Tag: English

  • Newsletter – February News

    Dear Iwate-Aomori JALT members and other subscribers,

    Welcome to the Iwate-Aomori JALT Newsletter. Thank you for your continuing support for Iwate-Aomori JALT.  Today, I have some news about some upcoming spring and summer events and deadlines. 

    Announcements this month:

    1. MEES Featured Workshop – James York and Call for Presenters Deadline March 30
    2. April Chapter Meeting – Embodied Learning: How Movement Improves Memory and Creativity – Brian J. Birdsell April 26
    3. TILES 2026
    4. JALT2026 International Conference 
    5. Non-Vetted Presenter Proposal

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    1. MEES James York Featured Speaker Workshop and Call for Presenters Deadline

    Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) 2026

    June 27 @ 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    2026

    MEES FEATURED WORKSHOP

    JAMES YORK

    “TBLT Gaming – A Practical Framework for Teaching with Games”

    This workshop presents a novel framework integrating Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) with the use of board and video games to enhance second language acquisition. The approach shifts instruction to be student-led, utilising games as communicative tools that prioritise meaning and goal-oriented language use. The framework introduced to participants is a multi-phase process incorporating all four language skills as students research games, learn how to play, play them, analyse their performances, and produce a portfolio of their best performances. Key activities include L1 test-play, L2 gameplay with audio recording, group transcription, detailed error analysis using technology like Google Docs and AI assistance, and subsequent task repetition. One innovation is the “pro-gamer inspired” assessment model. This method addresses the inherent fairness challenges of one-shot testing by having students create self-edited “best play” montages of their L2 performance during gameplay. This encourages responsibility and self-reflection.

    Participants will experience parts of the framework firsthand and I will present a large amount of student work to help audience members visualise how it might work in their own contexts.

    James is an associate professor at Meiji University, Japan. His teaching and research is centred on games and literacy including language education, (educational) game design, and game literacy. He is the founder and co-editor of Ludic Language Pedagogy, an open access journal which publishes work on ludic approaches to literacy teaching. He is also the founder of the York Game Lab, an independent game publisher. His favourite game is Super Smash Bros. but is not good at it.

    Call for Presentations Deadline

    Conference Theme:

    “Practical EFL Tips, Tools, and Techniques”

    We welcome any proposals with relevance to language teaching and learning for any age group within the English as a Foreign Language context. Submissions may include action research conducted inside or outside the classroom, works in progress, teaching strategies and pedagogy, pilot studies, as well as proposals for discussion sessions and workshops.

    Sessions are set at 30 minutes (including questions). Please advise us on your session format: formal presentation, workshop, discussion, or demonstration. Also, if you would like more than 30 minutes, or have any other questions regarding presenting, let us know.

    Abstract Submissions: Abstract must be no longer than 300 words in English, in either MS Word, Mac Pages, or PDF file.

    Send all abstract submissions to: MEESjapan@gmail.com

    Proposal Abstract Deadline: Monday, March 30th, 2026.

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    1. April Chapter Meeting- Embodied Learning: How Movement Improves Memory and Creativity – Brian J. Birdsell April 26

    April 26 @ 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

    KIOXIA AIINA – Rm 602 (Google Maps)

    Embodied Learning: How Movement Improves Memory and Creativity

    I always think of him as one of the first to employ his legs as an instrument of philosophy.

    — Rebecca Solnit (referring to William Wordsworth)

    This presentation discusses topics from a recently published book by the presenter entitled Moving Bodies, Wandering Minds: How Movement Enhances Creativity and Language Learning. 

    Excessive sedentary behavior has become a widespread problem across all age groups, driven by modern lifestyles and reinforced in schools where students spend much of the class day sitting. This persists despite wide-established evidence that physical activity (PA) improves cardiovascular health, lowers cancer risk, and supports mental health. More recently, research has highlighted cognitive benefits of PA, such as improvements in working memory, cognitive flexibility, creativity, and attention. In the first part of this presentation, I review this research alongside my own work examining how PA and physical enactment enhance foreign language vocabulary retention. This approach is part of “embodied learning,” an education framework based on the idea that cognition is grounded in bodily experiences and that movement can actively support learning at any age. Additionally, drawing on creativity research and my own current research project, I present how movement may enhance creative thinking. 

    In the second part, I share practical activities I have used to increase student movement both in and outside the classroom, including walking for creative writing, teaching abstract concepts through movement, and speed presenting. We’ll close with discussion and idea-sharing, inviting participants to ask questions, reflect on their own classrooms, and share any movement-based activities they might employ for language learning. 

    Brian J. Birdsell received a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK and currently is an Associate Professor in the Institute for the Promotion of Higher Education and Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hirosaki University. His research interests include metaphor, embodied cognition, creativity, and CLIL. 

    ¥1000 for non JALT members and free for JALT members.

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    1. TILES 2026 in collaboration with the ICLE SIG

    This year the TILES seminar will be held in collaboration with the Intercultural Communications in Language Education (ICLE) SIG’s annual conference. The date will be Sunday, Sep 27 and the theme is – The Global Classroom: Navigating East–West Perspectives in Language Education. The event will be held at Hirosaki Gakuin University in Hirosaki (same place as last year) and will be an all-day event this year. We are also planning some activities for Saturday, Sep. 26th such as a networking reception and possibly other events. The call for presentation proposals will be issued in the near future, and any questions can be referred to the TILES site and Tsugaru-area co-coordinators, Edo Forsythe and Steven MacWhinnie. Details can be found in our upcoming Chapter newsletters and website as well as on the ICLE site: https://icle.jalt.org/  and for any questions, please contact  <icle.conferencechair@gmail.com>. Please put it on your calendar, and we look forward to seeing you all in Hirosaki!

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    1. JALT2026 International Conference

    Get some cool JALT2026 merchandise from our online print-on-demand store, https://suzuri.jp/JALT/products.

    • JALT2026: 52nd Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exhibition

    • When: Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22, 2026

    • Where: WINC Aichi, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

    • Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d5LUJtWkxSmsjcda9

    • Call for presentation proposals: The deadline is Saturday, March 8, 2026

    • Please keep an eye on https://jalt.org/jalt-international-conference/ for updates and access to all conference information.

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    1. Non-Vetted Presenter Proposal

    The Iwate-Aomori JALT chapter is committed to supporting members in their professional development. We offer financial support for members who are presenting at the annual international conference of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) in November. This grant is intended in particular to support first-time presenters who wish to gain experience presenting at an international conference. Presentations supported under this scheme are not subject to JALT’s vetting process. The Chapter will cover the conference registration fee (¥23,000). Travel, accommodation, and other expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.

    Applicants must be current members of our chapter. Priority will be given to applicants who do not have access to institutional funding. In return for this support, the selected candidate is expected to give a presentation at one of our local events, sharing key ideas and reflections from their conference session.

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    Newsletter by Jason Hill, Iwate-Aomori JALT Publicity Chair

    Thank you for being a part of our community.

  • Newsletter – January 2026 News and MEES Call for Presenters

    Dear Iwate-Aomori JALT members and other subscribers,

    A message from our new president.

    Jim Smiley, your new chapter president here. I’d like to introduce myself a bit in this first newsletter since taking on the role. 

    Firstly, I’d like to thank Mary Burkitt. She has been a powerhouse for the chapter, dedicating twenty-two years of service as Chapter President. She has guided us through thick and thin and helped us establish as a vibrant, energetic and forward-looking organisation. Thank you, Mary! Although Mary is stepping down as President, she is not stepping out. Rather, she will remain on our executive board in the role of Membership Chair. Her knowledge and extensive experience will continue to be a real asset to us as we go forward.

    I’d also like to thank you, dear member, for the confidence that you have shown in me. I truly appreciate your support. My aim is to serve the chapter well as we maintain and build our chapter over the year. We organise chapter meetings (at least three per year, often held at AIINA) and the two wonderful full-day conferences: the Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) in Hachinohe in June and the Tsugaru Ideas for Language Education Seminar (TILES) in Hirosaki in September. More details about these events will be sent to you in due course. One addition for this year is a social gathering, probably in Morioka, where we can meet and greet in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

    Announcements this month:

    1. Sunday, February 15,  A Growth Mindset for Language Education – Adrian Leis
    2. A preview of our upcoming year – MEES Call For Presenters
    3. JALT2026 Call for Presentation Abstracts – Deadline, March 1

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    1. Sunday, February 15,  A Growth Mindset for Language Education – Adrian Leis

    A Growth Mindset for Language Education – Adrian Leis

    February 15 @ 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

    KIOXIA AIINA 1:30pm to 4pm.  Room 602.

    Abstract: This presentation explores how growth mindset theory can empower learners to see ability as something that can be developed rather than fixed. Drawing on research in educational psychology and classroom-based practice, the presentation examines how beliefs about intelligence influence motivation, risk-taking, and resilience. Through interactive examples and practical activities, participants will experience how small changes in feedback, task design, and classroom culture can strengthen students’ willingness to challenge themselves. The session also invites participants to reflect on their own mindsets, both as language teachers and as language learners, highlighting the role of scaffolding, praise, and productive failure in building confidence, creativity, and long-term engagement with learning.

    Bio: Adrian Leis is a professor at Tohoku Gakuin University and founder of SielpA Books. His work focuses on language-learning motivation, self-worth theory, and task-based pedagogy. He is widely published and actively involved in teacher education, textbook development, and research that bridges theory with classroom practice.

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    1. A preview of our upcoming year – MEES Call For Presenters

    Conference Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026

    Venue: Hachinohe Gakuin University – Hachinohe Art Museum Satellite Space, Hachinohe, Aomori

    MEES is a friendly and supportive professional development environment that welcomes participants from all regions and language teaching practices. We encourage novice presenters and those from non-academic backgrounds.

    Conference Theme:

    “Practical EFL Tips, Tools, and Techniques”

    We welcome any proposals with relevance to language teaching and learning for any age group within the English as a Foreign Language context. Submissions may include action research conducted inside or outside the classroom, works in progress, teaching strategies and pedagogy, pilot studies, as well as proposals for discussion sessions and workshops.

    Sessions are set at 30 minutes (including questions). Please advise us on your session format: formal presentation, workshop, discussion, or demonstration. Also, if you would like more than 30 minutes, or have any other questions regarding presenting, let us know.

    Abstract Submissions: Abstract must be no longer than 300 words in English, in either MS Word, Mac Pages, or PDF file.

    Send all abstract submissions to: MEESjapan@gmail.com

    Proposal Abstract Deadline: Monday, March 30th, 2026.

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      In addition to MEES,  our website has  a  brief outline of upcoming meetings and conferences throughout 2026. Please note that not all future events have dates or times decided upon yet. The calendar can be found here: https://iwate-aomori.jalt.org/upcoming-events/

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    1. JALT2026 Call for Presentation Abstracts – Deadline, March 1

    Message from JALT

    Abstract submissions for the JALT2026 International Conference are due on March 1st. To help you through the submission process, we’re releasing a video from our recent Abstract Writing Workshop. Increase your chances for success by watching this half-hour video. https://youtu.be/HAPxW3bXKic JALT2026 will be held in Nagoya City from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2026. Go here to submit.

    Message from our Chapter

    Our chapter has the opportunity to submit an unvetted presentation recommendation for JALT2026. This is an especially good opportunity for first-time presenters but not only for them. Anyone who is interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should contact our new Program Chair, Kathryn Akasaka via the Contact form on our Chapter website (https://iwate-aomori.jalt.org/contact/). 

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    Newsletter by Jason Hill Iwate-Aomori JALT Publicity Chair

    Thank you for being a part of our community.

  • Event – Emily MacFarlane: Proven Techniques for Building EFL Speaking Fluency

    Date and Time: December 14 @ 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

    Place: AIINA 1:30pm to 4pm.  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 impact of filler words on speech rate, the effect of repeated tool usage on fluency improvement, and student perceptions of both the online tool and their own fluency development. Designed for Japanese EFL contexts, the workshop addresses common challenges including students’ silent pauses, accuracy obsession, and unnatural rhythm patterns. Teachers experience each technique firsthand before learning practical implementation strategies, classroom troubleshooting, and fluency-focused assessment methods. Participants will leave with concrete tools to transform hesitant speakers into confident communicators.

    Teaser: Transform your students from hesitant speakers into confident communicators! Learn five research-backed techniques including 1-minute speeches, 4-3-2 activities, and shadowing practice. Experience each method yourself for immediate classroom implementation. Perfect for all EFL levels.

    Bio: Emily MacFarlane is an experienced English language educator who teaches at various universities in Sendai.  Her most recent research is on improving speaking fluency in Japanese university students.