Associate Professor at the School of Languages, Linguistics and Translation in UNAM.
Associate professor at the National School of Languages, Linguistics, and Translation (ENALLT) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She is responsible for the Teletándem Project at the ENALLT Self-Access Centre (Mediateca). She is a tutor for the online Diploma Program for Learning Advisors of SALCs. She is a professor in the Applied Linguistics Program at ENALLT, where she teaches Learner Autonomy and Telecollaboration. She has been an advisor at the Mediateca since 1996. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) and a Master’s degree in Virtual Learning Environments from Virtual Educa and the University of Panama. She has just graduated from the Online Diploma Course in Artificial Intelligence and Gamification. She is also a specialist in Virtual Learning Environments, certified by the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) and Virtual Educa. She has presented lectures and workshops at national and international conferences on learner autonomy and learner development in the classroom, in self-access centres, and with digital tools. She is the founder and President of the Academic Research Network of Learner Autonomy in México. Her research interests are gamification and learner training for Learner Autonomy, Telecollaboration, and the impact of AI in SALCs.
We will share more details about the conference theme, basic schedule and call for papers around Golden Week, so for now please save the date and start thinking about possible self-access research and practices you would like to contribute.
This will be a 3-day weekend (for those of us who get the national holiday!) so we recommend booking accommodation as soon as possible.
We also hope to offer a SAC Tour of the Language Learning Center (LLC), the self-access centre at OIT, on the afternoon of Friday, 9th October, and an online component to the conference – more details to follow later.
Empowering Language Learning: Self-Access, Advising, and Technology Supporting language learners to navigate the affordances offered by technology has been a key aspect of self-access language learning (SALL) since its foundation in the 1970s and 1980s. This has long been a key role for learning advisors and other educators, and is equally important in a world increasingly dominated by mobile technologies and AI.
Join us as we bridge the gap between theory and practice, investigating how the integration of physical spaces, pedagogical support, and digital innovation can empower learners to navigate their own language learning journeys with confidence and purpose.
Plenary Speaker
Maria de la Paz Adelia Peña Clavel
Associate Professor at the School of Languages, Linguistics and Translation in UNAM.
Associate professor at the National School of Languages, Linguistics, and Translation (ENALLT) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She is responsible for the Teletándem Project at the ENALLT Self-Access Centre (Mediateca). She is a tutor for the online Diploma Program for Learning Advisors of SALCs. She is a professor in the Applied Linguistics Program at ENALLT, where she teaches Learner Autonomy and Telecollaboration. She has been an advisor at the Mediateca since 1996. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) and a Master’s degree in Virtual Learning Environments from Virtual Educa and the University of Panama. She has just graduated from the Online Diploma Course in Artificial Intelligence and Gamification. She is also a specialist in Virtual Learning Environments, certified by the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) and Virtual Educa. She has presented lectures and workshops at national and international conferences on learner autonomy and learner development in the classroom, in self-access centres, and with digital tools. She is the founder and President of the Academic Research Network of Learner Autonomy in México. Her research interests are gamification and learner training for Learner Autonomy, Telecollaboration, and the impact of AI in SALCs.
Call for Papers
At this year’s JASAL conference we invite practitioners and researchers to examine how advising in language learning provides the essential human scaffolding for self-directed paths. Furthermore, we seek to analyze how emergent technologies, from AI-driven personalization to immersive digital environments, can be harnessed to support, rather than replace, the reflective process.
We welcome submissions on this and other self-access related topics, such as:
● Innovations in learning advising/counselling/coaching ● Influence of emergent technologies and AI on self-access ● Virtual self-access ● SAC design and layout ● Self-access and curriculum, learning program design ● Managing and administrating self-access centres ● Learning communities and learner involvement in SACs ● Student perspectives on SALL ● Assessment of self-access SALL ● Research design in SALL ● Professional development for SALL / Learning advisor education ● Promotion of SACs & SALL ● Lifelong learning ● Study abroad & SALL
Presentation Formats
We are accepting proposals for the following kinds of presentations. Please note that at this year’s conference we will have a limited number of online presentation slots available.
Research presentation (on-site or online) (20+5 mins)
Practices presentation (on-site or online) (15+10mins)
Workshop (on-site only) (45 mins)
Poster session (on-site only)
When submitting your proposal, please indicate if you are only able to accept an online presentation slot. All presenters should be JASAL members at time of registration. (To join JASAL, please send us an email, and include the information requested on the website.)
We welcome submissions in both English and Japanese. Please note that each presenter should be the lead presenter on only ONE submission, and may appear as a co-presenter on only one other submission. Once received, proposals will be blinded and peer-reviewed by at least two members of the JASAL board to ensure quality and relevance to JASAL.
Undergraduate students are welcome to submit to one of these formats with a member of staff (faculty member or administrator), but we encourage these students to participate in the dedicated student conference and other student-centred events, where they will have more opportunities to interact with peers.
JASAL Journal Volume 7, Issue 1 is now accepting submissions with a deadline of 28thFebruary, 2026. The issue will be edited by Maria Giovanna Tassinari, Christopher Phelps, and Bethan Kushida. Following on from the JASAL 2025 National Conference, the theme of this issue will be Emotions in Self-Access Language Learning,although we will consider all proposals related to self-access language learning. We especially encourage presenters at JASAL 2025 National Conference to submit, but submission is open to all JASAL members.
Please refer to the journal guidelines and send submissions by email (jasalorgATgmail.com), indicating if your paper is a research paper, a discussion of self-access center practices, a reflective article, or a book or conference review. Feel free to make enquiries to the editorial team by email if you are considering whether to submit a paper.
The 9th Annual JASAL Student Conference took place on December 6, 2025, bringing together 28 participants (15 presenters and 13 attendees) from 8 universities (Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University, Kanda University of International Studies, Konan Women’s University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Thompson Rivers University, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Ritsumeikan University, and Akita International University).
The conference featured 7 student presentations, accompanied by small-group discussions and action planning, fostering a supportive, cross-institutional space for exchanging ideas about student-led initiatives and practices.
Key themes that emerged
Motivation and learning culture: how SALCs can encourage sustained engagement by connecting language learning with identity, community, and cultural exchange.
Wellbeing, mental health, and inclusion (EDI): how learning spaces can support students as whole people, not only as language learners.
GenAI and learning: both the opportunities and tensions around AI use, especially for students preparing to become teachers.
Promotion and participation: practical strategies for outreach, especially social media approaches (e.g., Instagram/TikTok-style promotion), to address common challenges with turnout.
Shared challenges, diverse solutions: participants repeatedly noted that even when centres share similar goals, the “how” differs, often shaped by local context, student needs, and institutional purpose.
Over 20 conference delegates joined this year’s pre-conference SALC tour at APU’s SALC. We were first treated to a history of the SALC at APU by the Deputy Director of the Center for Language Education, Steven Pattison, and Lindsay Mack, who was involved in establishing the SALC in 2006.
Then students took the lead with some short workshop activities, where each table of participants were encouraged to share their opinions and experiences on a number of topics such as curriculum integration, support for learner autonomy and other topics.
Then we were given a tour of the SALC facilities and encouraged to speak to the different student staff on duty who explained the different spaces and services available in the SALC. The professionalism and enthusiasm of all the student staff was very inspiring to see, and it was great to connect with other SALC practitioners while exploring this very welcoming and innovative SALC.
In theJASAL2025 Conference Handbook, you will find essential information for both on-site and online attendees, including venue details at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and transportation options. It outlines the plenary session, full conference schedule, optional activities, and presentation abstracts. The handbook also features poster presentations, details about the upcoming online JASAL Student Conference, information on the JASAL Journal, partner organizations, and acknowledgements to APU.
Where? National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (Tokyo) – Room 307
When? Saturday, November 1st, 2025, 17:40 – 19:10
Who? Daniel Hooper (Tokyo Kasei University), Yuki Namiki (Tokyo Kasei University), Samuel Reid (Tokyo Kasei University) Suwako Uehara (The University of Electro-Communications), Conveners: Katherine Thornton (Otemon Gakuin University), Misato Saunders (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University)
What about? This year’s JASAL Forum explores two topics relevant for any self-access space: How to revitalise an underutilised SALC based on insights gained through needs analysis of student and faculty perspectives, and how an International Week event, in collaboration with faculty and other university departments, can enhance the visibility of global activities both within and beyond the university. Practical advice for implementing similar initiatives will be shared by the presenters and followed by a discussion.
The Japan Association for Self-Access Learning 