Hello, and welcome to another monthly edition of JALT Talk, the announcements newsletter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching.
In this issue:
JALT International Conference NewsJALT2026 Basic details:
Registration Opens Early August
Registration for JALT2026 will be open by early August. Please watch https://jalt.org/jalt-international-conference/ for links to all necessary information.
| Early-bird registration (until October 31st) |
Regular Registration (from November 1st) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registering For: | JALT Member | Nonmember | JALT Member | Nonmember |
| 3 Days (Nov 20-22) | 23,000 yen | 40,000 yen | 32,000 yen | 46,000 yen |
| 1 Day (Nov 20, 21, or 22) | 18,000 yen | 25,000 yen | 21,000 yen | 29,000 yen |
| Senior / Student 3 Days (Nov 20-22)* | 12,000 yen | 14,000 yen | 14,000 yen | 18,000 yen |
| Senior / Student 1 Day (Nov 20, 21, or 22)* | 8,000 yen | 10,000 yen | 10,000 yen | 12,000 yen |
| JALT Junior 2 days (Nov 21-22)** | 12,000 yen | 14,000 yen | 14,000 yen | 18,000 yen |
| JALT Junior 1 day (Nov 21 or 22)** | 7,000 yen | 9,000 yen | 9,000 yen | 12,000 yen |
| Global Professional** | 14,000 yen | |||
|
Note: The pre-registration period will open in August, and finish October 31st.
* If you will be 65 on or before 20 November 2026, or are a full-time student, you are eligible for discounted conference fees.
** JALT Junior is a satellite conference that focuses on teaching children and training teachers to teach children. *** Global Professionals applies to nationals currently residing in the country of their nationality where the country has a gross national income as defined by the World Bank of less than $15,000. The countries this applies to can be found in this list on the TESOL website. |
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JALT2026は、下記の機関より後援をいただいております。We received koen meigi for JALT2026 from the following organizations:
What is koen meigi?
A koen meigi is a letter of endorsement from a government body, media group or organization that sees merit in a program or event that is being held by another organization. This letter is offered as a way to increase visibility and raise the status of the event in the eye of the general public. The organization sending the koen meigi generally has no financial interest in or legal responsibility for the event.
JALT2026 Plenary Speakers
Dr. Noriko Ishihara (JALT Junior Plenary)
Professor of Applied Lingustics and TESOL, Hosei University, Japan
https://ishi0029.wixsite.com/norikoishihara
Dr. Loy Lising
Senior Lecturer and Graduate Research Supervision Fellow, Macquarie University, Australia
https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/loy-lising-lising/
Dr. Kazuyoshi Sato
Professor Emeritus, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Japan
"EFL Teacher Development through Collaborative Action Research Projects"
https://www.yoshi-sato.com/
JALT2026 Invited Speakers
Kevin Cleary Invited Speaker: Kip A. Cates
Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Regional Sciences, Tottori University, Japan
https://tinyurl.com/9p7hddpj
Bill Balsamo Asian Scholar Invited Speaker: Dr. Willy A. Renandya
Principal Lecturer, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
https://willyrenandya.com/
Childcare Available
Professional childcare will be available at JALT2026 to help care for your children during the conference.
Guardian and Caregiver Program
One guardian or caregiver may accompany you at the JALT2026 conference without charge if you would like to have someone available to:
After registration opens, you can arrange this by contacting jco@jalt.org
Show up in style! JALT2026 t-shirts, hoodies, bags and more!
Find JALT2026 conference goods on our online shop! Also, JALT 50th Anniversary goods are still available! https://suzuri.jp/JALT/products
Following from the success of last year's online workshops, once again, the TnT/PD Workshops will be online, September 11th.
They will be run in two streams: (1) Technology in Teaching and (2) Professional Development.
The Call for Abstracts runs from June 1 to August 15 (extended deadline). To submit go to https://events.jalt.org/event/96/abstracts/
We accept submissions from JALT members and non-members alike. We want to learn from you!
All sessions will be recorded and made available to attendees for 3 months after they are uploaded.
Each year, JALT awards up to three grants for a maximum of 100,000 yen each for research on language teaching in Japan. The grants aim to support language teachers with no outside sources of funding and encourage JALT members to engage in classroom-based research. Recipients of the 2026 grants receive funding to conduct their research in the 2027 academic year. The deadline for application is October 18, 2026.
Please follow the JALT Research Grants website to learn about the grants in detail and download an application: https://jalt.org/research-grants-faq/
Do you know a JALT member who has made important contributions to our field? Be sure to nominate them for one of these awards brought to you by the JALT Awards and Recognition Committee! JALT has awards for teachers and researchers at various stages of their careers: Early Career Excellence Award, Mid-Career Scholar Award (Teaching / Research), and Lifetime Achievement Award. Any member is welcome to nominate another JALT member for an award—simply complete this Google Form in English or Japanese by Monday, September 28, 2026.
For reference, please see the 2025 JALT Awards Winners page.
Theme: Cultivating Community in Language Education
This year the conference will be held from October 23–26, starting online on October 23, followed by two days of face to face one day programs in and outside Dhaka. Online presentations can be offered from Japan.
We are open to receiving proposals from individuals offering 2-3, 45 minute workshops and or presentations, finishing with short Q & A sessions. Please send your proposals (or questions) in care of Prof. Patrick Dougherty, Ed.D., at pdougherty@aiu.ac.jp. The 2026 Conference will be a most special event as it is our 20th program with BELTA. BELTA was THT's first partner organization. Our friendship and collaboration, have we believe, deeply enriched the lives and work of educators in both organizations.
Theme: Communities of Practice: Learning from Each Other
This year marks the 18th anniversary of THT Kyrgyzstan and it is shaping up to be another amazing event The World Nomad Games will be opening on August 31st in Bishkek. The games will feature traditional sporting and cultural events in and around Cholpon-Ata.
Social events leading up to our seminars will take place between September 2-5. On September 7th the Kyrgyz seminars tentatively commence with the FORUM English Language Teachers’ Association of Kyrgyzstan seminar in Naryn. Followed up by our main 2 day seminar at Bishkek University on September 10th and 11th. On September 12th our final Forum Seminar will be held in Bishkek. Classroom Visits will be arranged to be held on September 14.
It is possible to participate in all or part of the program. Contact Brent Jones (bjones@konan-u.ac.jp) for further information.
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
You are invited to: Okinawa JALT Global Summit, 56th Naha Festival, World's Largest Tug-of-War on the weekend of October 9 - 11. Submit your proposals soon! https://sites.google.com/view/joinokinawa/okinawa-jalt
Get your research out there and broaden the scope of presenters and topics at JALT events! Register here: JALT Speakers List ・ JALTスピーカーリスト登録. Registering 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 (except for name, contact, and research topic) and will be used by program chairs to help them ensure that their speakers represent the great diversity of people and ideas within JALT.
If you are a JALT Officer looking to use this resource, you can view the JALT Speakers List by logging into the jalt.org website --> View the officer resources --> Click on the "Programs and Events" tab. Please ensure that you keep all information strictly confidential and contact speakers for professional purposes only.
The PIE SIG Podcast has now released its 12th episode and will soon launch Season 2!
Tune in to hear experienced educators share creative, performance-based approaches to language teaching. Listen on the PIE SIG website or your favorite podcast platform.
Season One Guests:
David Kluge • Ashley Ford-Mihashi • Kevin Bergman • Dr. Dawn Kobayashi • Dr. Kim Rockell •
Heather Kretschmer • Yukari Saiki • Brian Gallagher • Gordon Rees • and Mari Nakamura
The Accessibility in Language Learning SIG (ALL SIG) is thrilled to announce that applications for the 3rd cohort of the Learning Incentive for Teaching (LIFT) Scholarship are now open!
This opportunity is made possible by our incredible partners:
New this year: Applications are open to members of the ALL SIG and our LIFT Benefactor and Sponsor JALT groups!
Ready to apply? Explore course offerings and start your application at https://allsig.jalt.org/scholarship
Don't miss this chance to invest in your teaching journey towards the creation of accessible learning environments!
ART Gallery, the journal of the Art, Research, and Teaching SIG, announces an open call for articles and artwork that explore the intersection of visual arts and language learning.
Submission Guidelines:
We welcome proposals from members and non-members for:
Submissions may address CUE-related topics, GALE-related topics, or areas where both overlap. Possible themes include equity, identity, agency, gender awareness, tertiary education, classroom practice, assessment, professional development, and learner or teacher empowerment.
All presenters will also have the opportunity to publish.
We look forward to receiving your abstracts and welcoming you to Kanazawa in October.
Yamagata Chapter is currently recruiting presenter's for its 2026 Fall Mini Conference to be held Saturday September 26. The deadline for submissions is July 31st.
The Global Englishes SIG will hold its fourth online conference on Saturday 5th December. The deadline for submissions is Monday 31st August. See the website for more information: https://jaltgesig.wordpress.com/
The Study Abroad SIG is hosting its annual conference on October 17th at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka. The call for proposals is now open with a deadline of September 17th.
We look forward to welcoming you in Fukuoka!
Taking place on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Chuo University, Myogadani, Tokyo, CCLT10 offers a space for students and teachers to share ideas, present, and discuss in a supportive, low-stress environment. It’s a wonderful opportunity to build connections and gain a tremendous sense of achievement.
2026年12月6日（日）11:30〜16:30に東京の中央大学茗荷谷キャンパスにて開催される「コミュニティの創造：共に学ぶ10（CCLT10）」は、学生と教員が互いに支え合い、リラックスできる環境の中で、アイデアの共有、プレゼンテーション、そしてディスカッションを行うための場を提供します。
Kobe JALT Journal is in need of experienced teachers to join its publication team as peer reviewers. Duties as a reviewer include working closely with the editors of Kobe JALT Journal and the Kobe JALT publication chair to ensure manuscripts are thoroughly vetted and ready for publication. This is a volunteer position with loose time requirements, as reviewers can review as many or as few manuscripts as they wish. Guidance and peer review examples are provided to all new reviewers. Previous reviewing experience is not necessary, but reviewers are expected to have knowledge of basic concepts in second language acquisition.
In addition, Kobe JALT Journal invites previously unpublished research for consideration in the next issue of Kobe JALT Journal. Articles with a strong research focus, as well as classroom practice-oriented articles, in any area of English language teaching/learning are welcomed. First-time authors are also encouraged to submit manuscripts.
Inquiries can be directed to the publication chair at kobe-publications@jalt.org.
My Share sessions are short presentations (15–20 minutes) where teachers can share practical classroom ideas, tools, and techniques that other educators can use right away. It's a friendly, supportive space to exchange ideas, connect with colleagues, and spark new inspiration.
Presentations on practical teaching tips and classroom activities are welcome from all of our YoJALT members. We'd love to learn from you wherever you teach--elementary school to university--and at whatever stage of your teaching career you are.
Whether you're a seasoned presenter or stepping up for the first time, your ideas matter, and this is the perfect place to share them! Following your presentation, there is then an opportunity to publish in a special edition of Accents Asia.
All JALT members are welcome to join the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) for a big discount! JALT is an Associate Member of IATEFL, so all JALT members are eligible. Details: https://jalt.org/2026/04/09/jalt-members-join-iatefl-at-a-big-discount/
For a full list of all of JALT's publications (including SIGs, chapters, and conferences), please see https://jalt.org/jalt-publications/
These are the events in JALT in August 2026. For details and events happening later, please see https://jalt.org/events.
Osaka JALT Chapter
Osaka JALT Online: Culture in the Classroom
August 9, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Nara JALT Chapter
Meet-the-Members 2026
August 12, 7:30 PM-8:30 PM
Hokkaido Chapter and the Teacher Development SIG
Teacher Journeys 2026 Conference
August 23, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Extensive Reading SIG
PresentERs: Beyond Reading Volume: What a Decade of Reading Coaching Reveals
August 30, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
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=232
Best regards,
Bill Pellowe
JALT Director of Public Relations
pr@jalt.org
https://jalt.org