The first ever JASAL Online Panel Discussion was held on 25th March, 2020. Katherine Thornton led the discussion, in which questions and topics suggested by JASAL members were discussed by our three highly knowledgeable panelists, below, with some contributions by other attendees. There was plenty of informal but informative discussion on a range of topics, including the setting up of a new center, materials lending systems and the practicalities of running SAC and advising services during the pandemic situation.
Sarah Toogood
Hong Kong Baptist University
Sarah Toogood is a past president of the Hong Kong Association for Self-Access Learning and Development (HASALD). She has over 25 years of experience as an adviser, SALL materials and course developer, and researcher. Her main claim to fame is devising the FTG (Focused, Transfer, General) practice framework used as ‘bamboo’ scaffolding in advising and SALL course integration.
Isra Wongsarnpigoon
Kanda University of International Studies
Isra Wongsarnpigoon is a learning advisor and resource coordinator at the Self-Access Learning Center at Kanda University of International Studies. His interests include learner autonomy, language learning spaces, and multilingualism in language education.
Mikiko Fukutome
Yamanashi Gakuin University
Mikiko Fukutome completed the Master TESOL Program of Tsuda University in Tokyo. She has been working as a language learning advisor at the International College of Liberal Arts at Yamanashi Gakuin University since 2016.
The Japan Association for Self-Access Learning 