College & University Educators
JALT N.SIG

ot{ ct-IE,
March, 1993

NewsletterVol. 1. Issue 1

CUE N-SIG Formed
Our petition for official recognition as a JALT N-SIG was presented at the 31 January
meeting of the JALT Executive Committee, and was approved without dissent. Our thanks
go ic David Wood the national I'.{-SIG Liaison Cfficer, rvhcse cractical help arr.d aCvice
have been invaluable, and to Setsuko Toyama, the National Membership Chair, for
putting forward our petition. Three other N-SIG's were also given recognition: Team
Teaching, Material Writers, and CALL
- Gillian Kav. CUE N-SIG Coordinator

JALT N-SIG
College and University Educators

Statement of Purpose

Through discussion with other foreign J.anguagg instructors, we have come torecognize the-need for a professional network linking instructors of foreign languages
empioyed at colleges and universities in Japan, to help them understand and meet the goalsof Japanese higher education.
NEEDS

The College and University Educators N-SIG proposes.to atlress the specificneeds of foreign laiguage teachers in Japanese college and universities. To do this, we planto: (1) offer ibase lor mutual support, networking, and professional development among

the gioup's members, (2) disseminate information about current research relating tolar:giagateaching at Japanese coileges, (3) help mernbers understand Japanese language
ini'Srmition relatdd to t6aching at Japanese colleges and universities, (4) provide a forum
for the exchange of information and opinion between educators.
GOALS

1. Create a database of members' research interests, and circulate these tomembers.

2. Produce a newsletter to report on research projects and current practices, andprint articles written by members.
3. irrovide a translation resource in Engiish of forms and notices commonly
circulated in JaPanese colleges'
4. Otganize regional meetingsfmini-conferences, and College and University
Edlcators N--SIG activities at national JALT conferences.

We believe that working toward these goals wiil not only benefit the College andUniversity Educators N-SIG members, but also their students and institutions.

Q's and A's
This column will give members achance to ask, and hopefully, answer
each others' questions on a wide varietyof questions related to our work. Hereare some starters:

If your institution does not figure andfile your income tax for you, how do you
proceed with filling out and fiiing theforms? Are there any special credits,
deductions, expenses, exclusions, etc.,
which apply to academic endeavors that
we would all like to know about?

Has anyone of us yet had theopportunity to read Paul Wadden's book,
A Handbook for Teaching English at
Japanese Colleges and Universities(Oxford University Fress, 1993), and, if
so, what comments or additions do you
have on the information his contributors(some are CUE members) provide? The
book will not be available in Japan'sbookstores until April.

Is there computer shareware out therethat could be further spread around?
The answers might come along in thesame issue, or the question oniy printed
to await any of the knowing C U E
members' responses. If you haveanswers, or even partial answers, to anyof the above, then the column is off to aflying start. Submit Q's and/or A's to the
Editor.

CUE in the Classroom' Here we can share some of ourteaching ideas with our colleagues. Not
all the great ones end up as presentations
at the national or international

conferences, or as articles on the pages of

the TESOL Journal or JALT's own
Language Teacher. Some of the newer
materials could be discussed here - suchas various ways the CINEX films arebeing used, or other specific techniques
discovered that make our teaching evenmore effective and fun.

CUE in the Future
Upcoming programs that need input

from members include the 1993 JALT
National Conference in Omiya. We wiil,of course, have a business meeting at
Omiya. If we participate in the JALT
Kobe Conference on 8 and 9 May, it will
be within the special roundtable, "Miroron the Classroom."
Here also is the place to publicize
meetings, conferences, etc. that would beof special interest to CUE members.
If those of you who have submitted
proposals for presentations at JALT '93
would notify the editor when you receive
acceptance, so trve will be able to print alist of our members' presentations in ON
C UE.

Future Events"Summer Workshop for theDevelopment of Intercultural Courseworkat Colleges and Univetsities," 14-23

July, East-West Center, Honolulu,

Hawaii. The intensive 8-hours daily isintended for faculty wishing to develop

college/university courses on interculturaland international topics. Participantsfrom around the world include professorsof business and management, language
and culture, communication and media
studies, English, psychology, education,
journalism, sociology, etc. The cost isvery reasonable, especially given the
housing costs at the East-West Center
dormitories for a quarter of any otheraccommodations available in Hawaii .
Faculty members from Japan attending
the Workshop last sumtner were John

Freeman (Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin),
Dale Griffee (Seigahuin University),
Richard Klecan (Miyagi College for
Women), and Sharon Vaipae (Niigata
University).
The space in this workshop goesquickly so if you are interested, write

soon for detailed information andregistration materials: Program on
Cultural Studies. East-West Center, 1717
East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848.

Committee Members
Gontact Information
Coordinator

Gillian Kay, English Department
Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical
University
2630 Sugitani
Toyama City 930-01
Tet (0764) 34-228r
FAX (0764) 34-4656
Home TellFAX (0764) 41-1614
Treasurer

Gail Jackson

Takayama College
1155 Shimobayashi-cho

Takayama City , Gifu 506
Ter (0577) 32-4440
FAX (0577) 32-408r
Membership Chair

Irene S. .Shirley
Faculty of Literature
Tohoku Gakuin University
1-3-1 Tsuchitoi, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980
T el (022) 264-641 L, Exl 2246

FAX022-2644A30

Publiciry
J.B. Jones
to be at Komazawa Women's Collese
afterAprii 1. . . address forthcomin"gHome: Kono Bldg., apt.202
29 Sanei-cho
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160
Tel (03) 334r-4355

Committee Members
Sought
CUE is seeking a few good members

to volunteer to fill the Committee
positions of Deputy Coordinatcr,
Program Chair, Secretary, andRecording Secretary. Also, if
someone raises a hand to be Assistant

Editor for ON CUE. vour assistancewill be welcomed. If enoueh members
take responsibility for speci-fic columns
within the newsletter, then it may bepossible to function without an assistant
editor.
If you would like to offer your timeand expertise to our new N-SIG, pleasewrite to Gillian Kay for more details on
the position.

ON CUE Editor
Sharon Vaipae
Niigata University, Faculty of Education
8050 Ikarashi Ni-No-Cho
Niigata-shi 950-21,
Tel (025) 262-7226 (office direct)(025)269-1831 (home)
FAX (025) 263-4898

ON-CUE Distribution

Roberta Takizawa
Nakamachi2-18-10 #202
Musashino, Tokyo 180
Ter (0422) 54-4644

Jacqueline D. Beebe
Nihon University College of Commerce(Home) Kusano Masion # 203
Daita 2-31-4Diata
Setataya-ku

Tokyo 155
Tel (03) 3410-7184

GillianKay, the founder andteaches at Toyama Medical andCoordinator of CUE, is British, andPharmaceutical University. She isinterested in expectations of foreignteachers at Japanese universities and iswriting a book on foreign loan words in
the Japanese language.

Conference RePort
The Tokyo JALT Mini-Conference'
Trouble-Shooting the Language

Teaching WorkPIace, was lttd

February 14th. This is a summary ot me
reDort ti, On CUE made bY Jeff Jones,
our Publicity Chair. He adttended thesessions "Foreign Administrators of
Language Programs" featuring speakers
Chirles Browne, Martin Johnson
and CathY TanzY, and "Making Senseof the LandscaPe: The UniversitY
WorkDlace" Presented bY Paul
Wadden. The second was Pointed

more directly to CUE members'interests
anda considerable range of topics wascovered; thus only these brief highlights,
expeciallv relevant to college anduniversity ieaching, are included.
Wadden chuictenzed the university

workplace thus: uPside - good PaY,
security, status, long breaks, academic

freedom: downside - discriminatory (sex,color, age) employment status, ineffective
approaJh to language learning (once-aweek, large classes), low status relatlve
to Japanese colleagues.
Following- the lead of the national
universities as influenced bY the
Mombusho, private schools as well are
frequently offering employment base.d. on
a fiied-term. In the private uruverslues'
full+ime employment geatly resembles
the tvpical Jabariese company with a lifelong iosition featuring bonuses, healthinsrlrince, pension, private office, andthe responsibilities of entrance exams,
commiitees and meetings. In part-time
emoloyment, instructors or' as Wadden
feeis tliey shculd more appropriately becalled, adlunct professors, receive pay
onlv for the classes taught, but have noother than teaching'
responsiblities-' The qualifications for colleg_e anduniversity positions generally include amaster's degree, connectlons' ano
patlence.
Eiidence of reliability and^dedication
are highly favored. Doctorates
are not common in Japan because they areoften awarded late in life as recognition
for achievements. Wadden stated that aminimum of three academic papers aredesirable for those seeking full-time
employment. Connections consist of
knowing peoPle who respect one's
charactei and qualifications. A good way
to make contacts is to join a gakkai ot
study group/research circle. Wadden felt

recommendations by the Japanese are notmade lightly since the responsibility is
heavy on the individual who introduces a
new employee. Generally employ-ment isreferenc^e-dhven rather than qualificationdriven. Japanese language a!!ti!f can beseen as a slgn of good faith. Hiring. starts
in May-Jun-e wiih last-minute hiring. in
Februarry and March. Part-time job hiring
is donein October-November. Some of
the CV requests may surprise Westerners- such as the necessity to produce a highschool diploma - but this maY be thestarting p6int of figuring an employee's
be when you are interviewed
oav. Ilmay-alreadyhave th-e job; tlt.
ittit youjustto see if you.can bewants
committee
well with theworka team player andothers.
Mention was also made of the SempaiKohai relationships wherein everyone isranked. It rnay take time to perceive thehierarchy, and at any given time, it may
be in flux. Caution was urged regarolng
the factions that exist at the institutions'
Most gaiiirz are oblivious to them, butcare sfrouid be exercised to not ally with
one, especiallY as gaiiin maY. beaonroached bv the weakest tactlon'
etthough you should relY on Your
mentor,-andhe or she does have a vested
interest in looking after you, you also
should build other relationships because
if the mentot leaves, you become at risk'

These other contacts also serve as

valuable additional sources of
information, since the university itseif
assumes no obligations in this regard..

Reference was made to the tertiary
employee as an "academic salary man" inthat when you are not teaching, -it isassumed you are doing research oradministraiive work. Your year-roundj tie s's ala.ry refl ects year-round re sponsibil
The institutiori has every right to ask foryour time. Determine what you. have to
io to and do; your reaction to demands
ihould be posiiive and graceful so as toConference Report (Continued)
enhance your good character.

Finally, advice was given to notdepend upon the univerisity to provide
fulfilment. You must have your own
agenda for personal growth by looking at
your total life. Ask "what do I want toachieve, and how can the most be
achieved for both parties?"

Academic
Equipment/Materials
Whether or not this column makes it
into print on a regular basis will depend
upon your needs, but perhaps some of us
print
have personal @or audio-visual materials and/or

Any questions regarding points madehere should be directed to Jeff, as he has
extensive notes on the proceedings.
- The Editor

equipment that we no longer use or want,
and would like to sell or trade.

Note from the Editor

It is here that we hope to use theservices of one or more of our truly
bilingual CUE members (yet tovolunteer), and will print English

This is our first newsletter and so is
considerably smaller and less-filled withinformation, news, and views than wehope it soon will be. Suggestions havebeen made on these pages for somecolumns as regular features, and they areintended to solicit, from any member,ideas for either regular column

contributions, or one-time only specials.
Especially interesting would be reports(such as that contributed this issue by
Jeff Jones) from members on various

conferences and meetings (JALTsponsored or not), and relevant JALT

chapter meeting presentations. We hopeto print summaries/abstracts of members'
published work, members' opinions on
any topic related to our profession, plus

whatever else you would like to see.
Until CUE members have volunteered towrite and/or edit specific entire columns,
please send materials for publication to
me at the Niigata University address or
fax number.
- Sharon Vaipae

Research QueriesThis column could serve those who arelooking for collaborators, existing
databases, or other resoufces, andinformation. etc.. related to their curent,
on-going long term, or planned research
project.

Found in Translationtranslations of adminstrative andeducational messages, forms, orwhatever, that constitute a daily puzzle
for most of us. The individual(s) who
perform this task will receive the eternal
thanks of many of us Japanese illiterates.

CU E-Tips
Ever lose out on long-term
employment benefits because you moved
on to another position just a wee bit too
early? Ever not spend available college/
university research or library funds
because you did not know you could?
This column hopes to feature

information that you, the contributor
knows, and probably thinks everyone

else knows, but actually does not. One
way to identify this type of information is
fo think of items you reacted to like this:"I didn't know that!" So share yourknowledge about the in's and out's ofcollege and university teaching.
Newcomers and even those who havebeen around for some time will bethankful for new ways to coPe andovercome. So speak out and write in:you mav have the key to someone's
iuccess,- or at the very least, one lesssleepless night.

The Place of the N-SIGs in JALT
by Steve McCarty
The purpose of this report is to inform N-SIG members of the teffain
through which aims are accomplished in JALT. The N-SIGs are the vehicle forgeneral JALT members to advance their fields of interest on a national level.
Organizational information empowers members to explore the unlimited
horizons of what can be accomplished through JALT's N-SIGs.
The number of established N-SIGs doubled as of the January 3I, 1993
JALT Executive Committee meeting, as Team Teaching, CALL College andUniversity Educators, and Materials Writers were added to Video, Global Issues,
JSL and Bilingualism. The N-SIGs tend to bring new constituencies into theorbit of JALT, increasing its membership base, while expanding JALT's
domestic and internationai contacts.
As seen already, N-SIGs are approved and their funding is authorized by
the Executive Commitee, the legislature of Jalt. The ExCom basically consists ofthe seven electional national officers, Immediate Past Prsident Sigeo Imamura,and the chapter presidents for a total of about 45 voting members, plus a dozen
non-voting ippointed national officers such as committee chairs. Minus thechapter presidents, the national officers currently meet several times a year
anil can make decisions within their mandate all year round. JALT members
are encouraged to contact them directly through a pertinent representativewith any questions, requests or suggestions.
Technically, N-SIG chairs have a voice at the ExCom, but having no
subsidization to attend meetings in faraway cities effectively eliminates thatvoice. Representing the N-SIGs on the Ex-Com without vote is the N-SIG
Liaison David Wood, who works through the nationally-elected membership
Chair Setsuko Toyama. He is also on the JALT Publications Board by virtue of
editing the "Of National Significance" column in The Language Teacher. David
is a brilliant, hard-working advocate for all the N-SIGs and deserves our every
assistance.

'l

The ExCom meets three times a year, including at the international
conference where the JALT Annual Business Meeting is also held. This fourth
legislative meeting of the year is reserved for deliberations of suchimportance that all JALT members are entitled to vote. It was at such a meoting
in 1989, that the JALT Constitution was last amended to admit the N-SIGs. Pleaserefer to the April "JALT News" issue of The Language Teacher for the current
Constitution ana its Bylaws. The requirements to form and maintain N-SIGs
were stated, but the role of the N-SIGs in the Association was not specified.
Based on these By-laws, the ExCom formed a policy of funding N-SIGs, anannual grant of 50,000 plus members' dtres for recognized groups with over 50
memberi. Actual funding, however, and membership processing as faced
various logistical problems, and it is acknowledged that laws and policies vis-avis the N-SIGs need thorough revision.
At the Annuai Business meeting held at JALT '92, constitutionaland further integration ofamendments proposing-JALT the ExCom representationin favor, as a two-thirds
vote
by
a
51-50
defeated
were
into
N-SIGsthefully heard, as some
not
pros
cons
were
and
the
Actually
needed.
vote wasable to derail the
were
Rules
of
Order
Robert'sinwell-versed
members
assembly from its deliberative function. This nevertheless goes to show thatthe moi" informed and active members can accomplish their aims in JALT.
The defeated amendments are not referred to committee in the usual
way where they could be proposed again, because a new committee is beingformed in the ExCom to examine JALT's iaws and workings as a whole. Now that
the Constitutionai Renewal Committee is in formation, it will be oppoftune toinquire more deeply what is the nature of the N-SIGs, what academic andorganizational role_s_r!ey can play in JALT, where they ought to fit in the
ExCom, and how JALT's laws and policies can be ,econstltut"d to fuily integrate

this beneficial movement.
JALT-National is short-handed to serve 4,000 members, so individual
national posts are turning into committees. Many functions reconstituted

every year could instead be institutionalized-through the N-SIGs. For example,
starting this yeat the N-SIGs suppiy conferenJe
presentations and reviews.
Furth,ermore, chapters and regional conferqnce organizets are turning to theas representatives of represent major inierests and constituencies in
I-lLCt
JALT, and can readiiy draw members from their national networks who arenear the chapters where their expertise is sought.
Education is communication, and the N-Sf C newsietters have vastly
increased the information circulating in JALT. David Wood has recentii
started the sIGpl newsletter to systematically inform N-sIG chairs and electednational officers'

Most influential, however, and cornrnunica.cillg

organizational information among atl administrative levels is the J A L T
Executive Newsletter (JENL) which reaches nearly 7A decision-makers. While
chapter officers are supposed to hear from chapter presidents about J E N L
contents, general JALT members are entitled to the same information, andchapter presidents rvould be glad to answer such inquiries.
Sometimes N-SIGs are allotted certain opporiunities to publicize theiractivities, " but generally, they earn them, suit, as reviewine an N-SIGsponsored colloquium with sufficient academic rigor for Tie Language
Teacher editors. The N-SIGs oniy have two opportinities a year for face-toface networking, at the international confeiences and at the N-sIG
conferences which currently have a
200,000 appropriation from JALTNational. The third annual event is under the auspiies'of the Kobe Soring
Conference, which is detailed elsewhere in JALT pubiications. In any event,the N-SIGs must s_eize_ these opp-ortunities and other avenues to ctarify theirfocus and value to JALT members.{
In conclusion, N-SIG members will have to show JALT's decision-makers
can contribute to the Association, what academic and organizational roles the
N-SIGs can fulfill. _ In the competition of ideas the day goes ro the weil-,
informed and the well-organized. The N-SIGs iift JALT memb"ers from the lbcal
to the national and global levels. Thus rather than a loose thread, the N-SIGs
couid bind the organization more effectively through the dimension ofmembers' interests.

CUtH
Here we solicit yourcontributions that will put asmiie on our faces:a slory, canoon, comments, etc.

... oryour

own humorous version oflife in Japanese higher
education.

e-mail Anyone?
(or everything you always wanted to know aboute-mail and were afraid to ask)

We are looking forward to theinformation Thomas Robb will be sharing
with us in our next newsletter - all themysteries of e-mail explained'Member Notes
CUE N'SIG Database ComPilation
for its membership' The
A significant function of cuE N-SI-G is to.provide resources*lrf pi"vldi.rnfgrmation to-yoo aqg:l other members'
CUE N-SIC rvrem#irhi
members will be able to locateof whom there are ;;;?0. By skimmiig tne database,needs. Included with thisorhers who migh, iiiu" ,i*it-* situationi, intgrests.and/orthat will facilitate such
newsletter is the Membership natanaie Questionnaire
information, which will be
nerworking. pfease-*.ite iegiUfy..q-thu!. V"ir databasebe accurate'^.
ri..ofui.O tJat otfrei*.*U"t.iompleting thii questionngr.e,willin theChair,
Ivlembershipplease rerurn the questionnaire UV f O"april,io Ir.n. Shiilev,
willbedatabase
addressed:;;;i&A;"io.i.- iliJ q"p"q.that th6 resulting

ii;b*"

sramped,liroi["i.d to participating members by the end of Apri!tlat cal Pasry-{u
Enclosed is an extra copy oI me Que-sti-oryraiie${o1g-':
joinedCUE Nyetnotmember who hascolleague who is just joining. If you *.:u l,flf
SiC, .?*piete thi fonn Ueldw and send it to Gail

Jackscn.

lf you are not already a member then here is how
TO JOin TOday . . . fill in, cut off and mail. (with P1000) to:
Gail Jackson
TakaYama College
1155 ShimobaYashi-cho
TakaYama CitY, Gifu 506
Name___WORK Address
WORK TelePhone / FAXHOME Address (oPtional)

HOME TetePhone / FAX
Have you already completed Memtrership DatabaseNO-

form? YES-

was NO, then a Membership Databaself your answer to the last questionof this information'
Questionnaire will be mailed to you upon receipt

You must be a member of JALT to join any N-SIG'

Please write legibly to ensure
the accuracy of your dat.abase
information. Then please return
Lhis page by 1-0 April to:

Irene Shirley, Fac. of Lit.
Tohoku Gakuin University
1-3-i. Tsuchitoi, Aoba-ku
Sendai9BO

Membership Database Questionnaire
Name

HOME Address (optional)
FAX

Telephone

e-MailName of Institution
Faculty

Department

WORK Address

Telephone_FAX

e-MailBest Way to Contact You

Title of your position (circle)

KyoTalprofessor sennin ftosftilassistant professor Jokyojulassociate professor
gaikokujinlqoshi lforeign instructor otherIs your institution(circle)national / private /public2yr I 4 yr

Non-Japanese sponsor or affiliation ?

If your institution has a particular emphasis, i.e., nursing, social work, technology, pleasestate it:

Subjects/Classes taught

Name of JALT chapter

Position held

To what other JALT N-SIG(s), if any, do you belong, and state any official position(s) you
may hold within it (thern)?
Describe your research interests

Collaberation sought?
Are you willing to participate in surveys other members may conduct?
To which other professional organizations do you belong?
Professional journals received:
Please note anything else you'd like to have other members know about you, or that you would

like to know about other members:

I have paid theyl000 annual membership fee. YES _NO _