Roberto RabbiniAfter defining a successful communicative task, the presenter will share a variety of student-led activities that generate real communication and enhance conversational skills and strategies. Participants will be asked to take an active role in the workshop and will be able to take away with them a range of practical activities that both engage […]

Nagisa Haraguchi & Amy IvesTwo student presenters will introduce their graduation research projects. The first presentation is on action research examining motivational strategies in Japan. Learners’ psychological needs are examined and compared with a control group pre- and post-tests. The second presentation explores the autonomy of advanced learners of English. Interviews were conducted on three […]

Stacey VyeIn this workshop, participants explore how the use of music in the classroom creates a relaxed language learning environment that strengthens teaching and learning activities– even lessons that focus on grammar and TOEIC test preparation. No musical talent is required for this workshop and ready-to-use materials will be provided that are suitable for EFL […]

Roehl SybingThis presentation details some of the findings from ongoing research exploring the views language educators hold about culture, the application of culture in the language classroom and the potential effects, positive or negative, on language learners. Whether or not it is a given that culture is inextricably linked to language proficiency, the presenter asserts […]

David WilliamsLiterature circles are a fun and engaging way for learners to explore fiction, but can they be used equally well in content-based courses? In this presentation/workshop the presenter will describe how to set up a content-based discussion circle, give participants hands-on experience, and describe the preliminary results of research he is undertaking in this […]

Noriko Nagai, Ibaraki UniversityThis presentation will first describe what CEFR is and then demonstrate how it can be adapted to the Japanese university context. The speaker will focus on parameters and factors that should be considered when designing an English curriculum for Japanese higher education. The presentation will also show some samples of can-do lists, […]

David Newby, Graz University, AustriaTheme: Theory and Practice of L2 Teaching David Newby, Graz University, Austria. Dr. Newby is associate professor of linguistics and language teaching methodology and research at Graz University. He has taught English in Thailand, Kuwait, Austria and the UK, and has lectured and held workshops for teachers and teacher trainers for […]

Marcos BenevidesThere are many advantages to themed syllabuses for L2 instruction: the natural recycling of core vocabulary and language forms; the inclusion and scaffolding of otherwise inaccessible content; the possibility for a rapid increase in task complexity; the engaging exploration of a specific subject matter; the creation of relatively authentic L2 spaces for FL contexts. […]

Akiko Takagi I first overview the importance and effectiveness of reflection in professional development, which is widely recognized in the field of teacher education. I also present how I have prompted reflection using journals and videotaped microteaching in my pre-service teacher training course. After the overview, the participants will engage in reflection on their own […]

Anna BaltzerFor global language teachers, “thinking outside the box” means addressing world issues and considering our social responsibility as educators. In this workshop, US-based educator and organizer Anna Baltzer will describe her background as a Fulbright scholar in the Middle East, her transformation from EFL teacher to peace activist, and her thoughts on how teachers […]

Dr. Yasushi Sekiya , Antonija Cavcic, Hideto D. Harashima, Daniel Hooper, Yoshimi OchiaiKeynote Lecture 1 – Dr. Yasushi Sekiya, Kanda University of International Studies – (Saturday, September 9)  “Goals and models in pronunciation instruction for Japanese EFL learners in the era of English as an international language” Presentaton 1 – Antonija Cavcic, Asia University – (Saturday, September 9)  […]

Lee Thomas , Kayvon Havaei-AharyMost Japanese secondary schools have had difficulty implementing the communicative methods of English instruction endorsed by MEXT. This presentation offers an overview of the literature which has explored these difficulties, and responds to calls from some of the local JALT community to explore cooperative learning as a potential means to meet […]

Stephen HowesThere is a growing demand for high school students to possess not only adequate skills in the receptive skills of reading and listening, but also the productive skills of speaking and writing.  Various assessment instruments that are pertinent to the students’ academic progress, such as the upper levels of EIKEN and university entrance exams, […]

Tomoko YoshidaCulture influences the way we think and behave; much of what we think of as “common sense” is governed by culture. As a result, to communicate effectively in a foreign language we must understand the target culture. Unfortunately, most universities offer instruction on foreign language and culture in separate classrooms. In this two-hour workshop, […]

Kevin Ryan (kevin.ryan)In this workshop we will look at developing student-led small group discussions of student-selected and developed video content. Students choose videos to develop into lessons online for other students, then for repeated small group presentations and immediate peer feedback in the classroom. Short sessions with a different set of rotating group leaders increases […]

Eucharia Donnery (eucharia.donnery)In our roles as educators, how can we best engage and motivate our students and support them in their linguistic journeys? This workshop demonstrates how the use of drama-based activities in the mixed-ability Japanese EFL classroom can meet with learner needs. The participants are encouraged to reflect upon their own teaching situations and […]

Rab PatersonNo matter where people work, in academia, business, or the media, there is a good chance they will be asked to give a presentation of some kind at some point in their career. For academics and teachers, the number of presentations they give goes up dramatically as in their work they are expected to […]

Mary NobuokaMany people think that children raised by parents who speak two or more languages will naturally become bilingual or multilingual. However, in a monolingual country, this is not so easy. Raising a bilingual child in Japan (or countries like the USA where the majority language dominates) requires planning and attention. This presentation will alert […]

Natsue NakayamaIn a rapidly globalizing world, one of the important roles of foreign language education is to enhance students’ ability to “to communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations and to relate appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts” (Intercultural competence : Bennett and Bennett, 2004). This holds true for the primary school English classes in Japan, […]

Aleda KrauseThe best classes are almost always the simplest ones. Teachers are not stressed, students are confident and involved, and everyone knows what’s happening and what they’re supposed to do. Teachers need a set of successful activities that they can adapt to different classes in order to have these simple lessons. We will try out […]

Dr. Atsushi IidaLECTURE I: SECOND LANGUAGE POETRY WRITING RESEARCH: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE by Atsushi Iida Teachers and researchers are increasingly interested in using second language (L2) poetry writing as literacy practice in the composition classroom (Chamcharatsri, 2009; Hanauer, 2012, 2014; Iida, 2017; Spiro, 2014) and as research methodology (Chamcharatsri, 2013; Hanauer, 2010, 2015; Iida, […]

Jon DujmovichEducators often speak of using appropriate techniques and activities suitable for each stage of learning. But when it comes to cultural learning or cross-cultural communicative skills, there is usually very little consideration given to the learners’ developmental stage of intercultural learning. The consequences of ill-matched activities can lead to reaffirmed or deeper cultural misunderstandings, […]

Jon DujmovichGunma JALT will welcome Jon Dujmovich. Details pending.

Asako KajiuraTypical teaching materials, teaching techniques, and tests developed for the “average” college student cannot meet the social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of each student. Teachers often find themselves asking how they can provide an education that includes the needs of challenged students, yet many cannot find any effective answer. It is an undeniable […]

Marian Hara (marian.hara)The Education Ministry has announced that communication, thinking and discussion skills must be developed to help produce Japanese citizens who are able to hold their own in our globalized world. What are your thoughts on this? Is it something you do already? Do you think it’s too difficult for high school students? How […]