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PanSIG Tips for Presentation Proposal Submissions

Thank you for expressing interest in submitting a proposal to present at PanSIG 2024. PanSIG is, at its core, a supportive conference for both experienced academics and those who are newer to presenting. With this in mind, we have prepared some tips and shared the vetting criteria in the hopes that we receive high quality proposals from educators at all levels of teaching and length of experience.

Submission Guidelines
Presenter Information: Name, affiliation (academic institution or business), email address for first speaker and other speakers.
Title: No more than 75 characters (40 characters for Japanese and Mandarin-Chinese) including spaces.
Format: Vetted face-to-face (in Fukui) presentation (25 minutes) and Vetted interactive poster session (40 Minutes including Q and A), or Unvetted SIG Forum (85 Minutes). Please see the Call For Presentation Proposals for descriptions of each of these formats.
Abstract: No more than 200 words in English, French, Hungarian, German, Italian, Romanian and Spanish, 400 Japanese characters. This will be used for vetting in the selection process as well as appearing in the conference handbook. Submissions that have fewer than 150 words or 300 Japanese characters may be declined for acceptance. For proposals submitted in languages other than English, we request a short description of its content in English for vetting purposes
Keywords: Please list 2-4 keywords to classify your presentation.
Notes: Please indicate any special requests you have for your presentation. (Speakers must supply their own digital devices and any needed adapters.)

Factors that strengthen:

  • The topic and point of view are clearly stated.
  • The format is appropriate to the topic.
  • The content to be presented fits the time allotted.
  • The presenter shows familiarity with current practice and/or research.
  • The content of the presentation will add valuable knowledge to the field or present a useful skill.
  • The abstract is well written, carefully edited, and proofread.
  • The format of the proposal abstract follows a clear three-step order:
    1. background introduction,
    2. problem addressed (if research-based) or classroom activities to be shared (if practice-based), and finally
    3. exactly what will be attended to in the presentation. Make very sure there is no doubt in the mind of the reviewer what the presentation will show, investigate, or discuss.

Factors that weaken:

  • The abstract is too general and no details or examples are given.
  • The title is obscure, inappropriate, or unrelated to the content.
  • Elaborate equipment is needed.
  • The abstract is carelessly written.
  • Insufficient time would be available to present.
  • Abstract is not appropriate for the requested presentation type.
  • Abstract is not appropriate for the selected SIG.

Factors that can lead to automatic rejection:

  • Abstract word count is below 150 words.
  • Proposal contains plagiarized material (including self-plagiarism of your own abstracts and titles).
  • Identifying information is included in the abstract. This includes, but is not limited to: grant numbers, institution names, names of individuals, job titles, or positions held within JALT.
  • Derogatory or offensive language is included.
  • The proposal sounds like a self-advertisement for a commercial product.
  • The topic is not related to language learning and one of the 30 special interest groups.

Vetting Rubric for PanSIG 2024

Your proposal will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Both the topic and point of view are clearly stated.
  • The topic is related to language learning or education (within the scope of the PanSIG Conference).
  • The presenter shows familiarity with current practice and/or research (in the relevant SIG).
  • The content of the presentation will add valuable knowledge to the field or present a useful skill.
  • The abstract contains enough detail that both experts and those new to the topic can understand it.
  • The proposal provides a clear, coherent overview of the session plan.
  • The abstract is well written in an appropriate academic register.
  • The abstract is carefully edited and proofread.
Style Guidelines
Title Abstract

Your title will appear in the conference handbook and platform. Therefore, it should clearly reflect the contents of the presentation to the audience.

No more than 75 characters (40 characters for Japanese and Mandarin-Chinese) including spaces.

Capitalization Rules
Capitalize the first letter of the title, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon.

Capitalization Examples
An exploration of identity in TESOL: Self-reflection as practice

The abstract is a concise description of your proposal. This will be used for vetting in the selection process as well as appearing in the conference handbook and on the conference site.

No more than 200 words in English, French, Hungarian, German, Italian, Romanian and Spanish, or 400 Japanese characters. Submissions that have fewer than 150 words or 300 Japanese characters may be declined for acceptance.

Do not include presenter name(s), institution(s), or publication(s).

Style Rules
Use third person present tense, e.g.:

  • This workshop encourages….
  • The presenters explore….

Strive to avoid gendered language. PanSIG encourages the pronouns they / them / their over gendered pronouns.

  • The presenter gave a survey to their students (n=120)....

*Please note: PanSIG editors reserve the right to edit accepted abstracts for length and clarity.