iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Benjamin Gibb

Dr. Wes Robertson @scriptingjapan.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

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.

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

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...

benjamingibb.substack.com

Can world citizenship be downloaded?

Live AI interpreting and AI chatbots are fantastic - but who will our students actually talk to?

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Reposted by Benjamin Gibb

Japanese Talk @japanesetalk.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

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?"

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

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

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

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.

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

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!

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

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...

foreignaffairs.com

Post-Pandemic Japan Will Attract the World

Long considered homogeneous, Japan is likely to grow more diverse and globally connected after the pandemic.

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

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...

blog.aare.edu.au

NESA: If we let the rot continue, the ultimate losers will be our students

This syllabus does not belong to teachers and academics. It also does not belong to NESA. It belongs to our young people.

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

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 tpls.academypublication.com/index.p…

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Benjamin Gibb @bengibb.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

'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

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