NAJLTA Online PD #4

Relational, Relevant, and Responsive Japanese Classrooms for This Generation

◎ Tuesday 28 October

◎ Darwin time: 5:30pm (45 minutes + questions)

◎ Online via Zoom

◎ Free for members of your state’s Japanese Language Teachers Association (JLTA)

◉ Please register here (Registration closes on Thu 23 Oct 11:59pm)

Session Blurb: This presentation addresses the growing disconnect between students' communication preferences and traditional language teaching methods. It will explore why many students are disengaging from Japanese and why traditional approaches aren’t enough. Teachers will be encouraged to innovate—creating classrooms that are emotionally safe, relevant, engaging, and relational. This isn’t about lowering standards but adapting to help students meet them. Ideal for secondary school teachers, it will offer strategies to improve student retention, reduce speaking anxiety, and innovate teaching practices to better align with today’s learners.

Presenter Bio: Janet Schneider is Head of Languages at Brisbane State High School, where she leads a faculty of six languages and a team of over 20 teachers. Her work focuses on relational pedagogy, student retention, and building fluency through confidence, not perfection. She supports teachers across Queensland and Victoria to embed emotionally safe, relevant practices that match the needs of learners today. Through curriculum design, professional learning, and strategic leadership, Janet helps language educators reimagine what success looks like – where classrooms prioritise connection, students feel seen, and teachers rediscover joy in their practice.