• JALT 2022 Four Corners Tour in November – Yilin Sun

    First Meeting: Aomori University of Health and Welfare 

    C block, 2nd floor, room C204

    Date: November 26, 2022, 2:00pm

    Theme: Thinking with FIRE for 21st Century English Learners in Japan

    Fee: Free for JALT members

            Free for non-members

    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 techniques which can be adapted for all levels of learners. She’ll also discuss critical 21st century skills that EFL teachers can incorporate in their classes.

    Second Meeting: AIINA Rm 806 

    Date: November 27, 2022, 1:30pm

    Theme: Workshop: Counter-Storytelling: A Critical Asset-based Pedagogical Framework

    Fee: Free for JALT members

            Free for non-members

    Abstract: 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 context of our students’ personal and educational stories as well as our own. Powerful stories, arts, and poetic modes of expressions from students from systematically underserved and under-represented backgrounds will be shared.

    Speaker Profile

    Yilin Sun is a tenured professor (Emeritus Professor) who directed faculty development programs at the Seattle Colleges in Seattle, WA, U.S.A for the past three years before her retirement. She has served the field of TESOL for over 35 years as a classroom teacher, program leader, teacher educator, and researcher with many higher education institutions in China, Macau, Canada, and the USA. Dr. Sun is a former president of the TESOL International Association (2014-2015) and the founding president of Macau Association for Applied Linguistics (MAAL). In 2021, The English Language Specialist Program of U.S. Department of State recognized Dr. Sun as one of thirty specialists who have made a lasting impact on the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) field since 1991. Dr. Sun is also serving as Chief Editor of the series Foreign Language Teacher Education and Development: Selected Works of Renowned TESOL Experts published by Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. Over the years, Dr Sun has given numerous keynote/plenary and featured presentations at international professional conferences. She has authored and coauthored books, book chapters, and journal articles. Her research interests include curriculum development, program assessment and evaluation, L2 reading, vocabulary learning, critical thinking, classroom-based action research, teacher education, ESP/EAP, Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), and NNEST/bilingual/multilingual English speaking teachers in the ELT field.

  • 2022 Officers Election Announcement

    The annual election for Iwate-Aomori JALT Officers will be held online from November 01-12, 2022. The following members have volunteered to serve as officers. Members in good standing will be asked to vote in our online election. They will receive an online ballot by email. Thank you to everyone who served on the previous committee.

    2022-23 Iwate-Aomori JALT Candidates (The first 5 positions are mandated by JALT National. Other positions are created by Iwate JALT.)

    Chapter President – Mary Burkitt

    Membership Chair – Jim Smiley

    Program Chair – Position Open

    Publicity Chair – Jason Hill

    Treasurer – Jacob Petersen

    Tsugaru Co-Coordinator – Edo Forsythe

    Tsugaru Co-Coordinator – Steven MacWhinnie

    Member at Large – Satomi Ogasawara

    Hachinohe Co-Coordinator – Barry Grossman

    Hachinohe Co-Coordinator – Greg Anthony

    Note: We are currently looking for a program chair. If you are interested in helping us, please use the contact email below. Mark subject as “Join Officer Team.” A brief description of each position follows.

    Program Chair:

    The program chair helps to plan the Chapter’s monthly meetings and events throughout the year, and coordinates guest speakers and other similar logistical things.

    The Chapter’s Officer corps works closely with the program chair to help make our events happen—the program chair is not solely responsible for running events.

    It should be noted that the above positions are currently uncontested, however volunteers for future service are always welcome! If you are interested in volunteering with Iwate-Aomori JALT, please send an email to iwatejalt@hotmail.com and let us know.

  • Upcoming Event: TILES2022 – Sunday September 25