Okinawa JALT

Countdown - Global Summit 2026 🚀 One Week to Go - Final Countdown to the Global Summit! Seven days. The Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2026 begins one week from Friday. If you are attending - here is your final checklist. If you are not - there is still time to register as an onsite attendee! Your Pre-Conference Checklist Registration Confirm you are registered Check your confirmation email. If you have not registered, onsite registration is available Oct 9-11. Hotel Your accommodation is booked If not - act immediately. Options may still be available but fill fast during festival weekend. Travel Flights or transport arranged Naha Airport connects to all major Japanese cities. The Yui Rail takes you to central Naha in 15 minutes. Programme Review the conference schedule Full programme available at our conference website. Digital Presenters Video submitted and confirmed All digital presenters should have received screening confirmation. What Awaits You 🎤 Presentations Language educato...

Visitor's Guide - Naha Okinawa 🌴 What to Do in Naha - A Conference Attendee's Guide Coming to Okinawa for the Global Summit? Here is your insider guide to making the most of your time in one of Japan's most vibrant, culturally rich, and delicious cities. Getting Around Naha 🚝 Yui Rail (Monorail) - Connects Naha Airport to central Naha and most major hotels. Fast, cheap, and easy to navigate even without Japanese. 🚕 Taxis - Widely available and reasonably priced for getting between neighborhoods. 🚲 Cycling - Bike rentals available near the main tourist areas. Flat terrain makes cycling easy around central Naha. Must-See in Naha 🏯 Shuri Castle The restored palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A short monorail ride from central Naha. 🛍️ Kokusai-dori Okinawa's famous International Street - 1.6km of shops, restaurants, and local crafts. Perfect for an evening stroll. 🐠 Makishi Public Market The beating heart of Naha's food culture. Fr...

Conference Update 🎉 Proposals Accepted - Global Summit 2026 Presenter Lineup! The proposal deadline has passed and our programme committee has been at work. We are thrilled to announce that the Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2026 will feature an outstanding and diverse lineup of presentations. A Strong Response We received proposals from language educators across Japan and internationally - covering Technology in ELT, Culture and Global Context, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The quality and diversity of submissions reflects the growing reputation of the Okinawa JALT Global Summit as a serious and welcoming venue for language education research. Presentation Categories 🎤 Conference Talks - Presentations across all three conference themes, Friday and Saturday 🤝 Interactive Workshops - Hands-on sessions for participants, Friday only (limited seats) 📋 Poster Sessions - Saturday and Sunday interactive poster presentations 💻 Digital Presentations - Pre-recorded video submissions sc...

Teaching in Okinawa 🌊 Teaching in Okinawa - A Unique and Rewarding Context Okinawa is unlike any other teaching environment in Japan. The islands sit at a cultural, geographic, and linguistic crossroads that creates challenges and opportunities you will not find anywhere else. A Multilingual Island History Okinawa has its own indigenous languages - the Ryukyuan languages, recognized by UNESCO as endangered - alongside Japanese and a significant English-language presence driven by tourism, international business, and the US military bases. This multilingual backdrop gives language education here a depth and urgency that educators on the mainland rarely encounter. Students in Okinawa bring a unique mix of motivations to the language classroom. For some, English is a daily practical necessity. For others, it opens doors to study abroad, tourism careers, or academic research. For ALTs and university instructors, understanding these varied motivations is the first step to effective te...

Chapter Initiative - Publications 📖 Introducing the Okinawa JALT Journal! A dream years in the making is finally becoming reality. Okinawa JALT is launching its own annual practitioner-oriented journal - a platform built by and for language educators right here in the Ryukyu Islands. President Norman Fewell first proposed this idea during his previous presidency. The time was not right then - but it is now. The Okinawa JALT Journal will be a digital-first, open-access publication serving as both a practitioner journal and the official proceedings outlet for our conferences and events. Mission To document, share, and refine effective language teaching practices by empowering practitioners, supporting reflective writing, and building a strong professional community in Okinawa. Who Is It For? 👩‍🏫 Classroom Teachers All levels and contexts - share what works in your classroom. 🎓 University Instructors Adjuncts and full-time faculty with practical insights to share. 📚 Graduate S...

Chapter Initiative - Governance 🏛️ Building a Stronger Foundation - OkiJALT's New Advisory Boards Experience never retires. Okinawa JALT is formalizing four distinct advisory and leadership boards to draw on the wisdom of past leaders, build bridges with local universities, and elevate our chapter's academic standing. This proposal, submitted by President Norman Fewell, creates a layered advisory structure that keeps experienced voices engaged without giving them decision-making authority. All boards are purely advisory - supporting the elected Executive Board while bringing invaluable perspective and prestige to our chapter. The Four Proposed Boards 🌟 01 - Presidential Council Mentorship - Continuity - Awards Composed of all former Okinawa JALT Presidents, this council provides high-level mentorship to the sitting President, safeguards leadership continuity across terms, and serves as the selection body for the chapter's Lifetime Achievement Award. 💼 02 - Executi...

Chapter Initiative - Leadership 👥 Expanding Our Leadership Team - Two New Officer Positions Okinawa JALT is growing - and our leadership structure is growing with it. Two new officer positions have been proposed to distribute responsibilities more effectively and bring new talent into the heart of our chapter. President Norman Fewell submitted this proposal on June 3, 2026, noting that expanded officer roles benefit the chapter in multiple ways - increasing member involvement, providing meaningful professional development titles for CVs and job evaluations, and ensuring smoother leadership transitions. Proposed Position 1: Vice President 🌟 Vice President The Vice President supports the President in all chapter operations, represents Okinawa JALT at regional and national JALT events, and takes a leading role in membership recruitment and retention. This is an ideal preparation role for future chapter leadership. Key responsibilities: - Co-develop and implement the annual chapte...

Chapter Initiative - Partnerships 🤝 Expanding Our Global Network - OkiJALT Partnership Strategy Okinawa JALT is reaching out across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region to build new connections, revive existing relationships, and open doors for our members through a structured strategic partnership expansion. Strong relationships with peer organizations are essential for growing our visibility, sharing resources, and creating richer opportunities. President Norman Fewell has proposed a comprehensive partnership strategy that targets local chapters, national SIGs, and international TESOL affiliates. Renewing Existing Agreements These current partnerships will be reactivated and strengthened with new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs): 🤝 Hokkaido JALT Chapter 🌏 KOTESOL - Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter (and potentially national) 🎭 PIE SIG (Performance in Education Special Interest Group) New JALT Partnerships Targeted Pursuing formal cooperation agreements with additional JALT chapters ...