Sessions

Implementing Effective Professional Development

Japan’s Ministry of Education has identified professional development (PD) as necessary for innovating its education system (Murakami, 2019). However, effective PD must be context-specific (Guskey, 2003; Kinugawa & Tachi, 2003; Richards, 2010). This presentation shares three years of feedback on PD conducted for lecturers at a Japanese university. The perceived value of PD opportunities depended on many factors. The presenter will address the affordances and challenges in creating PD programs while demonstrating this program’s evolution.

GILE SIG Annual General Meeting

This is the annual general meeting for the Global Issues in Language Education SIG. We will give an update of what has happened over the last year and hold elections to fill officer positions. Come join us if you are already a member or thinking of joining. New ideas and perspectives are always welcome!

Engaging in Effective Reflective Practice

Reflective practice (RP) is one of the most effective forms of teacher development as it helps educators understand both what they are doing and why they are doing it. However, for it to be useful, RP must be systematic (Farrell, 2019). The presenters, who are experienced reflective practitioners, will briefly introduce the principles of RP before leading participants through a guided RP session. The workshop will conclude with the presenters sharing other ways to engage in RP so that participants leave with ideas for how to implement it for their professional development. Our hope is that the experience of having reflected on their own teaching with others will motivate them to continue engaging in such practices in their own contexts. The presentation will be in English, but participants are welcome to engage in RP in any language during the guided session.