ELTWeekly Issue#5, Worldwide ELT events

5TH NATIONAL VTTN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CONFERENCE

Theme / Topic of event: Challenges and change in English Language Teaching

Day / Date: January 16 and 17, 2009

Place: The Horison Hotel, 40 Cat Linh Street, Hanoi

Fees:380,000 VND / $45.00

More information:

Over the last decade, Vietnam has undergone phenomenal economic growth and now faces the challenge of developing a skilled workforce, competent in English language, to be able to function in both the regional and global arena.

Over the same period, English language teaching methodologies have also been changing to meet these needs. In Vietnam, teaching is moving away from teacher-centred, formal approaches to more communicative, activity-based approaches. This has brought a number of challenges for both teacher educators and teachers in terms of adapting new approaches to the local context in Vietnam. What are the implications of communicative approaches? How appropriate are they for Vietnam? How have teachers been applying these approaches in the classroom?

The conference aims to:

– explore teaching methodologies and approaches 
– raise awareness of the implications and appropriateness of communicative methodologies
– provide practical ideas for the classroom 
– provide an opportunity for participants to learn and share from each other
– celebrate the work of VTTN.

For details please visit the conference website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/vietnam-english-teacher-training-conference.htm

2009 ACTFL ANNUAL CONVENTION AND WORLD LANGUAGES EXPO

Theme / Topic of event: Speaking Up for Languages… The Power of Many Voices

Day / Date: November 20-22, 2009

Place: San Diego, California

More information:

The Annual Convention and World Languages Expo of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) will be held Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2009 in San Diego, CA with Pre-Convention Workshops scheduled on Thursday, November 19. The ACTFL Convention features over 500 educational sessions and events covering the whole spectrum of the foreign language profession. The entire selection of sessions is designed to provide attendees with an exciting array of sessions and events to further their knowledge and help them be better teachers or administrators.

For details please visit the conference website: http://convention3.allacademic.com/one/actfl/actfl09/index.php?cmd=actfl09&id

8th International Language and Development Conference

Theme / Topic of event: Challenges and change in English Language Teaching

Day / Date: June 23-25, 2009

Place: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Letter from Charles Nuttall:

Dear colleagues 

I am delighted to welcome you to the website of the 8th International Language and Development Conference, scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 23 to 25 June 2009. The conference has a strong focus on providing a forum for examining important issues related to language policy, language learning and language teaching in the context of the developing world and, in particular, from the perspective of policy makers, language and literacy educators, development professionals and donors. I am sure that an event of such stature will be of interest to language and development institutions and specialists around the world. We look forward to your effective participation in making the conference a successful and lively debate of key challenges in this important area. 

British Council Bangladesh would like to express its gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Department for International Development (DFID) Bangladesh and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) for agreeing to partner the conference. I would also like to thank the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of University of Dhaka and the Trustees of the conference who have worked tirelessly to provide guidance for overall design, preparation and management of the conference. 

Finally, let me end with an assurance that I and all my colleagues in British Council Bangladesh are committed to make your participation in the conference and your stay in Dhaka fruitful and comfortable. If there is anything that we can do for you before or during the conference, please let us know. And be sure that a warm Bangladeshi welcome awaits you. 

With best wishes. 

Charles Nuttall 
Director 
British Council Bangladesh