Recent SIG Info
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PanSIG
The PanSIG conference is held every year, usually in May. For more info: http://pansig.org.
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 www.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
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 2011 will be held 3-5 June at Kurume University, Fukuoka, and will feature Keynote Speaker Carla Meskill of the State University of New York. For more information please visit the reorganized CALL SIG website at www.jaltcall.org.
College and University Educators
Call for Presentations: CUE 2011 Conference on Foreign Language Motivation in Japan, 2-3 July 2011, at Toyo Gakuen University, Hongo Campus, Tokyo. Empirical and theoretical proposals accepted from 1 Nov 2010 to 31 Jan 2011. Visit jaltcue-sig.org or cue2011conference.org for proposal details and online submission form.
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
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 at 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 an integral 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 our website at gale-sig.org or contact 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. We produce 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.
Japanese as a Second Language
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：jalt.org/jsl. 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.
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 jalt.org/lifelong. 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。
Materials Writers
The MW SIG was established for the purpose of helping members to turn fresh teaching ideas into useful classroom materials. We try to be a mutual assistance network, offering information regarding copyright law, sharing practical advice on publishing practices, including self-publication, and suggesting ways to create better language learning materials for general consumption or for individual classroom use.
Other Language Educators
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.
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
The Study Abroad SIG is 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 at 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 atjalt.org or visit our website tinyurl.com/jalt-teachered.
Teachers Helping Teachers (Forming)
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
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.