Will you be in Kyoto for JALT PanSIG on 12th-14th May 2023? If so, why not join on the Friday afternoon for a SAC tour at Beyond Borders Plaza (BBP) Ritsumeikan University, Kinugasa Campus? This is our first SAC tour since before the pandemic hit, and we look forward to being able to meet and discuss all things self-access in the stimulating environment of a self-access centre. Join us for this casual event which is free to all.

The tour will take place between 3:30pm and 5:30pm.

Sign up here by Monday, 8th May.

Details about BBP Kinugasa can be found here.

If you are attending the JALT conference in Fukuoka this year (or from the comfort of your home) please join us for the online JASAL Forum this year!

Sunday, November 13, 10:45-12:15 (online)

Motivation in self-access learning: listening to student experiences

Staying motivated is one of the most difficult aspects of learning a language beyond the classroom. In this year’s JASAL forum, we will explore issues related to learner motivation through two presentations and discussion. Gerardine McCrohan will share results of a study of regular self-access centre users, while Etsuko Yamada will report on a project which investigated the impact on students of hearing international students’ stories of their language learning experiences. The presentations will be followed by discussion.

The presentations will be prerecorded videos, but we have plenty of time for fruitful discussion and networking too! If you couldn’t make it for JASAL2022 or are already missing your JASAL fix, come and join us!

(Contrary to the abstract in the JALT Program, both presentations will be in English.)

Here is a one-page schedule for Saturday’s conference. Please refer to the full program – see below or the conference page – for abstracts and further information.

If you have booked a spot on the charter bus to attend JASAL2022 at AIU on Saturday, please board the bus from Bus Stop 5 on the EAST side of Akita Station – see map below. Please note, this is NOT the West side where there is a bigger bus terminal. The bus will leave at 9am so please arrive in good time. There are still a few spaces available on the bus.

If you do not intend to take the bus, and will travel by public transport, please note that you need to be on the 08:09 train to Wada station from Akita, to pick up the 08:35 bus that will take you to AIU.

After the conference, we will get the 18:35 local bus to Wada station to return to Akita. Please note that this is the last bus of the day so please make sure to take it if you want to avoid getting a taxi.

For those coming straight from the airport, you may be able to share a taxi with other JASAL participants. There is a natural meeting place by the Namahage masks in the airport lobby. A taxi should cost around ¥2000.

A basic schedule for our JASAL2022 National Conference, held at and co-sponsored by Akita International University, is now available. Further information about presentations will be released in the coming weeks. Be sure to register by Friday 30th September if you are planning on attending on-site in Akita, so we can reserve lunches and transportation for the venue. If you register after that, please make your own way to AIU on public transport. Online participants should register and submit payment by Thurs, October 20th. See the conference page for more information.