Lifelong Language Learning SIG’s Mini Conference / ETJ Tokyo English Language Teaching Convention
We are excited to announce the Lifelong Language Learning SIG Mini Conference 2026. This event will be held in conjunction with the ETJ (English Teachers of Japan) Tokyo Convention and the details are as follows:
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Location: Otsuma Women’s University, Tokyo Building G
Presentations will be held throughout the day and are all 45 minutes in length.
Conference fee: ¥1000
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
The weather forecast for Tokyo on Sunday is light to moderate snow.
This won’t affect the convention itself but there is a possibility that transportation will be slower than usual especially in the early morning. It would be worth taking this into consideration when getting to the convention.
Each presentation at the convention is independent from the other presentations, so you can come and go as you please.
See the full program of the conference here: https://living4now.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ETJ-Presentation-Schedule-2026.pdf
All talks in the LLL Stream will take place in room 335.
11:15 – 12:00
The teacher wears no clothes: performance over pedagogy
Timothy Ang
The Teacher Wears No Clothes: Performance over Pedagogy This presentation examines a facet of teaching practice in which visibility, positivity, and inspiration may overshadow instructional substance. Drawing on research in teacher identity and language learning, it distinguishes pedagogical labour from performance and argues that effective teaching depends on evidence-informed, curriculum-aligned practice rather than narrative or symbolic validation.
Timothy Ang is currently teaching English at the LEAP Program for Toyo University. His current research focuses on student motivation and autonomy, ICT in language learning, and curriculum development.
1:00 – 1:45
Cultivating happier learners: Practical WOOP strategies for the language classroom
Chiyuki Yanase
This presentation applies WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan), a goal-setting strategy grounded in motivation research (Oettingen, 2014), to language classrooms. Practical classroom applications will be shared to enhance learner wellbeing, engagement, and agency, helping students reflect on goals, overcome challenges, and develop a positive, growth-oriented learning mindset.
Aimed at: University students
Chiyuki Yanase is a lecturer at several universities in the Tokyo area and has taught English for over 30 years in a variety of educational settings. Her current research focuses on developing teacher and learner wellbeing.
2:15 – 3:00
Mental health support in Japan
Royanne Doi
Nearly everyone, including teachers and students, will have mental health challenges in their lives. A representative of TELL, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing support and counseling services to Japan’s international community, will discuss the mental health landscape in Japan and the resources available.
Aimed at: Lifelong language learners, Language school students, Vocational school students, Preschool students, Elementary school students, Junior and senior high school students, University students
Royanne Doi is TELL’s Executive Director as well as an outside director of Gojo & Company, a social impact start-up company investing in micro-finance banks in emerging markets.
3:30 – 4:15
An introduction to the world of intercultural simulations
Joseph Dias
The presenter will provide participants the opportunity to experience some enjoyable intercultural simulations that can be used with students to illustrate how we can recognize hidden assumptions, understand differing communication styles, and move from ethnocentrism to recognizing shared humanity and flexible strategies for cross-cultural success.
Aimed at: Lifelong language learners, Language school students, Vocational school students, Junior and senior high school students, University students
Joseph Dias coordinates the Integrated English Program for the English Department of Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.
4:45 – 5:30
The peer effect: Unlocking the social brain for powerful English learning
Mariana Oana Senda
Drawing on neuroscience, neuroeducation, and extensive TESOL experience, this presentation shows how student–student relationships activate the social brain and accelerate English learning. Practical strategies—including pairing students to create short movies—demonstrate how collaboration reduces anxiety, boosts motivation, and builds powerful conditions for meaningful communication and lasting language development.
Aimed at: Lifelong language learners, Language school students, Vocational school students, Preschool students, Elementary school students, Junior and senior high school students, University students
Mariana Oana Senda is a lecturer and PhD student in applied linguistics and neuroeducation. With an MEd in educational leadership and a biology–medical science background, she investigates brain-informed language learning.