• Iwate-Aomori

    Erin Noxon: Speaking in the New Normal Part 2

    Erin Noxon*Speaking in the New Normal, part 2: You can still Speak in the #NewNormal!* Hey there, Iโ€™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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Tsugaru Ideas for Language Education Seminar (TILES)

    Chris Horne, Natsumi Onaka, Daniel Newbury, Jacob Petersen, Joshua Lee Solomon , Megumi TadaDate/Time: Sunday, Sep. 26, 2021 13:30โ€” 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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Embracing Folk Culture through English Language Courses

    Ben GrafstrรถmAbstract This presentation is a reflection on my teaching practicesโ€”specifically, those I use in a class called โ€œEnglish Conversation for the Humanitiesโ€ 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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Unlocking potential: Students with hidden learning differences in your mainstream class

    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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Discovering your Educational Philosophy

    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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2022

    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: โ€œ โ€˜To […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    TILES2022

    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

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Yilin Sun – Thinking with FIRE for 21st Century English Learners in Japan

    Yilin SunJALT2022 International Conference Four Corners Tour Abstract: This workshop will focus on ways to foster students’ (especially young learnersโ€™) 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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Yilin Sun – Workshop: Counter-Storytelling: A Critical Asset-based Pedagogical Framework

    Yilin SunJALT2022 International Conference Four Corners Tour ย  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 โ€œasset-basedโ€ Culturally Responsive Teaching activities that she and her colleagues have designed to engage participants in hands-on activities to examine the social […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    The role of different types of memory in the learning process

    Julia DaleyZoom link is now available. Please register here to gain access to the event on Sunday:ย –ย  http://ptix.at/rZZBGC ย  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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Music and language in the brain: Ways to use music to facilitate language learning

    Amanda Gillis-FurutakaPlease register here:ย 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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Thinking about Critical Thinking

    Andrew BoonWith Iwate-Aomori JALTย  Co-Sponsored by The Iwate Association of English Educators. ๅฒฉๆ‰‹็œŒ่‹ฑ่ชžๆ•™่‚ฒ็ ”็ฉถไผš. At Iwate University, Faculty of Education Room E21 (ๅฒฉๆ‰‹ๅคงๅญฆๆ•™่‚ฒๅญฆ้ƒจไธ€ๅท้คจ E21ๅทๅฎค) 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 oneโ€™s native language but also when […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    MEES (Michinoku English Education Conference) 2023

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

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Pre-Conference Local Member Presentation

    Steven MacWhinnie, Edo Forsythe, Jim SmileyEvent: Pre-Conference Presentation Practiceโ€”Get a glimpse of some JALT2023 International Conference presentations before heading to Tsukuba! Date: Nov. 16, 2023 (Th) Time: 17:00 โ€“ 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 […]

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    Double Presentation with Edo Forsythe and Jim Smiley

    Edo Forsythe, Jim SmileyThe presentation with Louise Ohashi has been re-scheduled for a later date.ย  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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Double Presentation by Adam Murray

    A double feature presentation with Adam Murray at Iwate University. The Faculty of Education, Building 1 (ๆ•™่‚ฒๅญฆ้ƒจไธ€ๅท้คจ) 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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    AI Tools for Language Teaching and Learning

    Dr. Louise OhashiAI Tools for Language Teaching and Learning Event Speaker(s): Dr. Louise Ohashi Sunday, April 21, 2024 – 1:30pm AIINA – Rm 602 ย  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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    2024 MEES – Michinoku English Education Summit

    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)ย  Conference Theme: โ€œExamining the Impact of Feedback: A Conversation about Giving and Receiving Feedbackโ€ This yearโ€™s conference will focus on feedback involving the language learner: teacher-to-student, […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    ESP Symposium

    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)๐‰๐€๐‹๐“ ๐‚๐”๐„ are pleased to announce our forthcoming ๐„๐’๐ ๐’๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ, which will be held ๐ข๐ง ๐œ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐š๐›๐จ๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง with the ๐‰๐€๐‹๐“ ๐ˆ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž-๐€๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ข Chapter, on ๐’๐ž๐ฉ๐ญ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ at ๐ˆ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐”๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ. Registration for the pre-event […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Iwate-Aomori JALT Chapter Online Meet and Greet + Jim Smiley ‘Pedagogising’

    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.ย  ย  Jim Smiley – ‘Pedagogising’ […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Interactive Workshop: Digital Tools for Language Education – Kathryn Akasaka –

    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. ย  Abstract: This interactive workshop introduces digital tools designed to streamline collaboration, engagement, and learning in […]

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    Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2025 Tenth Anniversary

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

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    TILES 2025

    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 […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Bringing the JALT Conference Home

    Date: November 16, 2025 (Sunday) Time: 1:30pm to 4:30pm Location: AIINA – Room 807 JALT Conference presentations for those who could not attend Presenters will be: Jim Smiley: Developing Argument Structure in Japanese L2 Writers Jacob Petersen: Enhancing Intercultural Competence and English learning through COIL: Insights from a Japanese-Norwegian pilot study Edo Forsythe: Smartphone vs […]

  • Iwate-Aomori

    Emily MacFarlane: Proven Techniques for Building EFL Speaking Fluency

    AIINA 1:30pm to 4pm.ย  Room 817. Abstract: This workshop equips EFL teachers with five research-backed techniques to dramatically improve students’ speaking fluency through structured practice and strategic communication training. The session will also introduce recent fluency research findings from Tohoku University examining an online fluency tool for first-year university EFL students. This research explores the […]