Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Absolutely fantastic!

KOTESOL is really going places!

This was my first time to go so here's my verdict. I've been an EFL teacher for 13 years, trained as a teacher, worked in half a dozen countries, been a Course Director, been in Korea 3 years, went to lots of Teacher Development sessions/ workshops etc, Postgrad Dip Tesol, MA Tesol etc etc. I never got involved in KOTESOL before now. I thought I didn't have that much to learn, but I learned a lot and came away from it feeling re-motivated!

Attention: To all EFL teachers out there, whether you're a Native Speaker or Korean, you really should join up to KOTESOL as soon as possible!
For anyone who has not been to this before, put it on your list for next year and join up to your local chapter through the Kotesol website.

The high point of the day was an amazing workshop on Extensive Reading with rotating speakers explaining how this works and how to do it. These teachers were wonderfully clear, well researched, professional and full of energy and passion for this very beneficial practice.

[Real name edited out by request]did a great job and added a touch of glamour to it all too - she's beautiful!! Reason enough to go in my opinion, k.k.k.

Rod Ellis was his usual sparkling self - he has a great gift for precision and clarity, speaking here on corrective feedback.

Tim Dalby and Scott Miles are brilliant, brilliant presenters. The sky's the limit for those two!

Scott Thornberry was in top form and spellbinding. Great charisma and full of great insights.

There was also Rob Waring (ER), Andrew Finch (Complexity Theory) Sara Davila (Assessments) andothergreatteachers - couldn't ask for more from a TESOL conference. There must have been about 100 presentations or workshops going on!

It wasn't just aimed at academics and university teachers though. Looking at the schedule there was a lot of stuff for new teachers and teachers of young learners and adults.

All the volunteers and organisers did a great job and it was a pleasure to be there. The only regret was not being able to be in several places at once. Gotta video record these workshops and presentations...

To all of you who made/are making this event happen - you deserve to feel proud.

Thank you very much guys.

[lifeinkorea]

Join the cult today!!! Why pass information online when you could pay for it???

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It was a great conference and well worth the price of admission!

[NightSky]

[cruisemonkey]

[livinginkorea]

Nunan was disppointing. I think anybody who has read his books or studied his work would have expected more. His sexual references (viagra, thong) and one-person jokes (mostly to his collegues to promote Anaheim University) really surprised me. Nobody laughed around me. I was really disappointed with his behaviour and presentation. I think a lot would feel the same, others I asked certainly did. He certainly shouldn't have been the plenary speaker. Maybe Thornbury would have been better?

Ellis as usual was good, a little boring but very concise which is what I like. Finch complained about the few for internet access. 20,000 is a little much considering how cheap it is in Korea. Many of the 9.00 presentations had laptops and projectors set up late which was a pity as some of them really required it.

Thornbury is always good, Dalby is getting better and better at presenting but 'my wife is here' gag should be changed. It's getting a little dated. The extensive reading topic is good but does it need that many presentations? I guess so to hit the point home.

I do wish that KOTESOL would be more academic. As the number of MAs and Phds increases the topics have to become more academic. I wish that presenters would make their topic and title more specific. To be honest, that would reduce the number of people leaving a presentation in the middle of it if they knew what it was about from the title. It's takes a while to read the schedule and if the topic is vague I think people generally skip over it or go to it and then realise that it is not for them and leave early. A title that is long and well explained would really go a long way for people to decide where to go. Just a thought.

Also, last point, the KOTESOL Conference book says the 16th, not the 17th on the spine. Please pay more attention next time about little things like this.

I think KOTESOL is a GREAT organisation and I really enjoy meeting people and going to presentations. All teachers in Korea should head along to it and take part. You might learn something new!

[livinginkorea]

[pkang0202]

Its 12pm on Sunday, there are still people at the Registration desk, and people show up at the conference.

They are greeted with "Sorry, registration is closed."

Newcomers: "We'll pay the full price. We want to attend the conference."

Registration Table: "Eh......sorry."


This is a big W T F. I was preregistered as a group so I had no problems getting in. I just stood there stunned. These people made it all the way to Sookmyung, and when the get to the front door they are told, "Sorry, you can't come in."

Why? What is a few extra people? The place wasn't packed. There wasn't lines out the door to get in. It was 12pm on Sunday.

On top of that, you gotta preorder your food a day in advanced to eat something.

The overall conference may have been positive, but its little things that leave a bad taste in people's mouths....... except for the people didn't know anything about preordering food, so they didn't have any taste in their mouths.

I feel sorry for those people that showed up to the KOTESOL and got denied at the door.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

[cruisemonkey]

[Some of the Mothers Said]

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Ah yes, I remember his point now. The reference to the machine was to show that new breakthroughs in the field are happening all the time and this is why you can't afford to assume you know enough about a topic. You need to work to keep yourself up to date with the developments in your field.

I think that's what he meant.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

[Chamchiman]

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Your wish is my command...