ALC Newsletter - 09/08/2014 (Plain Text Version)
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A TOP 10 LIST FOR A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE
Anywhere you look these days, you’ll find a new genre of text in which things, ideas, people, and events are listed in a quantifiable way. In print, on TV, or on the web, you’ll find “The top 10...”, “The 20 worst...”, “The 100 most...”. Not to miss out on the new tradition, I’ve decided to give you “The top 10 list” of things that contributed to making the 14th BRAZ-TESOL International Conference last May, in João Pessoa, Brazil, a success. #1: The right balance of plenary speakers from different teaching backgrounds and nationalities made participants focus on new input from diverse perspectives. As a result, high-quality input pushed learning and generated exciting new ideas. #2: Participants had the opportunity to choose from a great variety of workshops that made theory and practice come together. That gave all involved the opportunity to participate actively and explore new practical possibilities to develop better options for classroom work and ELT management. #3: Teachers had the opportunity to network with colleagues from different contexts and walks of life. The healthy exchange of views and professional experiences created an enriching atmosphere that nourished learning and promoted professional development. #4: The venue where the conference took place, the School Cidade Viva, was spacious and comfortable with a friendly staff that welcomed participants and organizers. The Wi-Fi was topnotch, there was a good Internet connection, and the rooms had screens or TV equipment for the presentations. One more thing that is worth mentioning: The food from their canteen was delicious and, most important, healthy! #5: The exhibition space, which shared the same area of a vast two-tiered auditorium, was highly accessible and made it easy for participants to interact with sponsors and publishers expanding their knowledge of what is new in ELT practice and teaching materials. #6: It was clear as daylight that participants were all extremely motivated and willing to take active part in all events that happened during our 4-day conference. We had a full house for the Pre Conference Institutes (PCIs), Signature Events, and the Open Space Events. #7: The city where the conference took place, João Pessoa, in northeast Brazil, had the perfect weather for the time of the year: not too hot during the day and a nice breeze in the evening, blue skies and beautiful beaches. Besides, hospitality from locals could be felt wherever you went. #8: Immediately after the conference, participants sent us very positive feedback. I hope this will give you an idea of how happy they were to be there:
#9: The theme of the conference—“ Emerging Identities in ELT”—made presenters and participants exercise critical thinking. As a result, a positive reflection of what cultural and linguistic identity represent to language teaching could be felt throughout the conference. #10: Last but not least, the enthusiasm of those involved in the organization of the event should not be overlooked. The Academic Committee did their very best in choosing presentations that were amazingly diverse and up to date. The people, who managed the administration of the conference, invested all the time and effort needed to achieve a well-organized event without many significant bumps. Throughout the event, organizers were working hand-in-hand showing passion and determination, which certainly made a huge contribution to the success of the event. Going to conferences instills passion toward continuous professional improvement. We know that there is no chance of change in teaching unless we question ourselves and agree to transform new discoveries into classroom reality. In BRAZ-TESOL, we are proud to say that our 14th International Conference made a contribution to allow that to happen.
Virginia Garcia has ample experience in ELT teaching, management, and publishing. She is currently BRAZ-TESOL second vice president and editor of the association’s newsletter. |
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