Awards & Recognition 🏆 Celebrating Excellence - OkiJALT Awards & Recognition One of the most cherished traditions of Okinawa JALT is recognizing and celebrating the outstanding work of language educators in our community. Over the years, OkiJALT has presented awards at our conferences and chapter events to honor educators who go above and beyond in their presentations, research, and contributions to the field of language teaching. The Michele Steele "Best of JALT" Award In recognition of those who have delivered the best presentations at JALT chapter events, the Michele Steele "Best of JALT" award is highly sought and greatly respected. Recent recipients include: 🏅 Rab Paterson 🏅 Honami Kimoto 🏅 Aya Yamauchi 🏅 Mitsuki Saito MBP - Multimedia Book Review Presentations The MBP is a beloved Okinawa JALT tradition where educators deliver creative, media-rich presentations based on a book o...
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Chapter History 📜 45 Years of Conferences - A Look Back at OkiJALT History From humble beginnings in 1980, Okinawa JALT has grown into one of JALT's most respected chapters, hosting world-class conferences and attracting international scholars to our beautiful island. 1980 Founded 2016 Hosted PanSIG 2021 40th Anniversary 300+ Events Hosted Recent Highlights October 2024 21st Century Language Teaching Conference Held at Tiruru Gender Equality Center, Naha. 30+ presenters, published proceedings on Amazon. Co-sponsored with TYL SIG and ALL SIG. August 2023 Summer Symposium - Tiruru, Naha Keynote speakers Diane Nagatomo and Tomoko Nemoto. Co-organized with MW SIG and LLL SIG. ...
Urgent - Conference 2026 ⏰ Last Call - Proposal Deadline is July 31! Nine days. That is all the time left to submit your proposal for the Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2026. Do not let this opportunity pass. Why Submit? 🎤 Share Your Work Present to an international audience of language educators from across Japan and beyond. 📋 Build Your CV A conference presentation at an internationally recognized JALT event is a strong addition to any academic CV or job evaluation report. 💻 Go Digital Cannot travel? Submit a pre-recorded digital presentation - open to all, no travel required, just ¥4,000. 🏆 Win an Award Four awards will be presented at the closing ceremony - Best Presentation, Best Poster, Best Poster Presenter, and Best Digital Presentation. Submission Options - Something for Everyone 🎤 Conference Talk - 20 min + 5 min Q&A (Fri & Sat) 🤝 Interactive Workshop - 40 min, hands-on (Fri only, limited spots) 📋 Poster Presentation - 45-min sessions Sat & Sun, A0 portr...
Chapter Leadership 🤝 Meet Our 2025-26 Chapter Officers Okinawa JALT is run entirely by dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy to support language educators across the Ryukyu Islands. Here is a look at the team for 2025-26. Behind every event, every newsletter, and every meeting is a group of passionate educators working hard to make OkiJALT the welcoming and vibrant community it is. A huge thank you to all of our officers! Role Officer President Norman Fewell Vice President Koji Namihira Treasurer Eng Hai Tan Membership Chair David Kluge Public Relations Chair Roy Kemm Program Chair George MacLean Publicity Chair Brian Gallagher Publications Chair Adam Murray Website Admin Max Diaz Translator Kaori Hakone Interested in getting involved? Okinawa JALT is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with events, communications, and more...
Membership 🌏 Join JALT - Membership Guide for Okinawa Educators Joining JALT is one of the best investments you can make in your teaching career. Here is everything you need to know about membership types, fees, and what you get. Membership Types & Annual Fees Type Fee Best For Regular ¥13,000 Full-time language teachers in Japan 5-Year ¥52,000 Best value - save 20% over 5 years Student / Senior ¥7,000 Full-time students or age 65+ Overseas ¥11,000 Members not currently in Japan Joint ¥10,500 pp 2 people at the same address Group ¥8,500 pp Groups of 5 or more What You Get ✓ The Language Teacher - bimonthly flagship journal ✓ JALT Journal - peer-reviewed research journal ✓ 1 Chapter...
Resources 📚 Our Favorite Teaching Resources for English Educators Over the years, Okinawa JALT members have gathered a trusted collection of online tools and websites that make a real difference in the classroom. Here are some of our favorites. Whether you are looking for ready-made worksheets, authentic listening practice, or creative ways to engage students, the sites below are tried and tested by language educators right here in Okinawa. Top Sites for English Teachers 🌐 UsingEnglish.com A huge collection of tools and ready-made handouts for English teachers at all levels. 📺 BBC Learning English Considered by many the best site for authentic English educational materials for both teachers and students. 📰 VOA Learning English Established in 1959, VOA has one of the most extensive collect...
Upcoming Conference 🎯 JALT2026 - Mark Your Calendar! One of Asia's largest language education conferences is coming up. The JALT International Conference 2026 promises to be an unforgettable gathering of educators, researchers, and language teaching professionals. 📅 Dates: November 20-22, 2026 📍 Venue: WINC AICHI, Nagoya 🎯 Theme: Beyond the Classroom - From Local Voice to Global Impact 👥 Expected Attendance: 1,500+ educators from around the world JALT2026 brings together language educators for three days of presentations, workshops, and a massive materials exhibition featuring 55+ publishers. Whether you are presenting your research, browsing the latest teaching materials, or simply connecting with colleagues, the JALT International Conference is the highlight of the language teaching calendar in Japan. Why Attend? 🎤 World-Class Speakers International schol...
Weekly Event 💻 Join Us Every Friday - OkiJALT & PIE SIG Zoom Social! Every Friday evening, Okinawa JALT and the PIE SIG (Performance in Education Special Interest Group) open the virtual doors for a casual, friendly gathering of language educators from around the world. No agenda, no pressure - just good conversation with fellow teachers at the end of the week. Share what is happening in your classroom, ask questions, swap ideas, or simply relax and connect with people who understand the joys and challenges of language teaching in Japan. Non-members are welcome! You do not need to be a JALT member to join the Friday Zoom Social. Come as you are. Event Details 📅 When: Every Friday 🕖 Time: 19:30 to 21:30 JST 💻 Platform: Zoom 🔢 Meeting ID: 781 953 0104 🌏 Open to: Everyone - members and non-members welcome! Click to Join Zoom → The Friday Zoom Social is co-hosted with our affiliate, the ...
Save the Date 🗓️ Mark Your Calendars for December in Naha This December, Okinawa JALT will host its International Conference on Trends in Language, Culture, and Education — three days in Naha bringing together educators from across Japan and beyond. The conference runs December 27–29, 2026 , right here in Naha City. It's the latest in a line of major international gatherings our chapter has hosted over the years, and this one continues that tradition with a focus on where language teaching, culture, and education intersect — a theme that speaks directly to what makes teaching in Okinawa so distinctive. Whether you've presented at an Okinawa JALT conference before or you're considering your first, this is shaping up to be one of the year's highlights. We'll share the call for presentations, registration details, and venue information as they're finalized — but for now, the dates are worth locking in. Why It's Worth the Trip ...