Statement of Purpose
[Written April 1996, upon establishment of the TC SIG]
At present JALT has a range of SIGs available to its members. These NSIGs address a diverse range of interests of JALT members. They provide a professional support network and information network within JALT which relieves the professional plight of teachers in Japan. In the past, attempts have been made to establish interest groups which deal with teaching children. At present no such national group exists within JALT. This is unfortunate because a large number of JALT members have the responsibility for educating children.
With so many JALT members teaching children each day, an SIG which is able to offer them a professional support network and information network is long overdue. We propose the formation of a new SIG: Teaching Children. We feel the Teaching Children SIG will be a strong and vital group within JALT, and also help attract members to JALT - teachers of children to whom JALT has not been able to offer sufficient assistance. We hope that with the help of members we will be able to offer as much as possible in both Japanese and English.
As for our responsibilities and goals for our members:
One of the largest fields in the profession of language education is that of teaching children. There are many professionals working in this field, from research through materials preparation to classroom teaching, not to mention parents teaching their children at home. The affiliate Teaching Children SIG hopes to encompass a broad spectrum and bring JALT members in all parts of this field together: to share and access information, to network with others in the field. However, as numbers increase, needs arise and the membership diversifies, this parent group could see new JALT NSIGs arising from within the group in the future: e.g., Teaching in Elementary Schools, Teaching Returnees, or Materials for Children.
Forming this umbrella group is our first goal, to bring together people who are working in the field. Once established, we will discuss the needs of the members and the group can begin to set its directions. Among the avenues open to us, we hope initially to do the following:
- Be a support network for professionals, offering a chance for members to contact each other, share and develop ideas, and offer help or advice when possible.
- Provide a forum for information sharing and access. Often the greatest source of information we have is each other. Pooling our collective information is a good starting point. Another is creating a database of names and professional organizations. Also, members who have the benefit of years and/or experience may find an audience who will appreciate their knowledge and opinions.
- Distribute professional information regarding courses and special interest programs which members may wish to attend.
The short term the goals include:
- Creating a directory of members, including their special interest areas within the field.
- Preparing a constitution for approval of members.
The long term goals include:
- Producing a newsletter four times a year, to be distributed to all members of the SIG.
- Helping to organize and participating in regional, mini and national JALT conferences.
- Gaining recognition of the SIG by other international professional groups in the same field and cooperating to open up international doors for educators of children.
(As the group develops and diversifies, these goals will almost certainly change with changing needs.)
By providing a professional support network for educators of children, we hope that JALT members and others will be able to benefit from, as well as contribute to the group, while at the same time develop professionally.