Nagano JALT

25/03/2026

AI is changing education faster than ever before. But what does this mean for English teaching in Japan? Join us for a discussion with Brett Maxwell on the future of language learning in the age of AI.

Who and what will be replaced by AI? Who and what won’t be replaced by AI?

How will AI evolve the process of language learning and teaching in Japan? How will the roles of Japanese (JTs) and native (NTs) English teachers change? AI tools will profoundly impact language learning methods and the career paths of language teaching professionals. As principal of Matsumoto Shuho Secondary School, it is my mission to create its strategy and mid/long-term plan. It’s my job to see, plan and create the future. Let’s discuss and together, see the future clearly.

Born in Sydney, Australia. Brett was raised primarily in Brisbane. After earning a Bachelor of Education degree from Queensland University of Technology, he completed a Graduate Certificate in TESOL and a Master of Education focusing on linguistic education from Griffith University, and later MBA in project management from the University of New England. He has worked in the private and public education sectors in Australia and Japan for over 35 years. He started his career as a physical education and science teacher, becoming an English teacher, and later established an English language school chain in Kanagawa Prefecture, while also being involved in educational development projects in private schools throughout Japan. Prior to becoming the principal of Matsumoto Shūhō Secondary School, Brett served as principal of private junior and senior high schools in Kyoto and Yokohama. He and his wife, who is from Shanghai, are permanent residents of Japan, raising their son to have three first languages.

Date: April 11th, Satuday, 10-12pm
Fee: Free for members, 500 yen for non-members
Location: Matsumoto M-wing (https://maps.app.goo.gl/2BFvsah4P4oberBy7)
Registration: https://forms.gle/KWV8t8o1KxCi63Fs8

23/05/2025

The weather’s warming up - a great time to spark new ideas for your classes! Join Greg Goodmacher for a hands-on workshop on creating fun and meaningful ESL materials focused on global issues and intercultural communication. Perfect for teachers and writers looking to freshen things up.

Date: June 21st, Saturday, 14-17:00
Location: Matsumoto M-Wing https://maps.app.goo.gl/H8Y3M55yYbThyrR36
(in-person only!)
Fee: Free for members, 500 yen for non-members
Registration: https://forms.gle/vmTGTXCotY1QcFik8

This practical workshop is for teachers/writers who want to improve themselves as developers of educational materials for global/social issues and intercultural communication content-based ESL classes. The presenter will discuss principles regarding the teaching of global issues content-based ESL and show examples of materials he has created or adapted for content-based ESL courses. The principles and materials creation techniques apply to almost all content-based courses, so this workshop will benefit most teachers/writers. The attendees and the presenter will discuss ways to extract important language and content points that fit the requirements of various courses. Many procedures and concepts apply to classrooms for children and older learners, so there should be something for everyone. During the presentation, attendees will have fun working in small groups to analyze various media texts and realia (e.g., maps, newspapers, YouTube videos, etc.) for teaching possibilities and create educational materials that help students with both input and output of language and content.

Greg Goodmacher's passion in TEFL/TESL is educational materials development. He has authored seven textbooks, contributed to many others, and written articles on creating teaching materials.

21/03/2025

Just in time with the start of a new academic school year, Nagano JALT is proud to announce our next presentation will be from a long standing veteran of our chapter - Mark Brierley.

Date: April 5th, Saturday, 10-12:30pm
Location: Matsumoto M-Wing https://maps.app.goo.gl/H8Y3M55yYbThyrR36
(in-person only!)
Fee: Free for members, 500 yen for non-members
Registration: https://forms.gle/MkVCgGFeqwdnPT668

What happens when a long career is interrupted? We live in a time of disruption for entire industries, professions, and institutions. After nearly two decades teaching at a university, I found myself facing an unexpected year outside the classroom, returning to work in April 2025.

This talk will explore what it has meant to leave and to return both personally and professionally, as well as in the context of academic labour, job security, and employment law. What does it mean to be “employable” in an era where experience can be both an asset and a liability? How do shifting policies, institutional changes, and evolving expectations shape the modern workplace?

We’ll also consider the role of collective action in times of professional uncertainty. Unions can be a vital lifeline for those navigating job insecurity, providing support when institutions fail to act in the interests of the individuals who make them up. We will also ask whether professional associations could or should do more to represent and support teachers when things are not running smoothly. How can we strengthen the mechanisms that actually protect educators while maintaining good relationships with their employers?

This session invites reflection on the nature of work, resilience, and how careers and workplaces are being reshaped in the 21st century.

About Mark:
Mark Brierley teaches English at Shinshu University in Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture. He edits the JALT ER SIG newsletter and works on the Extensive Reading Foundation Placement Test. As well as Extensive Reading he is interested in Low Energy Building

12/03/2025

Shinshu University will be having an Extensive Reading workshop!

This event is for all languages (not only English), any educators are welcome to attend.

Send a message to learn more

12/02/2025

A video recording of our last event as well as a copy of the presenter's slides can now be found on our website:

On February the 9th, Nagano JALT held our first event of the year “Moving up as an ALT” with Michelle Martinie and Jason Smith. We have uploaded a video recording of the presentation an…

08/02/2025

Important update:

Tomorrow's event will still continue as planned but due to heavy snow being forecast for all of the weekend, we have changed this event to an online only event.

Hope to see many of you there on Zoom.

27/01/2025

Edit: Due to heavy snow forecast for all of today and tomorrow this event has been changed to an ONLINE ONLY EVENT
The event will continue as planned, but there will be no in-person component.

Date: 2/9, Sunday 10-12:30pm
Location: online/zoom
Fee: Free for members and online attendees, 500 yen for non-members
Registration: https://forms.gle/8q5nEkQqAEcwDh6j9

To kickoff the year 2025, Nagano JALT will be hosting Michelle Martinie and Jason Smith as they share the experiences from their journeys to become licensed teachers in Japan.

Pursuing a Career as a Licensed Teacher in Japan – Michelle Martinie
Abstract
The intention of this lecture is to introduce the specialist teacher licensing process (“tokubetsu menkyou”) in Nagano Prefecture and other locations around Japan. The speaker will use a research-based approach to predict potential benefits to student progress as well as career benefits for educators.

Bio
Michelle Martinie is from The United States. She has lived in Japan since 2011, originally working as an Assistant Language Teacher. She currently teaches Visual Art and English Communication and Expression at Matsumoto Kokusai High School.

Teaching Solo: Becoming a Foreign Teacher of English – Jason Smith
Abstract
In April of 2024, Jason started working as the first foreign full-time instructor (講師) at Matsumoto Agatagaoka High School. His presentation will cover the process he underwent to get his position and his experience of it so far. He’ll also compare it to both his experience as an ALT and his training/education as an English teacher in the United States.

Bio
Jason was born and raised in the state of Nevada in the United States. He attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he received his BA in Secondary Education (English) and his MS in Counseling and Educational Psychology with emphasis in Information Technology in Education. In 2004 he came to Nagano on the JET Programme and just never left. Until April of 2024 he worked as an ALT in Azumino and Matsumoto as well as in various eikaiwa. As of last April, he started working as a full-time instructor at Matsumoto Agatagaoka High School, the first foreigner to be so hired in Nagano.

In what spare time he has, he can usually be found dealing with the antics of his sons and his dog or nose down in a book.