Top Ten Reasons You Want to Attend JALT2005

The JALT2005 is this weekend (October 7 - 10) in Shizuoka, about an hour from Tokyo. ELT News Think Tank columnist Marc Helgesen and vocabulary expert Rob Waring are conference co-chairs. Here is their top 10 list of reasons you should attend. (Brief info on the conference below with a link to the official website)

10. This is the biggest English Language Teaching event in Japan, probably the largest in Asia. Of course, just being big doesn’t equal good. But look at the program. This conference IS quality. See the conference schedule.

9. Over 400 presentations. Someone is talking about issues that concern you. Someone has ideas that will help you. And you probably have ideas that will help them.

8. Networking. With between 1700-2000 teachers in one place, you will find people who can help you with anything: ideas, jobs, class problems, solutions…

7. Think Tank Live. The on-line column is a hit on eltnews.com. Be there to ask your questions live to the Think Tank crew, Curtis Kelly and Chuck Sandy + David Nunan, Kumiko Torikai and Jenny Bassett. (more info on this ELT News-sponsored event)

6. The HUGE party after Think Tank Live. (I know it’s only ELT ­ but I like it!)

5. Ask the experts. A chance to ask your questions (about teaching, writing, whatever) to people like David Nunan, Mike McCarthy, Tim Murphey, Kathleen Graves and many others.

4. A HUGE Halloween party. This isn’t a JALT event but Shizuoka has a huge annual Halloween party. This year, it is on the Sunday night of JALT. Bring your costume. Info here. At JALT at the same time (Sunday evening) we’ll have Stories, Jazz, Wine and Cheese, which we think will be fascinating. Your choice.

3. The Story Space. This year’s theme is “Sharing our stories.” The story space is a place you can do storytelling, hear others or learn how to do it better.

2. The International Food Fair. When is that last time you had really good international food and home brew?

1. You. You’ve read this long list. We think that means you are an English teaching professional. Come to JALT2005. You’re a natural. You’ll learn a lot in the sessions and in your other conversations.

JALT 2005 - Sharing Our Stories
The Japan Association of Language Teaching (JALT) will hold its 31st Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exposition at Granship, in Shizuoka, Japan during October 7-10 this fall. The theme of this year's conference is "Sharing Our Stories." JALT's annual conference attracts over two thousand teachers, professors, academics, and administrators every year, and serves as a one-stop shopping and education center that caters to the diverse needs of people in the educational field. The annual conference features hundreds of workshops, presentations, and lectures, and guests can browse through Asia's largest exposition of learning and educational materials. It is an ideal opportunity for teaching professionals to select teaching/learning materials for their students for the following school year. For more information on JALT2005, see the official conference website

Need a ride to Shizuoka? Have questions about the JALT conference, accommodation or the venue? Why not make use of our message board?

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