PAC7 at JALT2008

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Professional Development Workshops

This year, JIC is piloting a series of Professional Development (PD) workshops. We are always looking for ways to improve opportunities for language professionals in Japan and Asia, and we hope that workshop participants will leave with an enriched outlook on their situations and prospects.

Tips: Giving presentations at academic conferences

Andy Boon

  • Friday, 10:55 am - 11:55 am, Room 102
  • Saturday, 5:20 pm - 6:20 pm, Room 102

As a teacher-researcher, presenting one's work at an academic conference can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, facilitating valuable insights for both presenter and audience, and providing an essential means of professional self-development. The presenter will provide a number of tips for preparing and giving presentations at academic conferences or JALT chapter events, with the aim of encouraging potential new presenters to get up there and give it a go!

Google services for chapter maintenance

Kent Hill

  • Friday, 12:05 pm - 1:05 pm, Room 102
  • Sunday, 12:05 pm - 1:05 pm, Room 102

Coordination between officers at the chapter level can often be disjointed and time consuming. As a new JALT chapter, Wakayama struggled to smooth out the consensual planning, the gathering, sharing, and decision making that needs to occur between meetings. The new and free Google online services, such as Gmail, Calendar, Documents, and Maps, can help. Notably, all communications can easily be shared or archived, with accounts passed on to future officers for quick reference.

Conducting a job search in Japan: The EFL market

Mark Zeid and Kent Hill

  • Friday, 1:50 - 2:50 pm, Room 306

This workshop will discuss where to find jobs through ads and Internet sources, how to network with others, how to do cold calling in Japan, and how to market yourself - all to improve your job opportunities.

Getting started in ELT: Publishing and presenting

Darren Lingley

  • Friday, 4:10 pm - 5:10 pm, Room 102
  • Sunday, 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm, Room 102

This workshop targets young ELT practitioners interested in securing a university post. It frames PD as reflective teaching practice based on the sharing/feedback cycle of research, methods, and ideas. The first part will introduce participants to the academic publishing process, discuss evaluation criteria and standards, and profile e-journal options such as the Asian EFL Journal. The second part describes a successful two-part PD presentation project for young teachers, initiated by East Shikoku JALT.

Resume workshop

Mark Zeid

  • Friday, 5:20 pm - 6:20 pm, Room 102
  • Saturday, 1:50 - 2:50 pm, Room 306

This workshop will focus on how to improve your resume and what recruiters are looking for in resumes. Tips and suggestions for resumes, those both submitted electronically and through the post, will be presented. Also, tips will be given for job interviews and how to prepare for them.

Networking in Japan for PD

Michael Stout

  • Saturday, 9:50 am - 10:50 am, Room 102

Networking is important for PD. This is true for individuals and JALT chapters alike. We all need to connect to others naturally. Freely chosen, unconditional networks are a great resource for every aspect of PD from lesson planning to career advancement. Further, for JALT members, chapter and SIG links with the community are just as organic and deserve your attention.

Getting a job in Japanese academia: Avoiding pitfalls

Debito Arudou

  • Saturday, 4:10 pm - 5:10 pm, Room 102
  • Sunday, 9:50 am - 10:50 am, Room 102

Japanese academia is in crisis. Although demand for language education is not in jeopardy, the number of secure jobs for both Japanese and non-Japanese is shrinking, as contracted work replaces tenure. The times require job searches with eyes wide open. This workshop will give some advice on how to avoid the potentially lousy jobs, some job-condition benchmarks, and some things to ask your potential employer before taking a job that could have no secure future.

Making your presentation remembered

Andrew Johnson

  • Saturday, 12:05 pm - 1:05 pm, Room 102

Having the potential both to damage our career and to bring about exciting new career possibilities, presentations are something we all have to do. The goal of this workshop will be to provide advice on how to improve your presentation skills so that your presentations stand out and are remembered well after they are over.

Financial security for English professionals

Trent Spriggs

  • Sunday, 12:05 pm - 1:05 pm, Room 410

Trent graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in 1990; in 1999 he started his own consultancy, helping businesses get started and assisting talented people who want to reach new markets. This workshop is for educators who want to become English entrepreneurs or for teachers who want a more secure financial future.