Erin Noxon*Speaking in the New Normal, part 2: You can still Speak in the #NewNormal!* Hey there, I’m Erin Noxon, a public high school teacher in Kyoto. I teach 16 conversational English classes a week. No grammar, no reading, just talking, lots of talking and listening. While many of my friends around the world were […]

Chris Horne, Natsumi Onaka, Daniel Newbury, Jacob Petersen, Joshua Lee Solomon , Megumi TadaDate/Time: Sunday, Sep. 26, 2021 13:30— 17:00 Place: Online via Zoom (Pre-registration required) Register at https://tinyurl.com/TILES2021 Presentations: Student reaction to teachers use of L1 in the ESL/EFL classroom Chris Horne Creating a rubric to standardize the measuring the English-speaking conversation and interaction […]

Ben GrafströmAbstract This presentation is a reflection on my teaching practices—specifically, those I use in a class called “English Conversation for the Humanities” for first year university students. This class (in Japanese, Bunkei eikaiwa) is a core curriculum course for humanities and social science students. By selecting a cultural theme for the course (e.g., time […]

Alex BurkeAbstract: Why do some students submit work late or not at all? Every class has students with hidden learning differences : Inclusive classrooms = unlocking potential for all. This workshop will give participants an understanding of the hidden barriers in language classrooms. It will include some simulation activities to show how particular classroom practices […]

Dr. Patrick DoughertyEvent page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/680678543160613/ Abstract: Debates over education policy, whether at the school level or in the community, have individuals espousing a philosophy of education, whether the debaters recognize this or not is a question. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to Describe five general Philosophies of Education Outline […]

Jim Smiley (Iwate University, Iwate), Brian Gaynor (Muroran Institute of Technology, Hokkaido), Jacob Petersen (Iwate University, Iwate), Gregory Anthony (Hachinohe Gakuin University, Aomori), Edo Fosythe ( Hirosaki Gakuin University, Aomori), Steven MacWhinnie (Hirosaki Gakuin University, Aomori), Jason Hill (Hachimantai City Board of Education, Iwate)Conference Date: July 3rd (Sunday) Location: Hachinohe Gakuin University Theme: “ ‘To […]

Adrian Leis, Jim Smiley, Edo ForsytheDate: Sunday, September 25 Time: 13:00-16:00 Place: Hirosaki Gakuin University, Hirosaki, Aomori Theme: Effective Use of Out-of-class Time Main speaker: Adrian Leis speaking about Flipped Learning in the EFL classroom

Yilin SunJALT2022 International Conference Four Corners Tour Abstract: This workshop will focus on ways to foster students’ (especially young learners’) critical thinking skills as part of the 21st century learning. The speaker who has extensive experience in classroom teaching and teacher education in both ESL and EFL settings will share strategies to incorporate effective questioning […]

Yilin SunJALT2022 International Conference Four Corners Tour   Location: AIINA – Rm 806 Our first face-to-face in event in almost three years. The facilitator will use counter-storytelling as a theoretical underpinning and share “asset-based” Culturally Responsive Teaching activities that she and her colleagues have designed to engage participants in hands-on activities to examine the social […]

Julia DaleyZoom link is now available. Please register here to gain access to the event on Sunday: –  http://ptix.at/rZZBGC   This session will take an introductory look at the three main kinds of memory–sensory, working, and long-term–and look at how they interact during the learning process. In addition, we’ll explore how memory functions in Cognitive Load […]

Amanda Gillis-FurutakaPlease register here: https://iwamorifeb26.peatix.com/view Outline: Music is found in all cultures worldwide. It is an international language that communicates emotion across other language barriers. Importantly, listening to music involves the whole brain. We will explore how music is processed not only through our ears and auditory cortex, but also through our senses of touch and […]

Andrew BoonWith Iwate-Aomori JALT  Co-Sponsored by The Iwate Association of English Educators. 岩手県英語教育研究会. At Iwate University, Faculty of Education Room E21 (岩手大学教育学部一号館 E21号室) Presenter: Andrew Boon With the proliferation of fallacious arguments, “fake news,” and untrustworthy sources in today’s multimedia landscape, critical thinking skills are vital not only in one’s native language but also when […]

Jim Smiley (Iwate University, Iwate Prefecture), Lara Promnitz-Hayashi (Keiai University, Chiba Prefecture), Kathryn Akasaka (Shirayuri Junior and Senior High School, Iwate Prefecture)  Conference date: July 2nd.  12pm ~ Venue: Hachinohe Gakuin University. Hachinohe, Aomori  Conference Theme: “Running the TEFL Gauntlet”   The conference theme this year is meant to address the different theories, methods, and […]

Steven MacWhinnie, Edo Forsythe, Jim SmileyEvent: Pre-Conference Presentation Practice—Get a glimpse of some JALT2023 International Conference presentations before heading to Tsukuba! Date: Nov. 16, 2023 (Th) Time: 17:00 – 18:30 Presenters: Steven MacWhinnie: Willingness to Engage: Purposeful Engagement with Language Edo Forsythe & Steven MacWhinnie: Student Perceptions of Benefits of Free Writing in English Jim […]

Edo Forsythe, Jim SmileyThe presentation with Louise Ohashi has been re-scheduled for a later date.  Location: AIINA – Rm 807 Edo Forsythe Student Perceptions of Benefits of Free Writing in English Japanese university students are often required to perform free writing activities in their English language classes in an attempt to encourage confidence in writing […]

A double feature presentation with Adam Murray at Iwate University. The Faculty of Education, Building 1 (教育学部一号館) Room E22. Free Admission. Listening: The Essential Language Skill In the first part of my talk, I will talk about the impact of anxiety on foreign language learning. I personally became interested in this area of research from […]

Dr. Louise OhashiAI Tools for Language Teaching and Learning Event Speaker(s): Dr. Louise Ohashi Sunday, April 21, 2024 – 1:30pm AIINA – Rm 602   AI technology has taken a huge leap, with developments offering many benefits for language education, but also posing challenges. This session introduces a range of useful AI tools and demonstrates […]

Greg Anthony (Hachinohe Gakuin University), Chris Horne (Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori), Yuko Uchima (National Institute of Technology, Akita College, Akita), Paul Lyddon (University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka)  Conference Theme: “Examining the Impact of Feedback: A Conversation about Giving and Receiving Feedback” This year’s conference will focus on feedback involving the language learner: teacher-to-student, […]

Leigh McDowell (Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)), Mellisa Ogasawara (Aomori University of Health and Welfare), Chris Horne (Aomori University of Health and Welfare)𝐉𝐀𝐋𝐓 𝐂𝐔𝐄 are pleased to announce our forthcoming 𝐄𝐒𝐏 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦, which will be held 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 with the 𝐉𝐀𝐋𝐓 𝐈𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐀𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢 Chapter, on 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏 at 𝐈𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. Registration for the pre-event […]

Jim Smiley Our Chapter’s first meeting of the year will be an online gathering. Come chat with the officers, and feel free to give us feedback on what you’d like to see for presentations this year and next year at our chapter. Also, Jim Smiley will be giving a presentation.    Jim Smiley – ‘Pedagogising’ […]

Kathryn Akasaka The event is free for all to attend. Iwate University building and room number coming soon. Please bring a tablet or laptop if you wish to try out the websites that will be discussed during the presentation.   Abstract: This interactive workshop introduces digital tools designed to streamline collaboration, engagement, and learning in […]

Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Venue: Hachinohe Gakuin University – Hachinohe Art Museum Satellite Space, Hachinohe, Aomori The 10th Anniversary of MEES “Foundations and Frontiers of EFL: Past Lessons and Future Solutions” We welcome any proposals with relevance to language use, learning, and teaching for any age group within the ELF context. Submissions may include action […]

TILES 2025: Share your Best Ideas! Date: Oct. 4, 2025 (Saturday) Place: Hirosaki Gakuin University (13-1 Minoricho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8577) Time: 13:00 ~ 17:00 (Reg. 12:30 – 13:00) (Dinner from 17:30) TILES 2025 will be a My Share-style event with chances for you to share your best ideas for classroom activities at all levels. We’d […]