These issues of "The Language Teacher" examine second language learning issues in Japan, focusing on such topics as the following: language educators and labor law; using videofeedback to nurture self-monitoring skills; learning diaries in learner training; English for special learners; developing listening subskills with trivia; attitude and motivation in language learning; the need for change in English writing instruction in Japan; the role and influence of Japan's university entrance exams; the On-Line Teaching Evaluation Regional Workshop; task-based methodology and sociocultural history; the best Japanese-English character dictionaries for meeting Kanji-learning needs; applying for a university job in Japan; stress, disempowerment, bullying, and school non-attendance; apathy and post-meritocracy in higher education; rethinking text within a task-based approach to language teaching; machine translation and the future of English as a global language; the language teacher's peer support group; cross-age peer tutoring in an English as a Foreign Language writing class; video production to enhance language learning; and a four-step approach for improved syllabus design coherence. (SM)