The 2nd IEEE International Workshop on Digital Game and Intelligent Toy Enhanced Learning November 17th-19th, 2008 Banff, Canada This is all a bit freaky for me so I’ve just copied and pasted the blurb from the conference website: ‘There’s a rapidly growing interest in exploring design and technology of digital games and intelligent toys for …
Monthly Archive: April 2008
Apr
29
Around the Asia TEFL World in 80 seconds
China: Crazy English Accompanied by his photographer and his personal assistant, Li Yang stepped into a Beijing classroom and shouted, “Hello, everyone!” The students applauded. Li, the founder, head teacher, and editor-in-chief of Li Yang Crazy English, wore a dove-gray turtleneck and a black car coat. The classes were part of a campaign that is …
Apr
28
TEFL Headlines from the United States
Here’s the latest lowdown on what’s happening in the World of American TEFL: Arizona: Language Funding Becomes Law Without Signature Gov. Janet Napolitano let a bill that allocates an additional $40 million for English instruction become law without her signature Monday, expressing concern that the state still has ‘unfinished’ business on the matter reports AZ …
Apr
26
Use that Mother Tongue or Die Tryin’
South Africa: Proper Use of Mother Tongue the Way Forward South Africa has arguably the most progressive language policy on paper. This fact is acknowledged by most people who are familiar with the sociology and the politics of language. In spite of this, however, if one reads only the Afrikaans press, one would have to …
Apr
22
The 6th Asia TEFL International Conference: August 1st – 3rd, 2008
The 6th Asia TEFL International Conference promises (!) a vibrant and intellectually stimulating dialogue, and exchanges for promoting the teaching and learning of English in Asia. The organisers hope that this conference will continue the practice of previous Asia TEFL conferences of enhancing scholarship, disseminating knowledge, and facilitating cross-cultural understanding among persons, scholars, and practitioners concerned …
Apr
16
The World of TEFL has gone Crazy
Every time I present one of my ELT news roundups, it really sinks in how little the buggers in power know about language teaching. No matter where you are in the world, it seems there’s some moron beating on about some new initiative absolutely guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of any self-respecting TEFLer. …
Apr
10
IATEFL 42nd Conference Online
This week sees the 42nd IATEFL Conference in Exeter. If you have made a decent enough excuse to your boss and are not able to make it you will be able to take part online. Attendance at a typical D. Vincent presentation. This year the British Council and IATEFL will be offering extensive coverage of the conference online. Sphere: Related Content
Apr
09
Manitoba TEFLer Found Dead in Philippines
A Canadian tourist was found dead in a hotel parking lot in the Philippines early this week, according to a local newspaper in Cebu City, reports Canada.com. Police identified the person as 55-year-old Robin Cook of Virden, Manitoba, who was a guest of the hotel. His body was discovered at 5 a.m. local time Monday. …
Apr
03
The ‘Ell’ of Learning English in America
Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free… we might even take a few of you who aren’t TEFL teachers. Welcome to TEFL, America style: Florida: Demographic Changes On Horizon For County Schools A new report unsurprisingly shows that a major increase in the Southeastern states’ Hispanic population will force …
Apr
02
English Tactics in the Czech Republic
English Tactics in the Czech Republic Imagine walking into a workshop on teaching tactics for English-language learners and being greeted by the keynote speaker in Japanese. This is what a group of primary-school teachers can look forward to next month during an all-day event being held at a Žižkov hotel. Not only does Steve Watts …