In 2025, JALT will celebrate its 50th anniversary (and our 51st conference!). Here is a brief history of an organization that began when a group of teachers got together to exchange ideas and has since become one of Japan’s largest and most effective associations for professional development in language education.
2025ๅนดใJALTใฏ่จญ็ซ50ๅจๅนด๏ผใใใฆ็ฌฌ51ๅๅคงไผ๏ผ๏ผใ่ฟใใพใใใใใงใฏใๆๅธซใใกใ้ใพใฃใฆใขใคใใขใไบคๆใใใใจใใๅงใพใใๆฅๆฌๆๅคง็ดใใคๆใๅนๆ็ใช่ชๅญฆๆ่ฒใฎๅฐ้่ฝๅ้็บๅฃไฝใฎไธใคใธใจ็บๅฑใใฆใใๆฌๅญฆไผใฎ็ฐกๅใชๆญดๅฒใใ็ดนไปใใพใใ
The idea for an association of language teachers started at a language conference at The Language Institute of Japan in Odawara in 1975 when a group of teachers got together to discuss teaching methodologies. The kernel of an idea was formed.
่ชๅญฆๆๅธซใฎใใใฎๅฃไฝใจใใใขใคใใขใฏใ1975ๅนดใซๅฐ็ฐๅใฎๆฅๆฌ่ชๆ่ฒ็ ็ฉถๆใง้ๅฌใใใ่จ่ชๅญฆไผ่ญฐใซใใใฆใๆๅธซใใกใ้ใพใๆๆๆณใ่ญฐ่ซใใใใจใใ่ฝ็ใใพใใใใใใงๅฃไฝ่จญ็ซใฎ็จฎใใพใใใใฎใงใใ
Tom Pendergast became the first president of JALT when the organization started in 1976 as a group of about 50 teachers in the Kansai Region, originally called the Kansai Association of Language Teachers (KALT). Over the next two years, many more members joined and what started as a collective of teachers crystallized into an organization with a solid structure, purpose, and goals.
1976ๅนดใใใ ใปใใณใใผใฌในใใๅไปฃไผ้ทใจใชใใ้ข่ฅฟๅฐๅใฎ็ด50ๅใฎๆๅธซใซใใๅฃไฝใ้ข่ฅฟ่ชๅญฆๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผKALT๏ผใใ็บ่ถณใใพใใใใใฎๅพ2ๅนด้ใงไผๅกใฏๆฅๅขใใๆๅธซใใกใฎ้ใพใใฏใๆ็ขบใช็ต็นๆง้ ใ็ฎ็ใ็ฎๆจใๆใคๅฃไฝใธใจ็ตๆถๅใใฆใใใพใใใ
Other founding members, David Bycina and Doug Tomlinson, set up a second group called the Kanto Association of Language Teachers (also called KALT) in Tokyo in 1976. Around the same time, Charles Adamson started the Tokai Association of Language Teachers (TALT) in Nagoya. In 1977, leaders from all three groups got together to plan a national annual conference and form a constitution with bylaws establishing JALT as a volunteer, nonprofit organization consisting of three chapters. JALT also became a TESOL affiliate at the same time. Because so much work had gone into the planning and groundwork, the organization recognized 1975 as its founding year. In 1978 the Chugoku Chapter (Hiroshima) was started by Marie Tsuruda, a member of KALT since 1975. At this time there were about 1,000 members in the organization nationwide. The Nishinippon (Fukuoka) and Shikoku Chapters also began in 1978,ย followed by:
- Tohoku (Sendai) and Hokkaido in 1979
- Kyoto and Okinawa in 1980
- Nagasaki and Aomori in 1981
- Hamamatsu, Kobe, and Okayama in 1983; Matsuyama and Yokohama in 1984
- Chiba, Shizuoka, Tokushima, and Yamagata in 1985
- Ibaraki, Omiya, and Gunma in 1986
- Niigata, Kanazawa, Fukui, Nagano, Toyohashi, Suwa, and West Tokyo in 1987
- Kagoshima in 1988
- Himeji, Iwate, Nara, and Tochigi in 1989
- Yamaguchi in 1990
- Akita in 1992
- Fukushima in 1994
- Kitakyushu, Kochi, and East Hokkaido in 1995
- Miyazaki and Kumamoto in 1996
- Gifu in 1999
- East Shikoku in 2005
- Wakayama in 2006
- Oita in 2009
- Tottori in 2014
ๅต่จญใกใณใใผใฎไธไบบใใคใใใใปใใคใทใใจใใฐใปใใ ใชใณใฝใณใฏใ1976ๅนดใซๆฑไบฌใงใ้ขๆฑ่ชๅญฆๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผKALT๏ผใใ่จญ็ซใใพใใใๅๆๆใซใใใฃใผใซใบใปใขใใ ใฝใณใๅๅคๅฑใงใๆฑๆตท่ชๅญฆๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผTALT๏ผใใ็ซใกไธใใพใใใ1977ๅนดใซใฏใ3ๅฃไฝใฎใชใผใใผใ้ใพใใๅ จๅฝๅคงไผใฎ่จ็ปใจใJALTใใใฉใณใใฃใขใซใใ้ๅถๅฉๅฃไฝใจใใฆ็ขบ็ซใใใใใฎไผๅใป็ดฐๅใๅถๅฎใใพใใใJALTใฏๅๆใซTESOLใฎๅ ็ๅฃไฝใซใใชใใพใใใใใใใๆบๅใจๅบ็คใฅใใใฎๅชๅใ่ธใพใใJALTใฏ1975ๅนดใ่จญ็ซๅนดใจ่ชๅฎใใฆใใพใใ1978ๅนดใซใฏใใใชใผใปใใซใ๏ผ1975ๅนดไปฅๆฅใฎKALTไผๅก๏ผใๅบๅณถใงไธญๅฝๆฏ้จใ่จญ็ซใใพใใใใใฎๆ็นใงไผๅกๆฐใฏๅ จๅฝใง็ด1,000ไบบใซ้ใใฆใใพใใใ1978ๅนดใซใฏใใใซ่ฅฟๆฅๆฌ๏ผ็ฆๅฒก๏ผๆฏ้จใจๅๅฝๆฏ้จใ่จญ็ซใใใใใฎๅพใไปฅไธใฎใใใซ็ถใใพใใใ
- 1979ๅนด๏ผๆฑๅ๏ผไปๅฐ๏ผใๅๆตท้
- 1980ๅนด๏ผไบฌ้ฝใๆฒ็ธ
- 1981ๅนด๏ผ้ทๅดใ้ๆฃฎ
- 1983ๅนด๏ผๆตๆพใ็ฅๆธใๅฒกๅฑฑ
- 1984ๅนด๏ผๆพๅฑฑใๆจชๆต
- 1985ๅนด๏ผๅ่ใ้ๅฒกใๅพณๅณถใๅฑฑๅฝข
- 1986ๅนด๏ผ่จๅใๅคงๅฎฎใ็พค้ฆฌ
- 1987ๅนด๏ผๆฐๆฝใ้ๆฒขใ็ฆไบใ้ท้ใ่ฑๆฉใ่ซ่จชใ่ฅฟๆฑไบฌ
- 1988ๅนด๏ผ้นฟๅ ๅณถ
- 1989ๅนด๏ผๅงซ่ทฏใๅฒฉๆใๅฅ่ฏใๆ ๆจ
- 1990ๅนด๏ผๅฑฑๅฃ
- 1992ๅนด๏ผ็ง็ฐ
- 1994ๅนด๏ผ็ฆๅณถ
- 1995ๅนด๏ผๅไนๅทใ้ซ็ฅใๆฑๅๆตท้
- 1996ๅนด๏ผๅฎฎๅดใ็ๆฌ
- 1999ๅนด๏ผๅฒ้
- 2005ๅนด๏ผๆฑๅๅฝ
- 2006ๅนด๏ผๅๆญๅฑฑ
- 2009ๅนด๏ผๅคงๅ
- 2014ๅนด๏ผ้ณฅๅ
Over the years, some chapters have dissolved and their members have been added to the rolls of surrounding chapters; some have split up (members from Fukuoka Chapter formed Kitakyushu Chapter in 1996); others have changed their names (Suwa and Nagano combined to become Shinshu in 1998 and later reverted to Nagano; Omiya became Saitama in 2014); still others have combined into regional groups (Kagoshima and Miyazaki became Nankyu in 2014 and Nagasaki joined in 2015). (See the current list of JALT chapters.)
ใใฎๅพใไธ้จใฎๆฏ้จใฏ่งฃๆฃใไผๅกใๅจ่พบใฎๆฏ้จใซ็ตฑๅใใใใใ๏ผ1996ๅนดใซ็ฆๅฒกๆฏ้จใใๅไนๅทๆฏ้จใๅใใใใใใซ๏ผๆฐใใซๅ้ข็ฌ็ซใใใใ๏ผ่ซ่จชใจ้ท้ใ1998ๅนดใซไฟกๅทๆฏ้จใจใชใใๅพใซๅใณ้ท้ๆฏ้จใธๆปใฃใใใพใ2014ๅนดใซๅคงๅฎฎๆฏ้จใๅผ็ๆฏ้จใธๅ็งฐๅคๆดใใใใชใฉ๏ผๅ็งฐใๅคๆดใใใใใ๏ผ2014ๅนดใซ้นฟๅ ๅณถใจๅฎฎๅดใๅไนๆฏ้จใซ็ตฑๅใใใ2015ๅนดใซ้ทๅดใๅๆตใใใชใฉ๏ผๅฐๅๅไฝใง็ตฑๅใใใใใจใใใใพใใใ๏ผ็พๅจใฎๆฏ้จไธ่ฆงใฏใใกใใใๅ็ งใใ ใใใ๏ผ
Starting in 1979, major revisions were made as JALT realized its potential for growth and the opening of new chapters in other areas. The JALT Newsletter became a monthly publication, edited by David Bycina. The JALT Journal started as a semiannual refereed research-oriented publication, with Nancy Nakanishi as its first editor. It was also around this time a prominent Japanese educator suggested that JALT be for foreigners and that the Japanese set up their own organization. (The suggestion was based on the idea that communication would be easier if there were two organizations, one working in English and the other working in Japanese, working together instead of one.) JALT decided to continue its policy that the organization was open to all teachers, professionals, and students interested in language education no matter what their nationality, where they were teaching, working, or studying, or what language they were teaching.
1979ๅนดใใใฏใJALTใฎๆ้ทๅฏ่ฝๆงใ่ช่ญใใใใใชใๅฐๅใธใฎๆฏ้จๅฑ้ใ้ฒใใใใๅคงใใชๆน็ทจใ่กใใใพใใใใJALT Newsletterใใฏใใคใใใใปใใคใทใใฎ็ทจ้ใซใใๆๅๅใใใพใใใใใใซใJALT Journalใใๅตๅใใใๆป่ชญไปใใฎ็ ็ฉถ่ชใจใใฆๅนด2ๅ็บ่กใใใใใณใทใผใปใใซใใทใๅไปฃ็ทจ้้ทใจใชใใพใใใใใฎ้ ใใใ่ๅใชๆฅๆฌไบบๆ่ฒ่ ใใใJALTใฏๅคๅฝไบบใฎใใใซๆฎใใๆฅๆฌไบบใฏ็ฌ่ชใฎๅฃไฝใ่จญ็ซใในใใ ใใจใใๆๆกใใชใใใพใใใ๏ผ่ฑ่ชใจๆฅๆฌ่ชใฎ2ๅฃไฝใๅๅใใๆนใใณใใฅใใฑใผใทใงใณใๅฎนๆใงใใใจใใ่ใใซๅบใฅใใใฎใงใใใ๏ผใใใJALTใฏใๅฝ็ฑใๅคๅๅ ใๆๆ่จ่ชใซ้ขใใใใ่ชๅญฆๆ่ฒใซ้ขๅฟใฎใใใในใฆใฎๆๅธซใๅฐ้ๅฎถใๅญฆ็ใซ้ใใใๅฃไฝใงใใใจใใๆน้ใ็ถญๆใใพใใใ
In 1979, JALT became an affiliate of IATEFL and developed affiliations with TESOL in the US and other ESL organizations in Asia. We now have international partnerships with the following organizations:
- Thailand TESOL
- The English Teachers Association of the Republic of China (ETA-ROC)
- The Philippines Association of Language Teachers (PALT)
- Korea TESOL
- The Far Eastern English Language Teachers Association (FEELTA)
- Cambodia TESOL
- Linguapax Asia
- Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA)
- the Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia (TEFLIN)
- the Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA)
- and the Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA).
1979ๅนดใJALTใฏIATEFLใฎๅ ็ๅฃไฝใจใชใใใขใกใชใซใฎTESOLใใขใธใขใฎไปใฎๅฃไฝใจใ้ฃๆบใๅงใใพใใใ็พๅจใงใฏไปฅไธใฎๅฝ้ๅฃไฝใจใใผใใใผใทใใใ็ตใใงใใพใใ
- ใฟใคTESOL
- ๅฐๆนพ่ฑ่ชๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผETA-ROC๏ผ
- ใใฃใชใใณ่ชๅญฆๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผPALT๏ผ
- ้ๅฝTESOL
- ้ ๆฑ่ฑ่ชๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผFEELTA๏ผ
- ใซใณใใธใขTESOL
- Linguapax Asia
- ใใฌใผใทใข่ฑ่ชๆ่ฒๅญฆไผ๏ผMELTA๏ผ
- ใคใณใใใทใข่ฑ่ชๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผTEFLIN๏ผ
- ใใณใฐใฉใใทใฅ่ฑ่ชๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผBELTA๏ผ
- ใใใผใซ่ฑ่ชๆๅธซๅไผ๏ผNELTA๏ผ
Domestically, JALT is a board member of UALS (the United Association of Language Studies), and has partnerships with JACET (The Japan Association of College English Teachers), AJET (The Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching), and JASAL (The Japan Association for Self-Access Learning). In 1983, The JALT Newsletter appointed a Japanese editor, Kenji Kitao, which led to an increase in articles in Japanese. In 1984 The JALT Newsletter changed its name to The Language Teacher, but still remained a monthly publication. Of all major language teaching organizations such as TESOL and IATEFL, JALT was the only organization that produced a monthly publication as well as the annual Conference Handbook and PostConference Publication and the semiannual JALT Journal. In 2009, the growing popularity of web publishing convinced the Publications Board that The Language Teacher would work better as a bimonthly publication with faster updates on our website at jalt.org
ๅฝๅ ใงใฏใJALTใฏ่จ่ช็ณปๅญฆไผ้ฃๅ๏ผUALS๏ผใฎ็ไบใๅใใๆฅๆฌ่ฑๆๅญฆไผๅคงๅญฆ่ฑ่ชๆ่ฒๅญฆไผ๏ผJACET๏ผใJETใใญใฐใฉใ ๅๅ ่ ใฎไผ๏ผAJET๏ผใๆฅๆฌ่ชๅพๅญฆ็ฟๅญฆไผ๏ผJASAL๏ผใจใๅๅ้ขไฟใ็ฏใใฆใใพใใ1983ๅนดใซใฏใJALT Newsletterใใซๆฅๆฌไบบ็ทจ้่ ๏ผๅๅฐพ่ฌๅธ๏ผใๅ ใใใๆฅๆฌ่ช่จไบใๅขๅ ใใพใใใ1984ๅนดใใJALT NewsletterใใฏใThe Language Teacherใใธใจๆน็งฐใใพใใใใๆๅใฏ็ถญๆใใใพใใใTESOLใIATEFLใชใฉใฎไธป่ฆๅฃไฝใฎไธญใงใๆๅ่ชใซๅ ใใๅคงไผใใณใใใใฏใๅคงไผๅพๅ่ก็ฉใๆป่ชญ่ชใJALT Journalใใ็บ่กใใฆใใใฎใฏJALTใฎใฟใงใใใ2009ๅนดใซใฏใฆใงใๅบ็ใฎๆฎๅใซใใใใThe Language Teacherใใฏ้ๆๅใจใชใใใฆใงใใตใคใ๏ผjalt.org๏ผใงใฎ่ฟ ้ใชๆดๆฐใ่กใใใใใใซใชใใพใใใ
Over the years, Japanese involvement in JALT grew and the Kyoto conference in 1985 marked the first time a Japanese member, Kazuo Yoshida, co-chaired JALT’s annual international conference. In 1989, JALT held its first annual conference outside of the Kanto, Kansai, and Tokai regions. The conference was held at Notre Dame Seishin University in Okayama. By this time, conference banquets and One-Can Drink parties had become social highlights of the conference. In recent years, the conference venue has rotated mainly between Shizuoka, Tsukuba, and Nagoya, though in the past, we’ve held the conference in a variety of locations (see the list here: https://jalt.org/jalt-international-conference). In November 2020, we had planned to hold it at Tsukuba, but due to the Coronavirus, we held our conference online for the first time. JALT2021 was planned to be a return to the Granship in Shizuoka, but that, too, became an online conference due to the Coronavirus. JALT2022 was our return to in-person conferences, our first time in Fukuoka City and our third time in Fukuoka Prefecture.
JALTใธใฎๆฅๆฌไบบไผๅกใฎๅๅ ใฏๅนดใ ๅขๅ ใใ1985ๅนดใฎไบฌ้ฝๅคงไผใงใฏๅ็ฐๅๅคซๆฐใๆฅๆฌไบบใจใใฆๅใใฆๅฝ้ๅคงไผใฎๅ ฑๅๅงๅก้ทใๅใใพใใใ1989ๅนดใซใฏใ้ขๆฑใป้ข่ฅฟใปๆฑๆตทไปฅๅคใงๅใใฆๅ จๅฝๅคงไผใ้ๅฌใใใไผๅ ดใฏๅฒกๅฑฑใฎใใผใใซใใ ๆธ ๅฟๅฅณๅญๅคงๅญฆใงใใใใใฎ้ ใซใฏใๆ่ฆชไผใใใฏใณใซใณใใชใณใฏใใใผใใฃใผใๅคงไผใฎๅคงใใช็คพไบค็ใใคใฉใคใใจใชใฃใฆใใพใใใ่ฟๅนดใงใฏ้ๅฒกใใคใใฐใๅๅคๅฑใไธญๅฟใซๅคงไผใ้ๅฌใใใฆใใพใใใ้ๅปใซใฏใใพใใพใชๅ ดๆใง้ใใใฆใใพใ๏ผไธ่ฆงใฏใใกใ๏ผhttps://jalt.org/jalt-international-conference/๏ผใ2020ๅนด11ๆใฏใคใใฐใง้ๅฌไบๅฎใงใใใใๆฐๅใณใญใใฆใคใซในใฎๅฝฑ้ฟใงๅใฎใชใณใฉใคใณๅคงไผใจใชใใพใใใ2021ๅนดใฏ้ๅฒกใฐใฉใณใทใใใงใฎ้ๅฌไบๅฎใไธญๆญขใใใๅใณใชใณใฉใคใณๅคงไผใซใ2022ๅนดใซใฏ็ฆๅฒกๅธใงๅใใฆๅฏพ้ขๅคงไผใๅ้ใใ็ฆๅฒก็ใจใใฆใฏ3ๅบฆ็ฎใฎ้ๅฌใจใชใใพใใใ
In 1988, JALT started an Asian Scholar Program through which teachers from other Asian countries are hosted in Japan, meet with teachers here, and give presentations at the annual international conference as well as at local chapters all over Japan on the Four Corners Tour program. In 2008 the program was renamed the Balsamo Asian Scholar Program in honor of Bill Balsamo, president of the Himeji Chapter and founder of the Teachers Helping Teachers SIG. Over the years, teachers from many countries have visited Japan on this program, including four teachers from China; four from Vietnam; three from the Philippines; two each from Cambodia, Laos, India, and Malaysia; and one each from Russia, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
1988ๅนดใซใฏใใขใธใขใปในใซใฉใผใใญใฐใฉใ ใใๅงใพใใใขใธใข่ซธๅฝใฎๆๅธซใๆฅๆฌใซๆใใๅนดๆฌกๅฝ้ๅคงไผใๅ จๅฝใฎๆฏ้จใงใFour Corners Tourใใ้ใใฆไบคๆตใป็บ่กจใ่กใใพใใใ2008ๅนดใซใฏใๅงซ่ทฏๆฏ้จไผ้ทใงTeachers Helping Teachers SIGๅต่จญ่ ใงใใใใใซใปใใซใตใขๆฐใ่จๅฟตใใใใใซใตใขใปใขใธใขใปในใซใฉใผใใญใฐใฉใ ใใจๆน็งฐใใใพใใใใใใพใงใซไธญๅฝใใใใใ ใใใฃใชใใณใใซใณใใธใขใใฉใชในใใคใณใใใใฌใผใทใขใใญใทใขใใใญในใฟใณใใคใณใใใทใขใ้ๅฝใใใณใฐใฉใใทใฅใใฟใคใชใฉๅคใใฎๅฝใใๆๅธซใๅๅ ใใพใใใ
The 90s brought more changes to JALT. An office supervisor, Junko Fujio, was hired in 1992 and JALT’s Central Office was set up in Tokyo. At one point, the monetary reserves for the organization totaled more than 44 million yen. With the bursting of the bubble economy, JALT faced financial hardships like everyone else. Problems included:
- publication costs had increased
- the annual conference had become so large that it now needed to be held at a more expensive commercial site
- textbook companies merged
- fewer advertisements were sold.
Complicated by inadequate accounting procedures and many teachers losing their jobs, which meant they left the country, JALT used most of its reserve funds and faced a serious financial crisis. The National Treasurer, with the help of the financial steering committee, brought expenses under control. As JALT entered the new millennium, it promised to have a balanced budget and to start operating in the black again. JALT changed the system of its finances in 2001 by asking an outside accounting firm to support the financial operations of JALT in order to reduce the burden on the Director of Treasury.
1990ๅนดไปฃใซใฏใใใซๅคๅใ่จชใใพใใใ1992ๅนดใซใฏ่คๅฐพ้ ๅญๆฐใใชใใฃในใปในใผใใผใใคใถใผใจใใฆๆก็จใใใJALTไธญๅคฎไบๅๅฑใๆฑไบฌใซ่จญ็ซใใใพใใใๆ็ๆใซใฏๆบๅ้ใ4,400ไธๅใ่ถ ใใฆใใพใใใใใใใซ็ตๆธๅดฉๅฃใซไผดใ่ฒกๆฟ้ฃใซ็ด้ขใใพใใใๅบ็่ฒป็จใฎ้ซ้จฐใๅคง่ฆๆจกๅใใๅคงไผ้ๅถ่ฒปใฎๅขๅ ใๆ็งๆธไผ็คพใฎๅไฝตใๅบๅๅๅ ฅใฎๆธๅฐใไผ่จๆ็ถใใฎไธๅใๆๅกใฎๅคฑ่ทใปๅฝๅค้ๅปใชใฉใ้ใชใใJALTใฏๅคใใฎๆบๅ้ใๅคฑใๆทฑๅปใช่ฒกๆฟๅฑๆฉใ่ฟใใพใใใใใใไผ่จๅงๅกไผใฎๅชๅใซใใๆฏๅบใ็ฎก็ใใใ2000ๅนดไปฃใซใฏ้ปๅญ้ๅถใธๅๅพฉใใใใจใ็ดๆใใพใใใ2001ๅนดใซใฏๅค้จใฎไผ่จไบๅๆใซๅง่จใใ่ฒกๅ็ฎก็ไฝๅถใๆนๅใใพใใใ
National Special Interest Groups (N-SIGs) started forming in 1990 with the first two being Bilingualism and Video N-SIG. Other SIGs quickly began to form, covering a wide range of areas from Japanese as a Second Language to Testing and Evaluation. Over the years, as interests have changed and developed, some SIGs have dissolved and others have combined. See this page for a full list of current SIGs. The SIGs started holding an annual PanSIG Conference in the spring of 2002, each year in a different city and co-hosted by a different chapter (though in recent years, the extent to which the local chapter is involved or not has been a local decision). The PanSIG Conference produces another major publication each year, now called the PanSIG Journal.
1990ๅนดใใใฏๅ จๅฝ็ ็ฉถ้จไผ๏ผN-SIG๏ผใ่ช็ใใๆๅใฏใใใคใชใณใฌใชใบใ ใใจใๆ ๅ็ ็ฉถ้จไผใใงใใใใใฎๅพใๅคๆงใชๅ้ใซใใใSIGใๅฝขๆใใใไธ้จใฏ็ตฑๅใป่งฃๆฃใใใพใใ๏ผๆๆฐใฎSIGไธ่ฆงใฏใใกใ๏ผใ2002ๅนดใใใฏๆฅใซPanSIGๅคงไผใๅงใพใใๆฏๅนด็ฐใชใ้ฝๅธใง้ๅฌใใใฆใใพใใPanSIGๅคงไผใฏ็พๅจใPanSIG Journalใใๅ่กใใฆใใพใใ
JALT has led the way in developing the Pan Asian Consortium (PAC) Conferences, which started in 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand, and have since continued in a diverse range of locations throughout the Asia region, including Cebu, Kitakyushu, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo and Vladivostok.
ใใใซ1997ๅนดใใใฏใPan Asian Consortium (PAC)ใๅคงไผใไธปๅฐใใใใณใณใฏใใปใใๅไนๅทใใใใฉใใฝใฆใซใๅฐๅใๆฑไบฌใใฆใฉใธใชในใใฏใชใฉใขใธใขๅๅฐใง้ๅฌใใฆใใพใใใ
JALT was granted NPO status in 1999 and has since then been a nonprofit organization registered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under the NPO Law passed in 1998, a law specifically designed to encourage the development of public interest groups. Under its NPO Constitution and Bylaws, JALT holds one Ordinary General Meeting and three Executive Board Meetings each year. In 2013, the Executive Board approved a JALT mission statement to guide JALT in future planning and development: JALT promotes excellence in language learning, teaching, and research by providing opportunities for those involved in language education to meet, share, and collaborate.
JALTใฏ1999ๅนดใซNPOๆณไบบๆ ผใๅๅพใใไปฅ้ใๆฑไบฌ้ฝใซNPOๆณไบบใจใใฆ็ป้ฒใใใฆใใพใใๅฎๆฌพใซๅบใฅใใๅนดๆฌก็ทไผใจๅนด3ๅใฎ็ไบไผใ้ๅฌใใฆใใพใใ2013ๅนดใซใฏ็ไบไผใงJALTใฎใใใทใงใณในใใผใใกใณใใๆฟ่ชใใใพใใใ
ใๅ จๅฝ่ชๅญฆๆ่ฒๅญฆไผใฏ่จ่ชๆ่ฒ้ขไฟ่ ใไบคๆตใปๅ ฑๆใปๅๅใใๆฉไผใๆไพใใ่จ่ชๅญฆ็ฟใๆ่ฒใๅใณ่ชฟๆป็ ็ฉถใฎ็บๅฑใซๅฏไธใใพใใใ
In 2014, the Kevin Cleary Invited Speaker program was begun in memory of a beloved JALT President, to bring another excellent scholar to address JALT members at the conference. Recipients of this award are
- 2014: Ma. Milagros Laurel
- 2015: Ken Urano
- 2016: Debbie West
- 2017: Fumiko Murase
- 2018: Mehrasa Alizadeh
- 2020: Heather McCulloch (JALT Gunma Chapter President),
- 2021: Lyndell Nagashima, (JALT Study Abroad SIG Coordinator)
- 2022: Jo Mynard (Kanda University of International Studies)
- 2023: Melodie Cook (University of Niigata Prefecture)
- 2024: Robert Chartrand (Kurume University)
2014ๅนดใJALTใฎไผ้ทใๅใใใใๆใใพใใคใค้ๅปใใใใฑใดใฃใณใปใฏใฌใขใชใผๆฐใ่จๅฟตใใฆใใKevin Cleary ๆๅพ ่ฌๆผ่ ใใญใฐใฉใ ใใๅงใพใใพใใใใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใฏใJALTใฎไผๅกใซๅใใฆๅชใใ็ ็ฉถ่ ใใๆใใใใใฎใงใใใใใพใงใฎๅ่ณ่ ใฏไปฅไธใฎ้ใใงใใ
- 2014ๅนด: Ma. Milagros Laurel
- 2015ๅนด: Ken Urano
- 2016ๅนด: Debbie West
- 2017ๅนด: Fumiko Murase
- 2018ๅนด: Mehrasa Alizadeh
- 2020ๅนด: Heather McCulloch๏ผJALT็พค้ฆฌๆฏ้จ้ท๏ผ
- 2021ๅนด: Lyndell Nagashima๏ผJALT็ๅญฆ็ ็ฉถ้จไผใณใผใใฃใใผใฟใผ๏ผ
- 2022ๅนด: Jo Mynard๏ผ็ฅ็ฐๅค่ชๅคงๅญฆ๏ผ
- 2023ๅนด: Melodie Cook๏ผๆฐๆฝ็็ซๅคงๅญฆ๏ผ
- 2024ๅนด: Robert Chartrand๏ผไน ็็ฑณๅคงๅญฆ๏ผ
What does the future hold for JALT? The organization is looking for ways to better serve our members and the wider community of language teaching professionals. JALT is also trying to improve our international ties with other Asian countries through the Pan Asia Conferences and exchange programs, and to improve our ties with domestic organizations through partnerships and UALS. Most importantly, JALT is committed to fulfilling our mission by serving our members, partners, and the wider community for years to come.
JALTใฎๆชๆฅใฏใฉใใชใใฎใงใใใใใ็พๅจใไผๅกใใใณๅบใ่ชๅญฆๆ่ฒใซๆบใใๅฐ้ๅฎถใฎ็ใใพใซใใใ่ฏใใตใผใในใๆไพใใๆนๆณใๆจก็ดขใใฆใใพใใใพใใPan Asia Conferenceใไบคๆตใใญใฐใฉใ ใ้ใใฆใขใธใข่ซธๅฝใจใฎๅฝ้็ใชใคใชใใใๅผทๅใใใใจใใๅฝๅ ใฎๆ่ฒๆฉ้ขใจใฎ้ฃๆบใๆทฑใใใใจใซใๅใ็ตใใงใใพใใ
