Hello, and welcome to another monthly edition of JALT Talk, the announcements newsletter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching.

In this issue:

1. JALT2026 International Conference News
   • Basic Information
   • Call for presentation proposals due March 8th
   • JALT2026 t-shirts, hoodies, bags and more!
   • JALT2026 Mind & Body Space Call for presenters
2. Job listings on the JALT Publications site
3. PanSIG 2026 Conference News
4. JALT Hokkaido Winter Conference: Pre-conference Interview with the Keynote Speaker, Dr. James York
5. Moving? Bring JALT with you!
6. Reminder: Call for Presentation Proposals due February 15, 2026 for the TBLT in Asia 2026 International Conference (in Tokyo, June 5-7)
7. Call for Papers for the JALT Global Englishes SIG Journal
8. Reminder: Call for Presentation Proposals due January 31, 2026 for JALTCALL 2026 (in Nishinomiya, June 12-14, 2026)
9. Call for Presentation Proposals due March 30, 2026 for the  Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2026 (June 27, 2026 in Hachinohe, Aomori)
10. Call for Presentation Proposals due February 10, 2026 for the Okinawa Full STEAM Ahead! Conference (in Okinawa, Feb. 20-22, 2026)
11. New Launch: PIE SIG Podcast and PIE SIG Podcast+
12. Announcement: Upcoming Joint Symposium Organized by the CUE and GALE SIGs
13. Recent JALT Publications
14. Upcoming JALT Events
15. Upcoming Conferences from our JALT International Partners
    • Updated Abstract submission deadline for KOTESOL: January 31, 2026
    • Abstract submissions due March 1 for ETA-ROC (Taiwan)

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-conference Interview with the Keynote Speaker, Dr. James York

Video link: https://youtu.be/OnhS0bZt2l8

Hokkaido JALT is delighted to share this short interview with Dr. James York, who will be giving both the keynote and a featured workshop at our language teaching conference on Sunday, February 15, in Sapporo.

In the interview, Dr. York explains why we should reconsider how we use games in the classroom, and why it's essential to make space for play and playfulness in our classes. It's a great preview of the ideas he'll be bringing to the conference.

For more information about the JALT Hokkaido Winter Conference, see https://hokkaido.jalt.org.

Moving? Bring JALT with you!

A new year marks the season of new beginnings! The new academic year means that some of us are moving on to new jobs, perhaps even in new cities.

To ensure you stay connected, we'd like to remind you to update your mailing or email address if it is changing. Keeping your information current ensures you receive JALT publications and news without any interruptions.

Reminder: Call for Presentation Proposals due February 15, 2026 for the TBLT in Asia 2026 International Conference (in Tokyo, June 5-7)

JALT's Task-Based Learning SIG presents the TBLT in Asia 2026 International Conference

• Converence dates: June 5th to 7th, 2026
• Venue: Waseda University, Toyama Campus, Tokyo
• Call for papers, posters, and workshops now open until February 15th, 2026.
• Details: https://sites.google.com/jalt.org/conference/
• Plenary Speakers:
  • Marta González-Lloret, University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • Yuko Goto Butler, University of Pennsylvania
  • Jason Moser, Kanto Gakuin University

Call for Papers for the JALT Global Englishes SIG Journal

We are 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/

Reminder: Call for Presentation Proposals due January 31, 2026 for JALTCALL 2026 (in Nishinomiya, June 12-14, 2026)

Under the theme "Prevail or Fail?," JALTCALL 2026 invites educators, researchers, and technologists to explore how digital tools, pedagogical innovations, and AI are reshaping language teaching and learning in an age of rapid change and uncertainty. 

JALTCALL is very proud to announce one of our keynote speakers for JALTCALL 2026, Mehrasa Alizadeh. In this keynote, Mehrasa reflects on her past work with immersive technologies in language education, examining not only what prevailed, but also what failed, and how she attempted to address these challenges. [read more]

• Dates: Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Theme: Prevail or Fail?
• Venue: Konan University, Hirao School of Management CUBE (Nishinomiya Campus), a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station (HK08), right between Osaka and Kobe.
• Note: Accommodation near the campus is limited, so staying around Osaka or Kobe Station is recommended for easy Hankyu access.
• Call for Proposals: November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026
• Notifications + early-bird registration: March 1, 2026
• Presenter registration deadline: April 31, 2026
• Details: https://jaltcall2026.edzil.la

Call for Presentation Proposals due March 30, 2026 for the Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2026 (June 27, 2026 in Hachinohe, Aomori)

Sessions are set at 30 minutes (including questions). Please advise us on your session format: formal presentation, workshop, discussion, or demonstration. Also, if you would like more than 30 minutes, or have any other questions regarding presenting, let us know.

• Abstract Submissions: Abstract must be no longer than 300 words in English, in either MS Word, Mac Pages, or PDF file.
• Send all abstract submissions to: MEESjapan@gmail.com
• Proposal Abstract Deadline: Monday, March 30th, 2026.
• https://meesjapan.wordpress.com/2026-2/

This event is cosponsored by the Iwate-Aomori Chapter of JALT.

Call for Presentation Proposals due February 10, 2026 for the Okinawa Full STEAM Ahead! Conference (in Okinawa, Feb. 20-22, 2026)

Sponsors:

• JALT Performance in Education SIG,
• JALT Mind, Brain, & Education SIG,
• JALT CALL SIG,
• Okinawa Chapter of JALT, and
• Oxford University Press

Conference details:

• Title: STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, Mathematics) Conference: Full STEAM Ahead!
• Dates: Friday, February 20 - Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Deadline: February 10, 2026
• Theme: A STEAMY Conference: Adding Arts to STEM Curricula
• Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Gender Equality Center [Tiruru] in Naha, Okinawa
• https://jaltpiesig.org/pie-sigs-okinawa-steam-conference/

New Launch: PIE SIG Podcast and PIE SIG Podcast+

Our flagship PIE SIG Podcast already reaches listeners in over 16 countries. New episodes uploaded each month added to the six episodes listed. The new series, PIE Podcast+ features shorter, casual conversations with teachers, authors, students, and the people behind recent articles and upcoming events.

Listen here:

• PIE SIG Website: https://jaltpiesig.org
• Spotify (see PIE SIG Website)
• or other major podcast platforms.

Get your research out there! Add your name to the DEI Presenter Database today! 

In order for JALT Program Chairs and other Officers to help ensure they are following the DEI Presenter Guidelines, the DEI Committee is asking all JALT member to fill out the survey: Complete the DEI Presenter Database Survey・DEIプレゼンターのデータベース構築の為のアンケート. Completing the survey is not a commitment to present, but will allow a more streamlined approach to connecting with potential speakers outside of personal networks. Please note that all questions are optional and will be used by program chairs to help diversify their speakers. Please see our poster for more information. 

If you are a JALT Officer looking to use this great resource, you can view the list of presenters if you log into the jalt.org website --> view the officer resources --> click on the "Programs and Events" tab. Please ensure that you keep this information confidential. 

Ongoing Call for Papers for the JALT Global Englishes SIG Journal

We are 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/

Announcement: Upcoming Joint Symposium Organized by the CUE and GALE SIGs

• Symposium Theme: To be announced (Focusing on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and English-Medium Instruction (EMI) in Tertiary Education)
• Dates: October 10–11, 2026
• Venue: Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Kanazawa
• Call for Proposals: Opens March 1, 2026

This symposium aims to bring together educators and researchers working in higher education to explore discipline-specific English instruction, ESP curriculum design, and effective teaching practices that respond to the diverse needs of university learners.

We warmly invite colleagues involved in:

• ESP and EMI contexts
• University and college English education
• Curriculum and course design
• Student engagement and professional communication

Further details regarding the Call for Proposals, submission guidelines, and registration will be shared soon.

Recent JALT Publications

For a full list of all of JALT's publications (including SIGs, chapters, and conferences), please see https://jalt.org/jalt-publications/

• As announced in the previous JALT Talk:JALT has published The Language Teacher - 50.1: January 2026. TLT is JALT's bimonthly publication. https://jalt.org/the-language-teacher/
• As announced in the previous JALT Talk: JALT has published JALT Journal - Issue 47.2; November 2025. JALT Journal is JALT's research journal. It is published semiannually, in May and November, with submissions accepted throughout the year. https://jalt.org/jalt-journal/
• JALT's Gender Awareness in Language Education SIG has released Volume 18 of the GALE Journal. This issue features an analysis of gender portrayals in English textbooks and a variety of book reviews on topics related to gender, intersectionality, and language. You can find it, as well as past issues of the GALE Journal, at https://gale.jalt.org/journal. 
• JALT's Mind, Brain, and Education SIG has published MindBrainEd Think Tanks: The Art of Ending Class in the Language Classroom: Vol. 12 Issue 1 January 2026. This issue coincides with the end of the school year in Japan and our contributors provide suggestions on how to end lessons and courses successfully. 日本ではそろそろ学年末が近づいています。今月号は授業またはコースを終わらせる活動/方法についての提案を特集しました。https://www.mindbrained.org
• JALT's Lifelong Language Learning SIG has published Chronicle of Lifelong Language Learning: 21.2.   https://hosted.jalt.org/lifelong/publications.html

Upcoming JALT Events for February 2026

Click here for event details and for the schedule after Febrary: https://jalt.org/events

Nagoya & Gifu Chapter
Nagoya & Gifu JALT 2026 New Year’s Forum
February 1, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Gunma Chapter
Internationalization in Practice: The GFL Program and Other Initiatives at Gunma University
February 1, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Six Presentations on Accessibility in Language Learning: ALL SIG at the Tokyo English Language Teaching Convention
February 8th, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
https://ltpdownloads.com/tokyo-1/

NanKyu Chapter, in Kumamoto
SUTLF 2026 Conference
February 12, 6:00 PM – February 14, 3:00 PM
Sojo University 4-22-1, Ikeda, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan

Teaching Younger Learners SIG
Use of ICT in Young Learners’ Classrooms 2
February 15, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Hokkaido Chapter
The JALT Hokkaido Winter Language Conference 2026: Engagement and Innovation in Language Education
February 15, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Iwate-Aomori Chapter, in Morioka (Iwate)
A Growth Mindset for Language Education – Adrian Leis
February 15, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Fukuoka Chapter and TEVAL SIG
[Hybrid event] Language Assessment in Practice: From Teacher Assessment Literacy to AI-Supported Feedback
February 21, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Eight Presentations: Fukuoka Chapter at the Kyushu ELT Convention 2026
February 22, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
https://fukuoka.jalt.org/february-21-22/2026-february-elt

Extensive Reading SIG
PresentERs – Graded Reader alignment with Kyotsu Test English Reading passages
February 22, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Upcoming Conferences from our JALT International Partners:

• Thailand TESOL:
  Urgent Update: The 45th Thailand TESOL, International Conference 2026
  New dates: January 30-31, 2026
  New venue: Swissotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
  Website: https://thailandtesol.org/event?id=24
• Nepal English Language Teachers' Association (NELTA):
  Urgent Update: 30th NELTA International Conference 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal
  Urgent Update: January 30-31, 2026.
  Website: https://nelta.org.np/conference/30
• TESOL-SPAIN:
  TESOL-SPAIN 49th Annual National Convention 2026, March 13-15, 2026, Sevilla, Spain
  Website: https://www.TESOLSPAINSevilla2026.com
• EdYOUFest:
  • Derry, North Ireland, February 13 - 15, 2026;
  • Etna/Pedara, Italy, April 17 - 18, 2026;
  • Istanbul, Türkiye, August 2026;
  • Tokyo, Japan, September 19, 2026;
  • Belgrade, Serbia, August 29, 2026;
  • Valletta, Malta, September 11-12, 2026;
  • Lviv, Ukraine, November 14, 2026;
  • Rabat, Morocco, December 6, 2026.
  Website: https://www.edyoufest.org
• TESOL (Affiliate member):
  TESOL International Convention & Expo 2026, March 24-27, 2026, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  Website: https://www.tesol.org/professional-development/education-and-events/in-person/tesol-convention/
• IATEFL (Associate member):
  2026 IATEFL International Conference, April 20-24, 2026, Brighton, UK
  Website: https://www.iateflconference.org
• Korea TESOL:
  KOTESOL 2026 International Conference, May 16 - 17, 2026, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, South Korea
  Updated Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2026.
  Website: https://koreatesol.org/IC2026
• English Teachers' Association-Republic of China (ETA-ROC): 
  2026 PAC, ENG.SU-APLX & ETA 35th Anniversary International Symposium on English Language Teaching and Learning, November 14-15, 2026, Venue: Chientan Youth Activity Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
  Abstract submission deadline: March 1, 2026.
  Website: https://eta.org.tw/

If interested in representing JALT at one of our international partner conferences, please complete the following Google form (https://forms.gle/ERn7KiYjM4E5QVoHA) and contact international@jalt.org

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=226

Best regards,

Bill Pellowe
JALT Director of Public Relations
pr@jalt.org
https://jalt.org