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.
The Japan Association for Self-Access Learning 