Now that Orientation is over, we are working on the Mid-year Conference planning.

ALT Mid-year Conference will be on November 26th and 27th at the Ikoi-no-mura in Hakui. Click "Keep Reading" for more details on the conference.

As for presenters, if you are interested in developing your presentation skills, keeping up on your educational focus (presenting on technology, history, politics, economics or whatever subject you feel you have an expertise in) in the context of our experience here in Japan, please let me know!

This is both an opportunity for you to keep up your knowledge, present on your field of expertise (immediate resume piece!) and to participate in the conference in a meaningful way. This is open to all ALTs, regardless of tenure. Several people have already agreed to present.

If you are not sure what to present, there are also sessions that we are asked by CLAIR to include in our content and we need folks to help present that material. I will work with these individuals on the presentation materials.

Here is the basic information about the ISHIKAWA MID-YEAR CONFERENCE. This conference is mandatory for ALL ALTs regardless of year. You will be accompanied by a JTL from your contracting organization (not necessarily a JTE you teach with) on the first day for this 2-day, overnight conference. Please read the following information very carefully.

Again, this is just general information. Specific information will be coming regarding conference content, session and cultural activity sign-up, room assignments, and ALT homework! (yay! I know you love homework!) This information will be coming via email – so please watch your inboxes!

Purpose
1. To improve foreign language education by improving team-teaching relationships.
2. To provide further development opportunities for the Ishikawa ALT community.

Dates
Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th (all ALTs stay overnight)
Times
Reception: 8:45~9:25am to Friday at 4:00 pm
Location
Ikoi no Mura (onsen resort) located in Shika-machi, Hakui-gun tel: 0767-32-3131
いこいの村能登半島　石川県羽咋郡志賀町志賀の郷温泉〒925-0165

Tentative Schedule
November 26th:
09:30 – 12:00 Guest Lecturer Workshop
13:00 – 16:30 Team-teaching Seminar: Giving and Receiving Feed back

November 27th:
09:30 – 12:00 Development Sessions
13:00 – 14:30 Development Session
14:30 – 16:00 Closing Guest Speaker

Transportation
Many of you will be traveling with JTEs from your schools or contracting organizations on Day 1.

If you will be driving to the conference on your own, please see the directions to the center on their website: http://www.notohanto.yad.jp/map.html or from Google Maps: http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=%E7%9F%B3%E5%B7%9D%E7%9C%8C%E7%BE%BD%E5%92%8B%E9%83%A1%E5%BF%97%E8%B3%80%E7%94%BA%E5%BF%97%E8%B3%80%E3%81%AE%E9%83%B7%E6%B8%A9%E6%B3%89&sll=36.570074,136.658999&sspn=0.008306,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=37.041202,136.768456&spn=0.132088,0.308647&z=12&iwloc=A

If you will be taking a train to the conference, there is a free bus to and from Hakui station.
Depart:
11/26/2009 - 8:45 a.m. from the JR Hakui Station to Ikoi no mura (onsen resort)
Return:
11/27/2009 - 4:00-4:15 p.m. from the Ikoi no mura Onsen Resort to JR Hakui Station

Trains will be departing at 4:33pm for Kanazawa, Komatsu and Daishoji and at 4:34 for Nanao.

*Please advise your supervisor to note which method of transportation will be used. We must reserve your space on the free, private bus if you choose to take the train on your own. If you came with a JTE on Day 1 you will need to request a spot on the return bus on Day 2 or make arrangements to leave with someone who drove. The Ikoi no mura is literally in the boondocks.

Costs
Base Charge ￥12,000 (includes conference fees, overnight stay, enkai (banquet), and a JAPANESE-style breakfast on Day 2)

Lunch (day 1)* ￥800 (regular lunch: tendon - rice topped with pieces of tempura / Optional – however, there is nowhere to buy lunch around the onsen. You would need to bring your lunch to the hotel.)

Lunch (day 2)* ￥1,200 (regular lunch: yakiniku teishoku – grilled meat with rice / Not optional)

*Costs for special diets and vegetarian/vegan meals are the same as regular meals for both days.

Please advise your supervisor to make a note of ALL food allergies on your conference response forms.
Special seasonal menus are determined based on special diet requests closer to the conference. Please contact me ASAP if you have concerns about food accommodations during the conference.

Cultural Classes ￥1,000 (Optional - several options will be announced shortly. In the past there have been three of the following: Taiko Drumming, Yosakoi, Karate, Kempo, Shakuhachi, Ikebana, Sado (Tea Ceremony) and Japanese Film)

Only ￥9,800 will be reimbursed.

Pre-conference Homework Assignments & Deadlines
ALTs
Session Response form - Deadline NOVEMBER 6th (coming soon!!!)
Lesson Plan or Activity sample submission - Deadline NOVEMBER 20th
Details will follow on this. For 2nd-5th year ALTs, this is much the same as last year, I’m just asking that you send a new and fabulous example.

ALTs AND JTLs
Giving and Receiving Feedback Pre-session Form
This form must be filled out prior to the conference and you must bring your own copy of the form with you. The afternoon sessions of Day 1 are related to the content and responses on this form. You will not have time at the conference to complete this form.

ALTs please remind the JTL accompanying you to fill it out, however, please fill it out independently to one another.

Dress Code
Proper business attire is required during the day on Day 1. During the evening – be clothed, unless you are in your respective onsen. For Day 2, when I expect many of you to be less than perky, please adhere to business causal. No jeans, no polo shirts – just nice shirts and slacks/skirts. This is still work, please dress like it.

That’s it for now – please watch your email inbox for further details, sign-up sheets, and homework!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
-Tonya Eick
Ishikawa-ken Kyouiku Center