Gunma JALT:

FLTs Experience of Institutional and Departmental Integration in Universities

Date: Sunday, August 10th, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Speaker: Bladimie Germain

Description:
The challenges of foreign language teachers (FLTs) in Japan are complex and relate to language, culture, and institutions. Additionally, the interconnected constructs of integration and belonging adds to this complexity, affecting professional efficacy, identity(ies), well-being, and institutional commitment. However, little attention has been given to how these concepts manifest in FLTs in Japan. Through purposive and snowball sampling 48 FLTs completed the mixed-methods questionnaire modelled after Castogone and Salis (2015) WORK-INT framework. This session focuses on the structural (institutional), relational (departmental), and individual in order to (1) conceptualise how participants define the concepts of integration and belonging, (2) determine factors affecting integration and belonging at the institutional and departmental, level and (3) determine what institutions, departments and individuals can do to enhance the former. The finding illustrates that integration is functional and role-focused, whereas belonging is cognitive and emotional. Analysis demonstrates that integration is affected by clarity of roles and inclusion in work processes, and belonging by socialisation opportunities.

Bladimie Germain is an educator and an early career researcher based in Japan. He first started his career in the U.K. as an EAP lecturer, but quickly moved to Japan to take up a post at Meisei University. There his research initially focused on global issues in the language classroom, and communities of practice. However, towards the end of his tenure he noted the challenges of integrating into Japanese institutions. Now at Reitaku University, his research and professional practices have branched out to include institutional belonging and professional development. In his free time he enjoys spending time with friends, bouldering, and the occasional cycle.

Organization: Gunma Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Gunma JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: For first time visitors and students the event is free. After that it is 1000 yen.

Venue: Kyoai Gakuen University

Location: Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Contact Gunma JALT

Website: http://sites.google.com/site/gunmajalt/