Taking part in major Learner Development SIG events for 2012
January 2012 update
- Learner development SIG Conference Forums
- Speaking of Kansai: Learner Development SIG One-day Meeting April 8th
- Learner Development SIG Local Get-togethers
Happy New Year and greetings from the Learner Development SIG. We wish you and your loved ones all the best for 2012.
My name is Bill Mboutsiadis (boot-see-add-dis), and this year I have been kindly offered the role of Learner Development SIG programme chair. I hope to learn and grow into this dynamic position. I have just recently come to Japan in 2010 from Toronto and have come to discover the tremendous variety and quality of professional development here in Japan. There are so many educators doing so many different things in their fields that it has inspired me to get involved - much more so than I have been back home. I hope to get you all interested in participating in Learner Development SIG events in whatever capacity you feel comfortable. Please feel free to contact me and or any of the event liaisons for any questions, comments or suggestions that you may have regarding this exciting set of conference activities. The SIG is also offering a wide range of grants to help you take part. For more information about these grants, click here .
I really hope we have the chance to meet and I am looking forward to seeing you at one of the following events.
Bill Mboutsiadis, billmboutsiadis AT MARK gmail.com
Learner development SIG Conference Forums
The following events are continually developing as we speak, with deadlines starting this month and continuing through to April. The Learner Development SIG will be directly participating in the following four major events where we are putting together a forum each time. Please consider taking part and presenting in one or more of these forums. Contact the respective event liaison by email directly.
JALTCALL2012 Conference: “Beyond CALL: Integration, normalisation, or separation?”
Deadline: TBA, Contact: Darren Elliot, darrenrelliott AT MARK gmail.com
JALT PAN-SIG Conference: “Literacy: SIGnals of emergence”
Deadline: February 29th, Contact: Jim Ronald, jamesmartinronald AT MARK yahoo.co.jp
JALT2012 International Conference: “Making a Difference”
Deadline: April 13th, Contact: Bill Mboutsiadis, billmboutsiadis AT MARK gmail.com
Deadline: TBA Contact: Robert Moreau, im AT MARK plum.plala.or.jp
For other learner development events (and deadlines) in 2012, click here
Besides attending the events you are very welcome to drop by and/or help out at our Learner Development SIG information tables at different conferences. I also encourage you to take part in a Learner Development SIG local get-together in Tokyo, Kansai, Nagoya or Hiroshima, of which more details below:
Speaking of Kansai: Learner Development SIG One-day Meeting April 8th
Kyoto JALT and the Learner Development SIG will be holding a joint event on April 8th consisting of workshops and a roundtable discussion for all language teachers from elementary to university level. Workshop presenters will include Ann Mayeda (Konan Women's University) on learner autonomy and young learners, and Phil Brown (Konan Women's University) on developing learners' vocabulary strategies. For more details please contact Richard Silver, richinwit AT MARK gmail.com
Learner Development SIG Local Get-togethers
With various theme-based sessions, these informal get-togethers are a great chance to meet new and old friends who share a similar passion in our profession, as well as to exchange ideas. Many of those taking part end up at a second meeting of the beer and wine glasses at a local sanctuary where the discussions get really intellectual (or not). For more information about Learner Development SIG local get-togethers in 2012, see the community page community page.