Feature

International English Language
Conference in Dhaka!

Dr. Faheem Hasan Shahed

All preparations are underway to hold the 4th BELTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE with the theme 'The ELT Profession: Challenges and Prospects' from 24 to 26 August 2007 at the Bangladesh Institute of Administrative Management (BIAM), Dhaka.

Organized by BELTA (Bangladesh English Language Teachers' Association), this 3-day event promises to be a feast for English Language academics and professionals. BELTA, being the country's largest forum for English teachers, has been acting in creating professional network for teachers, teacher trainers, administrators, textbooks/materials writers, researchers and other educationists. Therefore, this conference would provide opportunities for exchange of diverse perceptions, for analyzing problems and for seeking new directions in the arena of national and international English teaching issues.

Prof. Dr. Arifa Rahman, President of BELTA, informed that there will be more than 50 presentations in the conference that include papers, workshops, demonstrations and panel discussions on topics ranging from the globalization of English, language policy, language in education, language and culture to the field of methodology, materials design, testing, management and teacher development. And for those in the field of literature with their subconscious skepticism about language teaching, a 'Janus' approach looks at the 'two faces' of English teaching commonly conceived of as 'literature' and 'language' and notes how the two actually form one 'face'.

Internationally reputed speakers from UK, USA, Australia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Japan, not to mention national experts and practitioners in the field of English language teaching, policy-making & planning, curriculum development & research, will be presenting papers and workshops. As many as 350 delegates are expected to attend.

The keynote speaker will be the internationally acclaimed ELT writer and teacher-trainer Jeremy Harmer, currently on the faculty of the MATESOL at the New School, New York. For those who haven't heard of him much, Jeremy has so far published How to Teach English, How to Teach Writing and The Practice of English Language Teaching (all published by Pearson Education) that have been used in more than 40 countries. He is general editor of the Longman 'How to' series. Anyone familiar with ELT knows how many of his books are available in all bookstores across the country.

Other featured speakers of the conference would be:
* Dr Rama Mathew, Professor, Department of Education, Delhi University.
* Dr. Maya Khemlani David, Professor, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
* Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, Director of Institute of Educational Development at BRAC University (BU-IED), Bangladesh
. Richard Boyum, Regional English Language Officer (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
* George Pickering, educational coach, trainer and consultant, and director of the Professional Development Centre of International House London, UK
* Zakia Sarwar, ELT teacher trainer, consultant and founder member of SPELT, Pakistan

In addition, there will be an array of papers/workshops by national experts and professionals.

English has been identified as a priority issue in education in Bangladesh, and debates continue to whirl round numerous circles regarding the appropriate methodology and techniques of English teaching at different levels. Given this context, this conference is bound to attract a wide range of academic, professional, and practical people.

For conference registration & details, visit website
www.belta-bd.org and feel free to email at:
belta04@yahoo.com, rkhan@agni.com ; arifar@citech-bd.com