Hello, and welcome to another monthly edition of JALT Talk, the announcements newsletter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching. A new school year is starting, so we've included a few activities for first lessons in the "New Academic Year Activities" section below. Spring also brings forth a number of JALT events and activities, including PanSIG in May, the second-largest annual conference in JALT.
In this issue:
The Election for the Board of Directors and Auditor begins in April. Key dates:
Please check the JALT website and JALT social media for announcements and details.
* Please note that "Approval of the results of the election" at the OGM (Ordinary General Meeting) means that the membership will vote on whether they are satisfied that the election process was done in accordance with our rules, i.e., that the membership accepts the results of the election. This is not a second round of voting for candidates.
JALT International Conference NewsJALT2026 Basic details:
Childcare Available
Professional childcare will be available at JALT2026 to help care for your children during the conference.
Here is a testimonial from JALT2025 presenter Natalie Donohue:
I am so impressed and grateful that this [childcare] service is offered! It really did make it feasible for me to attend a professional development event despite having a young child. I think this is a wonderful initiative to make professional development accessible for parents with kids (especially over a weekend). I have never been to a conference which has offered childcare before, but I hope more conferences follow JALT's lead in considering this!
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
JALT2026 t-shirts, hoodies, bags and more!
JALT2026 conference goods have been added to our online shop! Also, you can still get JALT 50th Anniversary T-shirts, hoodies, keychains, hats, stickers, more! As well as goods from recent conferences. https://suzuri.jp/JALT/products
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
Get your new classes off to a great start with an introductory activity or two that sets the tone for the upcoming semester. Here are just a few of the many great ideas you can find in the JALT Publications Archive of "My Share" activities from The Language Teacher.
PanSIG is an annual conference organized by many of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of JALT.
Pre-registration is open!
Save up to 5,000 yen by registering online before May 12th! Details: https://pansig.org/registration
Congratulations!
This year, 159 vetted presentations were accepted to PanSIG 2026! Congratulations to all of the presenters!
Please see our page for presenters on the PanSIG website for resources and advice. We even have an "I'm presenting!" image for your social media pages!
Also, please note that all presenters must register and pay by April 10th.
Hotels
We recommend that you book your hotel early, to ensure that you get the rate and location that suits you best. See our recommendations of where to stay!
Plenary Speakers
Plenary speakers at PanSIG 2026 will be Robert Stroud (Saturday, May 23rd, 10 a.m.) and Louise Ohashi (Saturday, May 23rd, 4 p.m.). We will also have a Panel Discussion on Sunday, May 24th, at 2:30 p.m.
Read the full details here: https://pansig.org/plenary
May 22 (Friday) Social Activities
Enjoy these opportunities at the PanSIG 2026 Conference to network and relax with fellow conference attendees in a different setting. On Friday, May 22nd, we will have three activities (listed below) that you can sign up for during registration (first come, first served, so sign up soon while places are still available).
More details here: https://pansig.org/social-events
We're looking forward to seeing you at PanSIG 2026!
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.
The Performance in Education Podcast (PIE SIG Podcast) has now surpassed 500 downloads. In the latest episode (Episode 9), Professor Saiki Yukari explores how storytelling can be used in the adult classroom to foster creativity and cooperation. A Japanese-language version of the episode will be released on April 7.
You can listen on the PIE SIG website (https://jaltpiesig.org) or through your preferred podcast platform.
JALT's Kobe Chapter will hold From LMS to Learning: Moodle and Digital Pedagogy on Saturday, June 28 at Kobe Co-Creation Center. The deadline for My Share proposal is May 31st.
The Global Classroom: Navigating East-West Perspectives in Language Education Conference invites language educators to reflect on how culture shapes teaching and learning practices. We welcome proposals for paper presentations and poster sessions that explore how educators engage with materials and technologies and experiment with diverse methods across cultural contexts.
The Listening SIG is delighted to announce their next annual event in affiliation with the JALT Kyoto Chapter. The Listening Conference 2026 - Learning, Teaching, and Research will be a one-day event taking place in Kyoto on Saturday 11th July 2026 (TBC). Our call for presenters has been extended to 15th April 2026. See https://jaltlistening.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/the-listening-sig-conference-2026/
A new academic year marks the season of new beginnings! This 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.
The editors of Kobe JALT Journal are looking for previously unpublished research and classroom practice articles for publication in Kobe JALT Journal. Any manuscripts relevant to language teaching and learning will be considered for publication, and manuscripts are accepted on a rolling basis. In addition, the editors are also in search of book review writers. First-time authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts. Submissions and inquiries can be directed to the Kobe JALT Publications Chair at kobe-publications@jalt.org.
The Journal of Literature in Language Teaching, the refereed research journal of the Literature in Language Teaching (LiLT) Special Interest Group, invites research articles and research reports on using literature and creative writing in language classrooms. Further details can be found at https://liltsig.org/publications/
Articles should be written for a general audience of language educators; therefore statistical techniques and specialized terms should be clearly explained.
*Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of references and reference citations. We accept submissions at any time. Contact the journal editor for more information at liltjournaleditor@gmail.com
JALT Global Englishes SIG welcomes submission to our journal. This is the final call for papers for volume 3 which will be published in 2026. The deadline is 31st May. Please consider publishing with us. 日本語での提出も受付ます。Details here: https://jaltgesig.wordpress.com/journal/
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 coming up in JALT until the end of April. For details as well as events from May, please see https://jalt.org/events
Extensive Reading SIG
PresentERs - Exploring Students’ Critical and Emotional Engagement through Written Peer Responses to Storytelling in an Extensive Reading Class
Sunday, March 29, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
ZPD - Zoom for Professional Development Event Committee
ZPD in March
Tuesday, March 31, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Lifelong Language Learning SIG
Tokyo Chapter & LLL SIG Co-sponsored online talk: Neuroscience Shows Us that Using Tasks is not Optional
Thursday, April 2, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Talk title: Neuroscience Shows Us that Using Tasks is not just Optional-it is Mandatory
Hiroshima Chapter
Music, Art, & English: Fostering Creativity in EFL Classrooms
Friday, April 3, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Nara Chapter
NaraJALT MyShare Event 2026
Sunday, April 5, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM MyShare
Nara Chapter
NaraJALT Social Event: Picnic in the Park + Walk on Wakakusayama 2026
Sunday, April 5, 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Osaka Chapter
Hanami Social in Osaka Castle Park
Sunday, April 5, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Matsuyama Chapter
How Activity Theory Can Help the Learning Environment 活動理論が学習環境づくりに役立つ理由 Using CommonLit with Japanese University Students: Exploring Self-Perceived Reading, Vocabulary, and Discussion Abilities 日本の大学生における CommonLitの活用:自己認知による読解力・語彙力・討論能力の探求
Saturday, April 18, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Kobe Chapter
Creating Connected Classrooms: Engaging Varied Activities for ESL Learners
Saturday, April 18, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Kitakyushu Chapter
How Kyoto Prefecture ALTs Won a Pay Raise by Striking / The "2026 Mondai" and the Coming University Shakeout
Saturday, April 18, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Nagoya & Gifu Chapter
Identity as a Motivational Tool: Future-Self Identity, Imagined Communities, and Practical Planning for L2 Learning
Saturday, April 18, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hokuriku Chapter
Panel Discussion for Careers in Japan Focused on ALTs
Sunday, April 19, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Gender Awareness in Language Education SIG
Inclusive Practices in Language Education: Gender and Neurodiversity
Sunday, April 19, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
CEFR and Language Portfolio SIG
Spring Talk
Saturday, April 25, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Kyoto Chapter
Making Effective Elementary School English Education
Sunday, April 26, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Osaka Chapter
Back to School 2026, at Osaka Jogakuin University
Sunday, April 26, 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Toyohashi Chapter
Cross-Linguistic Differences in Construal and Their Implications for English Learning and Teaching
Sunday, April 26, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Iwate-Aomori Chapter
Embodied Learning: How Movement Improves Memory and Creativity - Brian J. Birdsell
Sunday, April 26, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Extensive Reading SIG
PresentERs - The Impact of Cultural Insights on Reading Comprehension and Motivation in Extensive Reading: Students’ Responses to the "Tadoku Neta" Trivia Blog
Sunday, April 26, 7:00 PM - 8:00 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
Get your research out there and broaden the scope of presenters and topics at JALT events! Register here: JALT Speakers Bureau ・ JALT 講師バンク. 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 and will be used by program chairs to help them ensure that their speakers represent the great diversity within JALT.
If you are a JALT Officer looking to use this resource, you can view the Speakers Bureau 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.
TEVAL TalkTime is the Testing and Evaluation SIG's informal space for sharing ideas, exploring assessment topics, and connecting with colleagues in a relaxed, collaborative environment. TalkTimes are intentionally flexible and discussion-driven. We welcome (and encourage!) your presentation and/or participation in sessions such as:
Whether you have a fully formed idea or just the beginnings of a question you’d like to think through with others, TalkTime is the perfect space. If you or someone you know would like to host or participate in any of the formats above, please fill out the event form.
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=228
Best regards,
Bill Pellowe
JALT Director of Public Relations
pr@jalt.org
https://jalt.org