Delighted to give the opening remarks last week at the second Mirai - Future's with Japan Event, hosted by @bengibb.bsky.social at Macquarie's School of International Studies (@mqsois.bsky.social)! Almost 500 students attended - lovely to see so many young passionate learners.

We teach in a world where Google Meet does live interpreting, RayBan glasses translate in real time, and AI chatbots simulate conversation partners with remarkable fluency. If tech increasingly does the transactional; what about the transformational? benjamingibb.substack.com/p/can-interc...

I've heard many people say something along the lines of "why bother to learn Japanese when it's not going to make you any money?" To which I say, "why not learn it just for the fun of it/because you want to?"

Modern languages teachers, it's OK to put ATAR in the backseat, if the system is working against you. Some thoughts. What still matters in the age of AI and travel sans interaction? All critical opinions welcome. open.substack.com/pub/benjamin... #mfl

How might the growing phenomenon of 'no-interaction travel' be affecting attitudes to second language learning? Chuffed to be published by my uni's Languages student group rag.

Do 'careers with languages' narratives help or hinder student uptake of modern languages? Thanks to my co-presenter Dr Sally Chan from UniMelb at the Japanese Languages Teachers Association of Victoria (JLTAV) conference. Looking forward to doing it again in NSW and potentially Adelaide this year!

@carmenzs.bsky.social inspired me! Herewith a small rant about the tyranny of topic-teaching. Aux armes, citoyens! learninglisteninglanguages.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-...

4 years on - some of these predictions holding up. Japanese universities attracting more and more foreign students, lower COL, greater immigration. Many facets to consider as always, but nice to read a positive take. Japanese uni culture taught me a lot. www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/jap...

350 NSW Drama teachers met with the head of NESA to protect their subject and speak out about not being listened to. What would happen if Languages teachers did the same? I wonder if we are happy with the status quo, or our voices are silenced/disregarded? blog.aare.edu.au/nesa-if-we-l...

Should language classes sacrifice some L2/LX time to explore cosmopolitan identity with students? Concise & well written. "Cosmopolitanism and Multilingualism in a Globalized World" #langchat #mfl https://tpls.academypublication.com/index.php/tpls/article/download/1258/1007/4556

'More motivated to continue my Japanese studies' - 80% of Year 10 students 48% choosing a 5/5 response. After an on-campus/online event where youth speakers intro'd the working holiday, high school + uni exchange & the JET Programme. Knowledge of in-country experiences is important #langchat #mfl