for the SPIN Student Research Symposium 2025 due February 16
The JALT Student Peer Interaction Network (SPIN) will host the Student Research Symposium 2025 on March 22nd, beginning at 1:00 p.m. (JST), for part-time and full-time students to present their studies and research. This is an open and friendly event for future professionals and anyone interested in learning from/with students!
If you are a student and are interested in participating, please submit your proposal here before February 16th! Click here to submit your proposals!
Also, if your group is interested in supporting student presenters as a sponsor, please let us know at spins@jalt.org!
Call for Contributions to the Pragmatics SIG My Share due by February 15 (held March 1st)
On the 1st of March, at Osaka Jogakuin University, Osaka JALT and Pragmatics SIG will host an in-person Pragmatics-focused My Share event, together with a talk on cross-cultural communication, round table discussion, and sharing of Pragmatic incidents. We are inviting contributions to the My Share part of the event, which can be in person or by video. If you would like to present something, please submit your contribution here:
https://forms.gle/p37B93LTP76DrXVV6
Presenters will have 10-12 minutes to share their pragmatic focus followed by discussion. See the submission form for more details. Deadline: February 15, 2025
Call for Papers for the Learner Development Journal (JALT LD SIG) due by February 23
The deadline for proposals for "Stories of Practices" and "Practice-Related Reviews" for Issue 10 of The Learner Development Journal on "Teacher and Learner Perspectives on Reflection, Metacognition, and Assessment: Exploring Quality of Learning and Development" is February 23rd 2025. For the complete Call for Proposals, please see https://ldjournal.ld-sig.org/issues/ldj10-in-progress/.
Call for Papers for the JALT Global Englishes SIG Journal (ongoing)
The JALT Global Englishes SIG is pleased to remind our community about the ongoing invitation to submit articles for the Global Englishes SIG Journal. We welcome a wide variety of article types. 日本語での提出も受け付けます。Details of the journal can be found here: https://jaltgesig.wordpress.com/journal/
Call for Presentation Proposals for the English Teachers' Association-Republic of China (ETA-ROC) due February 28
Call for Presentation Proposals for the 23rd AsiaTEFL International Conference due January 31
The conference holds significant relevance to the fields of and ELT. This conference serves as a platform for professionals in these fields to come together, share insights, exchange best practices, and discuss the latest research and trends in language education. It provides a valuable opportunity for educators, researchers, and practitioners to enhance their knowledge, network with peers, and contribute to the advancement of TESOL and ELT practices in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Recent JALT Publications
For a full list of all of JALT's publications (including SIGs, chapters, and conferences), please see https://jalt.org/main/publications
Reminder: Primary/Secondary Education My Share Call for Proposals due February 14 (held March 30 in Kyoto)
Kyoto JALT is looking for educators working in or connected to either primary or secondary education to show off their best classroom practices at a My Share seminar to be scheduled 30 March, 2025 at Kyoto Prefectural University. You can find presentations from our last event held in 2023 for ideas. Slots are currently 25 minutes, but we are flexible and are open to ideas on the format of your presentation. To submit a proposal, submit a 150-200 word abstract using this application form. Teachers from outside of Kyoto Chapter as well as non-JALT members are welcome to submit.
Deadline for submission is 14 February 2025.
Reminder: Extensive Reading World Congress call for propsals due February 28th, 2025
Do you want to share your experiences or research in ER? The ER Foundation and the ER SIG are hosting the 7th ERWC in Hokkaido, September 5-9, 2025. The Call for Presentation Proposals is closing on February 28. Submit your proposal soon! https://erwc7.edzil.la/submit/select/12871
Reminder: Support group open to JALT adoptees and fostered JALTs
Announcing a new private support group open to JALT adoptees and fostered JALTs. Sometimes, it feels like we are a hidden group because it feels like there is never a chance to say, "I am adopted" or "I was fostered." So often, we don't know that we are standing or working next to one another. This is a safe space just to come and say "hello." To share your story if you want and listen to others. Or come and not feel like you are alone here. If you are interested, please ping Robert Dykes on JALT's Basecamp group or email him at rdykes@m.sojo-u.ac.jp.
Reminder: Call for presenters for Thinking about Thinking 2025 due January 31, 2025
Thinking about Thinking 2025 in an online event to be hosted by the JALT Critical Thinking SIG on February 15th, 2025 from 15:00-17:00. We are accepting presentation proposals from those who would like to present on their research or classroom practice related to any aspect of critical thinking or higher order thinking skills in language education. This opportunity is open to both CT SIG members and non-members. The deadline for submissions is January 31st, 2025. To submit a proposal: https://forms.office.com/r/jWhmVMp4jW
Upcoming JALT Events
Event details: https://jalt.org/events
28 January 2025, 8:00pm
ZPD in January (http://bit.ly/ZPDRSVP
JALT Central
29 January 2025, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Multilingual Cafe Te Reo Māori: Kia ako tahi tatou! (Let’s learn about the Māori language together)
Other Language Educators SIG
01 February 2025, 4:00pm
"Your Thoughts" Forum (hybrid round-table discussion)
Tochigi Chapter
02 February 2025, 10:00am to 12:00pm
The ICNALE Corpus and what it tells us about how Japanese university students speak and write in English
Niigata Chapter
09 February 2025, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Steve Jugovic: Lifestyle Awareness Raising and Habit Reflections to Support Learning and Life
Yokohama Chapter
09 February 2025, 2:00pm
Positive Discipline Workshop for English Teachers
Teaching Younger Learners SIG
09 February 2025, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Switching the role from teacher to learner: Experiencing the direct method through a lesson in basic Ukrainian
Gunma Chapter
15 February 2025, 10:00am to 5:00pm
The JALT Hokkaido Winter Language Conference 2025 - Teaching Tools for the Classroom
Hokkaido Chapter
15 February 2025, 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Thinking about Thinking 2025 (Online Event)
Critical Thinking SIG
16 February 2025, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
How the Brain Does Language and Why It Loves Stories
Matsuyama Chapter
23 February 2025, 1:30pm
The Role of the L1 in the Classroom
Toyohashi Chapter
01 March 2025, 6:00pm
Student Forum: Comparative Analysis of English Education in Asia: Personal Experiences and Teaching Observations (hybrid)
Fukuoka Chapter
01 March 2025, 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Presenting Off-Script: Socio-Emotional and Embodied Cognitive Scaffolding Joseph Falout (Nihon University)
Okinawa Chapter
Okinawa JALT
That's all for this month. You can subscribe and / or access back issues here. Alternatively, if you'd rather not receive more information from JALT, you can unsubscribe here: https://hosted.jalt.org/membermail/unsubscribe-success.php?c=199
Best regards,
Bill Pellowe
JALT Director of Public Relations
pr@jalt.org
https://jalt.org