Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

A bit of hype for the hard-working folks at SQU. I think we owe it to them, eh? This year's ELT conference is entitled Working with ELT Materials: From Design to Implementation and it will take place this Wednesday and Thursday, 18-19 April. The plenary speakers are Robert Kleinsasser, Mary Sue Sroda, Peter Lucantoni.


Abstracts can be seen online at http://www.squ.edu.om/lan/conference2007/Abstracts.htm

[omanized]

Ho hum.......hate to be a stick in the mud but I have found the last 3 conferences to be almost a complete waste of time. The plenary speakers are ok usually but the rest is a joke - people just padding their cv's with a conf paper - imagine a teacher standing in a small lecture hall reading from her paper - not her notes, but the actual paper, including the part which says, " Good morning everyone, my name is......" with her face buried in the paper - awful.

The best part is browsing the book sellers and picking up a sample here and there....

omzd

[veiledsentiments]

I have been shocked to see how many presenters merely read a paper to the audience. One wonder if that is also how they 'teach.'

Of course, I am also the type that considers the larger regional conferences to be purely for socializing and networking. That and job hunting are the real reasons for attending TESOLArabia or TESOL itself in the US. Oh yes... and free sample texts...

I really can't imagine the purpose for these local conferences. Other than causing everyone to do extra work for very little benefit... unless one thinks they need padding for the CV. But apparently it helps make management look important and suggests professionalism or some such thing.

VS

[kuberkat]

VS, I'm sure a lot of work happens behind the scenes and that SQU staff inadvertently get dragged into this. It is good to see that the conference volunteering recently has been very "student-centered"- good experience for the students, and labour-saving for the staff.

The topic this year is very close to both my heart and the field I'm hoping to head into soon, so in this case I am quite grateful for the conference. There are a few useful-looking professional development courses, too. And of course I will be assisting a colleague. All for a good cause, since next year my own CV may need some fluffing out... Those presenters who just mumble off their papers give me a great deal of confidence!

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, one figures that one can certainly do better than them... Do have fun Kuber!!

VS

[kuberkat]

Thanks, VS. Much of the "fun" for me tends to consist of getting lost on the vast SQU campus after little escapes to Starbucks, but these things are educational, too!

[veiledsentiments]

The SQU campus has sprawled out a bit since my days teaching there, but it was and is still a lovely place to take a walk (when the temps are cool enough). Of course back then we all lived on campus.

Starbucks?

VS

[kuberkat]

It is a lovely campus. My favourite things are the chimes form the clocktower and botanical garden with its traditional medicine section. Food for the soul.

[kuberkat]

Just to report back, there were a few wonderful ideas from some of the speakers and the organisers obviously went to great trouble. On the same count, there was so much criticism of existing materials- and even of the very use of materials- that I was wondering if the closing ceremony might have involved a public book-burning, courtsey of the exhibitors. I couldn't attend- did it?

[eha]

"On the same count, there was so much criticism of existing materials- and even of the very use of materials- that I was wondering if the closing ceremony might have involved a public book-burning, courtsey of the exhibitors. I couldn't attend- did it?"

Alas no; but maybe the organisers will take note for next year?