The JASAL2026 conference kicked off with a tour of the Language Learning Center (LLC) on Friday evening. Over 20 people joined the event. Firstly, academic and student staff gave an introductory presentation about the centre, which was founded in 2012, and then we had the chance to explore the facilities ourselves, with student staff explaining various aspects of the materials, sections and services, such as the Manga Garden, and the Speaking Program. It was interesting to hear how the student staff teams are organised, and to see evidence of their creativity and hard work all over the facilities.

Access here too!

Date: Saturday, December 5th
Time: 09:30-13:00
Format: Online (Zoom meeting)

Theme: Learning Together, Finding Our Own Way

There are two ways to participate:

Option 1

Give a 10-minute presentation on your own or with a group. Think about your learning centre, your experience as student staff, or your own learning in the centre. Share something you have tried, a challenge you have faced, or an idea you would like to try. Your presentation should be connected to your learning centre.

Submit your summary using the registration form by November 27th, 2026: Registration Form

Option 2

Join without giving a presentation

Register using the form by December 1st, 2026: Registration Form

Learn more about the conference here

We, the organizers of Student Conference, are looking forward to seeing you at our online event and hearing your stories about self-access and/or language-learning journeys!

The preliminary conference programme for JASAL2026 at Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT), Omiya Campus is now available. Access it HERE or from the conference page, where you can find all sorts of other useful information.

The 7th Annual JASAL Student Forum was held online on Saturday 11 July 2026, bringing together student staff from Self-Access Learning Centres (SALCs) across Japan.

For the first time, the forum was supported by a student team, who designed the discussion questions, helped moderate the groups, and introduced a shared notes document with rotating leaders and notetakers.

Discussions covered approaches to language study, attracting and retaining students, and measuring SALC effectiveness, with participants swapping practical ideas from language exchange programmes to social media campaigns.

Feedback was very positive with everyone reporting speaking a lot and each participant left with concrete plans for their own centre. As one student put it, the forum “allows a lot of students from all over Japan to connect with each other.” We look forward to an even more student-centred forum in 2027.

Read Volume 7, Issue 1 here!

Continuing the theme from JASAL2025 National Conference, this issue focuses on emotions in self-access language learning and covers a variety of topics of interest to self-access researchers and practitioners.

Congratulations to all the authors, and thank you for your valuable contribution to the growing body of shared knowledge in the field of self-access language learning. A big thank you too to the reviewers and the editorial team for their hard work in the publication process.

We hope you enjoy reading this!

JASAL Journal Volume 7, Issue 2 is now accepting submissions with a deadline of 31st August, 2026. The issue will be edited by Ewen MacDonald and Haruka Ubukata. As this is a general issue, we welcome proposals on a wide range of topics related to self-access language learning. 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.

Friday 12th June – 16:30-17:45
(pre-JALT CALL)

Before the JALT CALL workshops started, Brent Jones and his team gave a wonderful tour of Konan University’s Nishinomiya Campus’s O-Zone self-access and other Cube facilities at Konan University!

It was great to hear about your set-up, and all the events and initiatives you’re providing!

If you couldn’t join us this time, look out for future tours!

Saturday, July 11th
10:00 -12:00
Online

Hello everyone,

We are proud to announce our 7th annual JASAL Student Forum 2026!

This event is a unique opportunity for SALC student staff, volunteers, and students who regularly use their SALC and want to make a difference to come together with peers from various universities for a lively and meaningful discussion.

Whether you’re supporting your SALC as a staff member or just love using the space to improve your language skills and connect with others, this is your chance to:

•  Share your ideas and experiences

•  Learn how other students run their SALC and engage with language learners

•  Feel inspired by new ideas and creative approaches

•  Keep the conversation going before and after the event on Discord

Teachers, advisors, and administrators are also welcome to join as listeners or supporters, but please note that this forum is designed especially for students to speak and lead the conversation.

Please register using the form below by July 7th, 2026.

https://forms.gle/j68D6X7LTCrf1i63A

We look forward to seeing you there!

Colin Mitchell
Hisako Yamashita
JASAL Student Involvement Coordinators

※ Please note that this is a student conference. We only accept submissions from students. For more information on the JASAL National Conferences please see this page.