Job Discussion Forums

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

I wonder if TESOL Arabia conference ia going to continue to decline or it plans to reverse this trend. These are some issues it needs to resolve:

(1) Increasing conference fees. Is it still value for money? Where does all the money go? Does it go to fly in fancy, big-name overseas speakers? Why not choose talented locals?

(2) Disorganized job fair.

(3) Rude conference staff. Who was that rude TESOL Arabia man standing in front of their booth for a few hours Thurs afternoon? With reps like that, TESOL Arabia doesn't need enemies.

(4) Food. Attendees are given these coupons for tiny muffins or drinks. Even presenters are given nothing when they used to get a meal.

(5) Confusing venue with no signage.

This is probably the last time I'll go to the TESOL Arabia conference. For me the SIGs and publications are run better.

Im

Kally Wally · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 49

Couldn't agree more, it has been going down the tubes for years.

I stayed at home and washed my hair this year.

Badar Bin Bada Boom · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:17 pm Post subject:

Gonna wash that rude man right out of your hair?

And Dubai Women's College is the last place you should hold a large conference. Courtesy of typically, incredibly bad Arab architecture.

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

Why don't they go back to the al-Bustan hotel again instead of going cheap on tacky DWC? At least it is not DMC like in 2008.....that place was decaying. After spending all that money, I should ask for a full or at least a partial refund. The photos look so good of the conference. But when you are there...it is something else!

Im

D. Merit · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 203

How can they possibly justify charging nearly 1000 dirham for a rubbery croissant, a lukewarm cup of liptons and an audience with Jeremy Harmer?

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:45 pm Post subject:

Very expensive for what it was. When I registered it was handled by a 14 year-old who hadn't a clue and couldn't take her eyes off her smartphone. Rooms were over-air-conditioned. There was the usual problem of no central place where you bump into the people you want to see which seems to be a feature of TESOL Arabia at HCT. And there was an over-ambitious timetable: are there really loads of people there on a Saturday morning at 8.30 to hear a key-note speaker? I must say I wasn't there to check. I also find the 50 word limit on abstracts unhelpful; it can be hard to tell what you're deciding to go and see.

It's always better in hotels. The one last year was too gloomy, made it hard to read the programme, but at least it was easy to find all the people you wanted to socialise with, I mean network with, and the Rotana is nice.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

robinbanks · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 77

If you want improvements you should cc CC in your e-mails.

madrileno · Joined: 19 Aug 2010 Posts: 270 Location: Salalah, Oman

Yeah, now you tell me.

This was my first, (and LAST) TESOL Arabia conference. The whole thing was completely disorganized.

At three of the nine workshops I went to, the presenters failed to show up. Whether it was their fault or the conference organizers, I don't know. The job fair was a total write-off, and completely disorganized.

The only thing I found useful was the book fair, but only because a few colleges I'm interest in had kiosks there.

To people reading this thread next year... Save yourself the time and money. Avoid TESOL Arabia!