Bilingualism
Bilingualism will be hosting a panel discussion at this year’s JALT National Conference in November.“Issues and Opportunities for Secondary School Bilinguals” will examine how bilingual and bicultural students and their families deal with the challenges and expectations of English as it is taught in the Japanese school system. Audience participation in the discussion will be most welcome. Also at the conference will be BSIG’s AGM and banquet. <bsig.org> 今年度のJALT大会ではバイリンガリズムがパネルディスカッションを開きます。「Issues and Opportunities for Secondary School Bilinguals」のタイトルで、バイリンガルの生徒とその家族が、中高で受けた英語授業の良い面と悪い面を話します。参加者の皆様からのご意見も大歓迎です。
CALL
The Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Special Interest Group (SIG) actively supports and promotes the use of various technologies in language learning. In addition, we encourage everyone interested to join our new online discussions in our Google Group. <jaltcall.org>
College and University Educators
CUE SIG is accepting paper submissions for a special book project on foreign language motivation in Japan. Abstracts due 1 Aug 2011; more information available at <jaltcue-sig.org/node/152>. All CUE members receive therefereed publication OnCUE Journal (ISSN: 1882-0220). For more information about CUE SIG news and events, see the CUE website at <jaltcue-sig.org/>, follow “jaltcue” on Twitter, or join JALT-CUE on Facebook or Yahoo Groups <bit.ly/9NZBTC>.
Critical Thinking
The Critical Thinking SIG is looking for submissions for JALT’s newest newsletter, CT Scan. Those interested in writing about critical thinking in language education should email <ctscan.editor@gmail.com> or visit <jaltct.wordpress.com> for more information. We hope you’ll join us in building our newsletter and this new, growing SIG!
Extensive Reading
The ER SIG exists to help teachers in Japan start and improve Extensive Reading and Extensive Listening programmes. Our newsletter, Extensive Reading in Japan (ERJ), is full of ideas for those new to ER and experienced ER practitioners. It keeps our members up-to-date on ER research and new graded reader releases. Check out our website at <jaltersig.org>.
Framework & Language Portfolio (Forming)
This SIG wants to discuss the CEFR and ELP, and other similar frameworks and their relevance for Japan. There is an emphasis on developing materials to support educators who would like to use these pedagogic tools; the bilingual Language Portfolio for Japanese University is now available online. The SIG holds periodical seminars focusing on classroom use and is present at many conferences. Please refer to <sites.google.com/site/flpsig/home> and <flpsig@gmail.com> for more information.
Gender Awareness in Language Education
GALE works towards building a supportive community of educators and researchers interested in raising awareness and researching how gender plays a central role in education and professional interaction. We also network and collaborate with other JALT groups and the community at large to promote pedagogical and professional practices, language teaching materials, and research inclusive of gender and gender-related topics. Visit the GALE website at <gale-sig.or>for more details.
Global Issues in Language Education
Are you interested in promoting global awareness and international understanding through your teaching? Then join the Global Issues in Language Education SIG.Weproduce an exciting quarterly newsletter packed with news, articles, and book reviews; organize presentations for local, national, and international conferences; and network with groups such as UNESCO, Amnesty International, and Educators for Social Responsibility. Join us in teaching for a better world! Our website is <gilesig.org>. For further information, contact Kip Cates<kcates@rstu.jp>.
Japanese as a Second Language
Call for Papers: JALT Journal of Japanese Language Education. Japanese as a second language researchers, teachers, and learners are invited to contribute articles, research reports, essays, and reviews. Please visit our website: <jalt.org/jsl>. 論文・記事大募集：JALT日本語教育学会では日本語教育論集の発行を計画しています。研究報告、学会発表報告論文、日本語教授・学習法に関する論文、ブック・レビューなど募集。日本語研究者、指導者、学習者の皆様応募お願いします。ホームページをご覧ください：<www.jalt.org/jsl>
Junior and Senior High School
The JSH SIG is operating at a time of considerable change in secondary EFL education. Therefore, we are concerned with language learning theory, teaching materials, and methods. We are also intensely interested in curriculum innovation. The large-scale employment of native speaker instructors is a recent innovation yet to be thoroughly studied or evaluated. JALT members involved with junior or senior high school EFL are cordially invited to join us for dialogue and professional development opportunities.
Learner Development
Join our one-day conference to celebrate the publication ofRealizing Autonomy: Practice and Reflection in Language Education Contexts. Saturday, 29 October, Nanzan University, Nagoya, with plenaries by Richard Pemberton and Tim Murphey. The call for presentations closes 17 July. Conference fees (on site/early registration): (a) JALT members: ¥2000/1500; (b) LD members: ¥1500/1000. National Conference Grants also available! For more information, please visit<ld-sig.org/>.
Lifelong Language Learning
As an aging society, Japan has a large population of older adults, many of whom are active lifelong learners. The LLL SIG provides information and sponsors events for those who teach English or other languages to adult learners of all ages. We have a website and online newsletter <jalt.org/lifelong> and are now on Facebook at <tinyurl.com/4hzlwdv>. We will hold a mini-conference at Tokyo Keizai University in early October and details will be posted on our website. For more information or to join the LLL SIG please contact Yoko Wakui <wakui@bu.iij4u.or.jp> or Julia K. Harper at <harper.julia.k@gmail.com>. 高齢化社会の日本には、元気に生涯学習に励む高齢者がたくさんいます。生涯語学学習研究部会は、成人に英語や他の言語を教えている方々のために、情報を提供し、イベントなどを後援します。インターネット上で、ニュースレターを配信しているホームペー<jalt.org/lifelong>やFacebook<tinyurl.com/4hzlwdv>もあります。これから行われるイベントは10月末に東京経済大学で開催される小規模の生涯語学学習研究部会の例会があります。ご入会とお問い合わせは、涌井陽子<wakui@bu.iij4u.or.jp>またはJulia K. Harper <harper.julia.k@gmail.com>までご連絡ください。
Materials Writers
The MW SIG shares information on ways to create better language learning materials, covering a wide range of issues from practical advice on style to copyright law and publishing practices, including self-publication. On certain conditions we also provide free ISBNs. Our newsletter Between the Keys is published three to four times a year and we have a discussion forum and mailing list <groups.yahoo.com/group/jaltmwsig>. Our website is <uk.geocities.com/materialwritersig>. To contact us, email <mw@jalt.org>.
Other Language Educators
OLE has published its OLE NL 58 containing a message from JALT and ample information on JALT 2011 in November, including information on the OLE events there. It also contains the conference theme in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Chinese for distribution to colleagues teaching these languages, as well as information on a Spanish as Foreign Language conference. Copies are available for free from the OLE coordinator at<reinelt.rudolf.my@ehime-u.ac.jp>.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics is the study of how people use language. As teachers we help students learn to communicate appropriately, and as researchers we study language in use. This is clearly an area of study to which many JALT members can contribute. The Pragmatics SIG offers practical exchange among teachers and welcomes articles for its newsletter, Pragmatic Matters. Find out more about the SIG at <groups.yahoo.com/group/jaltpragsig> or contact Donna Fujimoto <fujimoto@wilmina.ac.jp>. For newsletter submissions, contact Anne Howard <ahoward@kokusai.miyazaki-mic.ac.jp>.
Professionalism, Administration, and Leadership in Education
The PALE SIG welcomes new members, officers, volunteers, and submissions of articles for our journal or newsletter. To read current and past issues of our journal, visit <jalt.org/groups/pale>>. Also, anyone may join our listserv <groups.yahoo.com/group/PALE_Group>. For information on events, visit <jalt.org/groups/PALE>.
Study Abroad (Forming)
The Study Abroad SIG is a new and upcoming group interested in all that is Study Abroad. We aim to provide a supportive place for discussion of areas of interest, and we hope that our members will collaborate to improve the somewhat sparse research into Study Abroad. We welcome submissions for our newsletter, Ryugaku, and we are still in need of officers. Contact Andrew Atkins or Todd Thorpe <studyabroadsig@gmail.com> for further information.
Teacher Education
The Teacher Education SIG is a network of foreign language instructors dedicated to becoming better teachers and helping others teach more effectively. Our members teach at universities, schools, and language centres, both in Japan and other countries. We share a wide variety of research interests, and support and organize a number of events throughout Japan every year. Contact <ted@jalt.org> or visit our website <tinyurl.com/jalt-teachered>.
Teaching Children
The Teaching Children SIG is for all teachers of children. We publish a bilingual newsletter four times a year, with columns by leading teachers in our field. There is a mailing list for teachers of children who want to share teaching ideas or questions: <groups.yahoo.com/group/tcsig>. We are always looking for new people to keep the SIG dynamic. With our bilingual newsletter, we particularly hope to appeal to Japanese teachers. We hope you can join us for one of our upcoming events. For more information, visit <tcsig.jalt.org>. 児童語学教育研究部会は、子どもに英語（外国語）を教える先生方を対象にした部会です。当部会は、年４回会報を発行しています。会報は英語と日本語で提供しており、この分野で活躍している教師が担当するコラムもあります。また、指導上のアイデアや質問を交換する場として、メーリングリスト<groups.yahoo.com/group/tcsig>を運営しています。活発な部会を維持していくために常に新会員を募集しています。特に日本人の先生方の参加を歓迎します。部会で開催するイベントに是非ご参加ください。詳細については<tcsig.jalt.org>をご覧下さい。
Testing & Evaluation
The TEVAL SIG is concerned with language testing and assessment, and welcomes both experienced teachers and those who are new to this area and wish to learn more about it. Our newsletter, published three times a year, contains a variety of testing-related articles, including discussions of the ethical implications of testing, interviews with prominent authors and researchers, book reviews, and reader-friendly explanations of some of the statistical techniques used in test analysis. Visit <jalt.org/test>.