JALT2024 – Moving JALT into the Future: Opportunity, Diversity, and Excellence

Significant milestones are times for celebration as well as taking stock: Where have we come from, where are we now, and where do we want to be in the future?

As the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) marks our 50th International Conference, there is much to celebrate. From a discussion at a language conference about teaching methodologies amongst like-minded language educators in Odawara, Japan in 1975, the idea of a professional association in Japan was born. From this humble beginning, JALT was established, and has matured over the past five decades into a leading professional association for language educators, both domestically and abroad. As a partner association with the United Associations of Language Studies (UALS) and the Pan-Asian Consortium (PAC), and through partnerships with other professional associations domestically and abroad, JALT enjoys the opportunity to collaborate and share insights and experiences with members of other associations in many contexts. Through our Domestic Affairs Committee (DAC) and our International Affairs Committee (IAC), JALT continues to seek opportunities to further extend our collaboration with other professional and teaching associations across the Asian region and further afield.

Yet our greatest strength is the dynamism of our members and our activities throughout Japan. JALT is represented across Japan through 32 local chapters, providing multiple professional and networking opportunities to language educators each month. The 32 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in JALT also provide opportunities for our members and others to explore and share insights in specific areas of expertise. In addition to regular activities, these groups also support the annual JALT International Conference – one of the largest conferences for language educators in Asia – and other conferences throughout the year attended by local and international participants. Through these activities, both in person and online, our groups provide opportunities for language educators to engage with their professional communities of practice.

Most importantly, our active membership is unrivaled among professional associations: Through our chapter, SIG, and national officer positions, and those who work tirelessly to support our conferences and other events, numerous publications, and many professional development opportunities, nearly 30% of all JALT members are actively involved in volunteer activities that support our association.

There are many accomplishments to celebrate during this 50th JALT International Conference. However, our focus must also be on the future in order to remain relevant as a professional association, and meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing nature of language education. Our learners now represent far more diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, some with special needs and varied personal educational goals. Likewise, teachers in Japan and internationally represent increasingly rich linguistic and cultural diversity, numerous English varieties, and expanding professional aspirations.

What do we want JALT to be now and in the future? This is the focus of the conference theme for JALT2024: Moving JALT into the Future: Opportunity, Diversity, and Excellence. To meet the needs of our learners and the professional community that JALT serves, our association must continue to expand the opportunities for increasingly diverse teaching professionals, and expand the relevance, accessibility, and opportunities for both the learners in our classrooms and the professionals in our community. These priorities underpin the sub-themes for the JALT2024 International Conference:

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging: In order to truly realize excellence, JALT must be a diverse association that is welcoming, supportive, and relevant. How can JALT serve our professional communities more effectively, through increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, while fostering a sense of belonging among language educators? How can issues related to discrimination based on a broad range of identity categories and differences be better addressed at the professional and institutional levels? Responding to the realities of our profession, how can increasingly diverse learner needs and aspirations be better served? What opportunities have been neglected in the past, and how can these be taken advantage of to enhance and develop our association now and in the future? How can communities of practice, both national and local, reach out to and engage professionals who wish to be active, recognized, and respected?

Methodology and practice: The educational, social, and institutional expectations for teachers and learners are dynamic and ever-changing. How can innovative language instruction more effectively support language learning and use, and encourage learner autonomy and self-directed learning? How can approaches and activities develop a sense of global citizenship and a broader world view? How can we, as educators, provide a more accessible, supportive, and empathetic environment for language learning? How can JALT better support teachers as they strive to provide innovative learning experiences in their classes? What approaches, methodologies, and resources are uniquely suited to meet the challenges the future holds?

Professional community: The professional community of language educators continues to expand and diversify, leading to rich opportunities that have thus far been typically underutilized. How can professional development activities and programs remain relevant in the fast-changing field of language education? How can professional development activities embrace, recognize, and respect the increasing diversity in our professional community? How can advocacy for language educators in Japan be increased? Through collaboration or mentorship, how can opportunities for emerging language educators and researchers be facilitated by those with more experience? How can experienced language educators and researchers learn more from our younger colleagues? How can more opportunities for community-building among teachers at all levels and in all contexts be encouraged? How can teacher education programs be enhanced to better prepare language educators for the future?

Technology and language education: Technology plays an increasingly central role in educational practices. How can technology be used for effective language learning? How can technology be utilized to increase accessibility for both learners and professionals? How can institutional culture be successfully adapted to the opportunities technology presents? With the recent trends in ChatGPT, AI, and Virtual Reality, how can educators and institutions remain current with these rapidly changing technologies? How can the opportunities that technology provides be utilized while ensuring the development of creativity and independent thinking among our learners?

Research: Research allows us to contribute to the body of knowledge in our field and to seek innovative approaches and solve challenges that both learners and teachers may face during the learning process. Research will continue to play a vital role in language education as we continue to investigate how language instruction can reflect the realities of the place of language in the global community. What is the ever-changing role of English varieties in the global landscape? How can current and new theoretical and methodological approaches address emerging issues in language education? How can research be applied in practical learning and teaching contexts in order to effect tangible and improved outcomes?

The future of JALT and of language educators will be characterized by both challenges and opportunities, many which we cannot even imagine today. However, if JALT embraces those challenges and takes advantage of those opportunities, the future of JALT and language education in Japan remains bright.

With great enthusiasm, we would like to welcome you to the JALT2024 International Conference and the celebration of our 50th conference. We look forward to sharing ideas and insights, learning from each other, networking, and collaborating as we move forward together into the future for many more years to come!

Emily Choong, Richmond Stroupe, Naomi Fujishima. JALT2024 Conference Chairs.