Summer Event

2nd Annual PIE-on-Lake-Nojiri Conference

"Training Our Future: Teaching Younger Learners (0–18 Years Old)"

🎟️ Register for Conference 📝 Submit Proposal

📌 Conference at a Glance

Dates

August 23–25, 2024

Friday through Sunday

Location

Lake Nojiri, Nagano

Elan Hotel Multi-Purpose Room →

Invited Speaker

Kenn Gale

Vice President of JALT

Plenary Speakers

Curtis Kelly & Marc Helgesen

NeuroELT & ELT Experts

Co-Sponsors & Supporters: Okinawa JALT Niigata JALT Nagano JALT JALT CALL SIG Teaching Young Learners SIG

📖 About the Conference

JALT PIE SIG, with cooperation and support from the Okinawa Chapter of JALT, the Niigata Chapter of JALT, and JALT CALL SIG, and with assistance from Teaching Young Learners and the Nagano Chapter of JALT, are proud to sponsor the PIE SIG Summer Conference 2024, held on Lake Nojiri in Nagano.

The theme of the conference is “Training Our Future: Teaching Younger Learners (0–18 Years Old).” The primary focus of this conference is on the teaching of performance activities to children from nursery school to high school. Performances, general PIE activities, research, and interactive presentations are all featured!

Come to lovely Lake Nojiri in northern Nagano to enjoy beautiful nature and the fruits of the field and vineyard!

🎟️ Registration & Attendance Fees

Venue: Elan Hotel Multi-Purpose Room, Shinano-machi, Nagano (5-minute walk from Nojiri Lake Resort).

Join us for three days of inspiring sessions, collaborative workshops, and social networking right on the lake.

JALT Members

¥5,000

Full Access

Non-Members

¥7,000

General Admission

🎟️
Registration Form 📝
Call for Submissions

📅 Program Schedule

📊 View Live Interactive Schedule Spreadsheet

August 23, 2024 (Friday)

Officers Planning Meeting
Cultural Event at Kurohime Museum of Fairytales (Dowa-kan), featuring local folktales
Networking Event

August 24, 2024 (Saturday)

09:00 — Registration
10:00–17:00 — Presentations
18:30–20:30 — Networking Dinner at St. Cousair Winery Restaurant

August 25, 2024 (Sunday)

09:00–12:00 — Presentations
12:00–12:30 — Clean-up
12:30–13:30 — Lunch
13:30–17:30 — Officers Evaluation and Planning Meeting

🎤 Keynote & Plenary Speakers

Invited Speaker

Kenn Gale

Vice President of JALT

Principal and Director of No Borders International School, one of the largest private Pre/Kinder schools in Japan (serving over 1,800 full-time and part-time students). Kenn lives in Nagoya where he also owns a small Montessori kindergarten. He serves as Vice President of JALT, President of Tokyo Association of International Preschool, and President of the Tokai International School Association.

Plenary Speaker

Curtis Kelly, Ed.D.

Kansai University, Professor Emeritus

Speaker and author Curtis Kelly has given over 500 presentations worldwide, primarily on the neuroscience of learning. He has authored 35 books and produces the MindBrainEd Think Tanks magazine connecting brain science to language teaching. His mission is to "relieve the suffering of the classroom."

Plenary Speaker

Marc Helgesen

Miyagi Gakuin Women's University / NUFS MA TESOL

Professor in Modern Business at Miyagi Gakuin Women's University and instructor at NUFS MA TESOL ("Positive Psychology in ELT"). Author of English Firsthand (Pearson) and ELT & the Science of Happiness (ABAX), past chair of the Extensive Reading Foundation, and expert in NeuroELT and Positive Psychology.

📚 Featured Presentation Sessions

Saturday Presentations

🎭 The Impact of Roleplay and Performance-Based Education: An Outsider's Perspective — Kenn Gale

Having not been a teacher in over 10 years, I often forget some of the methods and tools that I once used to captivate and influence my students. However, as a principal, I often have the chance to walk around and observe the teaching staff. Speaking for the younger learners age range, I can confidently say that the power of acting, physicality, role play, and imagination is by far the most powerful weapon in a teacher's arsenal. When these methods are introduced, attention and retention increase, allowing learning to take place in a much more entertaining and efficient manner.

📖 Why Our Brains Love Stories — Curtis Kelly

Stories, the original Wikipedia, are the oldest tool of teaching, and still the most potent. For most of human existence, we have used stories to share information and educate our offspring. Our brains have evolved to process stories much more effectively than other delivery formats—learning information twice as quickly and retaining it twice as long. This presentation provides the neuroscience behind stories, practical delivery methods, and hands-on ways to incorporate them into your teaching.

🗣️ Reading Aloud with a Purpose — Marc Helgesen

Reading aloud is common worldwide, but often results in unproductive "choral mumbling." This session introduces 10 practical, meaningful strategies for purposeful oral reading (chunking, rhythm, read and look up, shadowing, peer reading, and emotion-focused reading) using standard Japanese high school textbook materials with zero preparation time required.

Sunday Presentations

💻 Presentation Design 101 — Marc Helgesen

We've all seen hundreds of presentation slides designed by educators. This session introduces eight simple, effective slide design ideas inspired by Presentation Zen. Learn how to apply the picture superiority effect, design for visibility across the entire room, navigate the pros/cons of slide animation, and move beyond default bullet points.

🧠 Since Language Is Embodied, Drama Is Brain-Compatible — Curtis Kelly

The brain extends through the entire body, interacting continuously with bodily organs. Language is stored in sensory and motor routines identical to those used during physical actions. This session explores why drama—which links visual, auditory, tactile, and emotional cues to language—is inherently brain-compatible and supported by modern neuroscience.

💬 Welcome Messages

From Kenn Gale, Vice President of JALT

Greetings!

First of all, let me say that it is truly a pleasure to be invited to this event and I look forward to networking with you all and participating in great presentations. Having served on the Board of Directors for over 6 years, I am so proud of our active Chapters and SIGs providing great support for our members. This particular event is especially exciting as it focuses on young learners!

See you all soon, and thank you to the PIE SIG leadership team for their hard work!

Kenn Gale
Vice President, The Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)

From David Kluge, Conference Chair & PIE SIG President

"I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride and make it easier..."

As the father of a wonderful daughter, I sincerely believe these words. Teachers of children form the foundation of our profession and the Performance in Education SIG. Introducing performance activities early instills intrinsic value that carries over into higher education.

I am continually inspired by educators who demonstrate how full-length theatrical works, speeches, debates, and roleplays can be adapted for young learners. Let us share this treasure trove of PIE activities together!

David Kluge
President, Performance in Education SIG