Bilingualism
Our group has two broad aims: to support families who regularly communicate in more than one language and to further research on bilingualism in Japanese contexts. See our website <bsig.org> for more information.
当研究会は複数言語で生活する家族および日本におけるバイリンガリズム研究の支援を目的としています。どうぞホームページの<bsig.org>をご覧下さい。
Business English
No Submission
CALL
The annual JALTCALL conference will be held 3-5 June 2011 at Kurume University (Mii Campus) in Kurume City, Fukuoka-ken. The conference theme is Building Learning Environments. The Keynote Speaker will be Carla Meskill of the State University of New York. Please visit <jaltcall.org> for more information.
College and University Educators
CUE 2011 Conference on Foreign Language Motivation in Japan, 2-3 July 2011, at Toyo Gakuen University, Hongo Campus, Tokyo. Plenary speakers Ema Ushioda and Kimberly Noels. Registration 1 April-1 June 2011. Visit <jaltcue-sig.org> or <cue2011conference.org> for more information.
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 as well as experienced ER practitioners. It keeps members up-to-date on ER research and new graded reader releases. Check out our website at <jaltersig.org>.
Framework & Language Portfolio
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
Gender Awareness in Language Education Conference 2011: Exploring Gender and its Implicationsto be held 28 May 2011 at Kyoto University, Kyoto. Closing date for submissions is 31 March 2011. For more information, email <galesubmissions@yahoo.com> or visit <gale-sig.org>.
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
No Submission
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
The Learner Development SIG is a lively and welcoming group of teachers interested in improving our practice by exploring the connections between learning and teaching. We also meet to share ideas and research in small-scale events such as mini-conferences, poster-sessions, and local group meetings. For more information, check out our homepage <ld-sig.org>.
Lifelong Language Learning
The increasing number of people of retirement age, plus the internationalization of Japanese society, has greatly increased the number of people eager to study English as part of their lifelong learning. The LLL SIG provides resources and information for teachers who teach English to older learners. We run a website, online forum, listserv, and SIG publication (see <jalt.org/lifelong>). For more information or to join the mailing list, contact Yoko Wakui <ywakui@bu.iij4u.or.jp>or Eric M. Skier <skier@ps.toyaku.ac.jp>.
生涯語学学習研究部会は来る高齢化社会に向けて高齢者を含む成人の英語教育をより充実することを目指し、昨年結成した新しい分科会です。現在、日本では退職や子育て後もこれまでの経験や趣味を生かし積極的に社会に参加したいと望んでいる方が大幅に増えております。中でも外国語学習を始めたい、または継続を考えている多くの学習者に対してわれわれ語学教師が貢献出来る課題は多く、これからの研究や活動が期待されています。LLLでは日本全国の教師が情報交換、勉強会、研究成果の出版を行い共にこの新しい分野を開拓していこうと日々熱心に活動中です。現在オンライン< jalt.org/lifelong>上でもフォーラムやメールリスト、ニュースレター配信を活発に行っております。高齢者の語学教育に携わっていらっしゃる方はもちろん、将来の英語教育動向に関心のある方まで、興味のある方はどなたでも大歓迎です。日本人教師も数多く参加していますのでどうぞお気軽にご入会ください。お問い合わせは涌井陽子<ywakui@bu.iij4u.or.jp>。またはEric M. Skier <skier@ps.toyaku.ac.jp>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
[NO SUBMISSION]
Pan-SIG
Theannual JALT Pan-SIG Conference will be held 21-22 May 2011 at Shinshu University, in Matsumoto City, Nagano-ken. The conference theme is Discovering Paths to Fluency. Invited Speakers include Sakai Hideki, John Read, Rob Waring, and Greg Goodmacher. Please visit <jalt.org/pansig/2011> for more information.
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 <debito.org/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>.
Teachers Helping Teachers (Forming)
[NO SUBMISSION]
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 also 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>.