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JALT2023 Invited Speakers
Bill Balsamo Asian Scholar
Septina Nur Iswanti
EF English First Semarang
Sponsored by JALT
Smart Gamification: Fueling a Growth Mindset
Saturday, Nov 25, 12:10 pm – 1:10 pm – Room 102
The use of gamification and game-based learning in educational context has gained more and more popularity among learners. Educators have the opportunity to take advantage of this approach to nurture a mindset that values effort, embraces challenges and perceives failures as stepping stones to success. However, from time-to-time this gamified learning approach can also pose challenges in terms of classroom and time management, technical issues, limited resources, diverse student’s learning styles and abilities, and integration with the curriculum.
This workshop aims to explore the potential of smart gamification techniques that will provide insights to address the aforementioned challenges and how instructors can transform the gamified classroom experiences into an environment where learners take the ownership of their learning journey and develop a resilient attitude towards obstacles.
Through practical examples, hands-on activities, and interactive discussions, attendees will discover how to design and use gamification in teaching and learning that promotes the growth mindset elements. Moreover, participants will explore how to align gamification strategies with learning objectives, incorporate meaningful feedback loops, and tailor experiences to individual learner needs. Finally, participants will leave this workshop energized, eager, and ready to ignite a growth mindset in learners, where they embrace difficulties, persist through setbacks, and continuously strive for improvement in their learning journey.
Based in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, Septina Nur Iswanti (Nina) has actively been involved in the field of ELT as a teacher, researcher, and teacher trainer for many years. Currently, she humbly serves as the Senior Teaching Manager at EF English First Semarang. Her particular interests include educational technology, teacher and student motivation, and teacher professional development. She is also passionate about cultivating kindness and positivity to improve the well-being of her school community.
Watch an interview with Septina Nur Iswanti, the Bill Balsamo Asian Scholar, on YouTube
Kevin Cleary Invited Speaker
Melodie Cook
University of Niigata Prefecture
Sponsored by JALT
From Publish or Perish to Publish your Passion
Sunday, Nov 26, 10:25 am – 11:25 am – Main Hall
As Japan’s population declines, and universities compete for students, the bar has risen for teachers who are now competing for positions at a decreasing number of universities. When I arrived in 1993, a master’s degree was enough to guarantee a contract position. Now a PhD in Linguistics, or Applied Linguistics is fast becoming a necessity. One generally non-negotiable item in the present day is a record of publications. In the distant past, gaikokujin kyoshi (non-Japanese lecturer) may have been exempt from the publish-or-perish mindset, but this is no longer true.
In this presentation, I will discuss my experiences of how my early research papers led to my current tenured position. The first “research” paper I ever wrote, though far from my best work, was the one referred to in the interview for the tenured position I now hold. Another paper, required for one PhD course, led to more involvement in gender-related projects. After completing my PhD, I began researching and writing about high-stakes entrance examinations in Japan; those papers are among my most-cited works and helped me move from lecturer to professor.
Once my career became established, I was able to bring my personal interests into the academic world by researching issues that were near and dear to me such as projects about cram schools and education for multicultural families. My latest work is on barrier-free education in Japan. Thus, while I began my career writing to survive, I am now working on projects that help not only me, but others, thrive.
Melodie Cook hails from Canada’s capital and has been working in Japan since 1993. She is a Professor at the University of Niigata Prefecture, and her research interests include teacher education, high-stakes testing, gender representation in educational materials, multicultural family education, fostering and adoption, and special needs education in Japan. She has been an active member of JALT in various capacities since 2003.
Watch an interview with Melodie Cook, the Kevin Cleary Invited Speaker, on YouTube
JALT2025 International Conference
2025年10月31日(金)〜2025年11月02日(日) 東京都渋谷 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター Friday, October 31 – Sunday, November 02, 2025 • National Olympics Youth Memorial Center, Tokyo, Japan
PanSIG Conference
PanSIG 2025 will be held May 16-18 in Chiba. PanSIG is an annual conference organized by JALT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs).