Joe Suzuki-Parker
Rissho University
About
I’ve been living and teaching in Japan with my family since 2011. Recently, I’ve been involved in tech consulting for companies, and running my own company, Tevo, an AI-based chatbot app with LMS integration designed for language teachers. Looking forward to meeting you all at JALTCALL 2025!Sessions
Workshop Enhancing EFL Speaking Practice with AI: A Hands-On Introduction to Tevo more
Sat, Jul 19, 17:00-18:00 Asia/Tokyo
One of the biggest challenges Japanese EFL learners face is limited access to speaking opportunities outside the classroom, which hinders fluency development. At the same time, the time-intensive nature of spoken tasks makes it difficult for teachers to provide individualized feedback and analytics. This hands-on workshop introduces Tevo, a web-based AI chatbot application designed to help solve both problems through role-based conversation, real-time feedback, and detailed learning analytics. After a short overview of Tevo’s core features, participants will create and deploy chatbots aligned to their own course content. You’ll get to experiment directly with voice-based interaction, explore the real-time feedback system, and examine how analytics can guide classroom instruction. We’ll conclude with a Q&A focused on best practices and strategies for integrating AI while preserving the central role of teachers.
Presentation AI Chatbots in EFL: Insights from a Two-Week University Pilot Using Tevo more
Sat, Jul 19, 11:35-12:00 Asia/Tokyo
A persistent obstacle for Japanese EFL learners is the lack of real-world speaking opportunities, while instructors face challenges providing personalized feedback for spoken language tasks. This presentation introduces Tevo, a web-based AI chatbot app designed to facilitate role-based conversation and generate automatic feedback. We report on a two-week pilot study conducted in a Japanese university speaking course, exploring how students engaged with Tevo, and what they perceived as its strengths and limitations. We’ll share qualitative and quantitative insights, including how the app impacted confidence, fluency, and classroom participation. The talk concludes with reflections on how generative AI can support—not replace—teachers by freeing up time for lesson design and targeted support.
Presentation Successes in Creating an Academic Podcast more
Sat, Jul 19, 15:45-16:10 Asia/Tokyo
This presentation explores the development and impact of an academic podcast focused on teaching and technology. As digital media increasingly shapes education, podcasts offer an accessible and engaging platform for disseminating research and best practices. This project highlights key successes by the authors in conceptualizing, producing, and distributing the JALTCALL Podcast that bridges the gaps between researchers and practitioners. The presentation will discuss strategies that were used for selecting relevant topics, engaging expert guests, and ensuring scholarly rigor while maintaining audience accessibility. Additionally, it will address technical considerations (distribution channels), audience engagement metrics (data analytics), and comments from listeners (feedback). Results suggest that the podcast can enhance knowledge dissemination (15 countries in the first 10 weeks), encourage professional dialogue (social media engagement), and support language educators (by creating a platform to present) in integrating CALL methodologies effectively. By sharing best practices and lessons learned, this session aims to provide insights for academics interested in leveraging podcasting as a tool for scholarly communication and professional development.
