Special Interest Group (SIG) Mission Statements

JALT's SIGs are national networks for information exchange and fellowship among teachers with similar interests. They further JALT's mission of improving foreign and second language education in Japan. SIGs are based on the various academic, research and pedagogical interests shared by JALT members. They are founded on similar occupations, subjects or levels taught, teaching approaches tailored to Japan, interest in certain fields, or interest in certain issues cutting across disciplines.

JALT members may join as many SIGs as they wish for 1,500 each per year when joining online, by signing up at JALT events, or using the postal transfer form inserted in each issue of The Language Teacher. To maintain SIG privileges, renew your SIG memberships when you renew JALT membership. Missions of established and forming SIGs are briefly described alphabetically below.

For more definitive information, sample newsletters, or enquiries about individual SIGs contact the SIGs directly. SIG activities are also detailed each month in The Language Teacher Of National SIGnificance column.

BILINGUALISM (BIL) is a branch of applied linguistics that informs language policy while guiding parents struggling to raise children bilingually in Japan.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATORS (CUE) share concerns affecting language educators in JALT's largest occupational category.

COMPUTER-ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (CALL) develops the CAI-CALL approach in hi-tech Japan.

GENDER AWARENESS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION (GALE) promotes research on gender and its implications for language learning, teaching, and training.

GLOBAL ISSUES IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION (GILE) promotes the teaching of world problems (peace, human rights, environmental issues) as content for language education.

JAPANESE AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (JSL) develops the profession of teaching Japanese to native speakers of other languages residing in Japan.

JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH (JHS) promotes research and dialogue toward improving secondary school foreign language education in Japan.

LEARNER DEVELOPMENT (LD) brings together concepts and research in English and Japanese to develop more autonomous and effective learners, teachers included. <

LIFELONG LANGUAGE LEARNING (LLL) aims to explore ways to accommodate the increasing number of people who are eager to study English as part of life-long learning, a trend powered by the increasing number of retirees and the internationalization of Japanese society.

MATERIALS WRITERS (MW) encourages the production of ever-higher quality foreign language teaching materials in all media.

OTHER LANGUAGE EDUCATORS (OLE, forming) gathers and disseminates information on all aspects of the teaching and learning of languages and cultures beyond English and Japanese.

PROFESSIONALISM, ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PALE) promotes the status of language teaching as a profession both within the Japanese educational system and in relation to the wider national and international context.

PRAGMATICS (PRAG) is concerned with both research and practical teaching issues related to "how people do things with words."

TEACHER EDUCATION (TE) is a network for those who want to help themselves and others become better teachers. Our activities include retreats and sponsoring speakers for the annual JALT conference.

TEACHING CHILDREN (TC) is for teachers of children of all ages. We publish a bilingual newsletter four times a year with columns by many of the leading textbook authors in the field.

TESTING AND EVALUATION (TEVAL) provides a venue for research, information and discussion related to foreign language testing and evaluation as well as promote exchange within JALT and with affiliates of other professional organizations which have common interests and goals.