Malaysian English Language Teaching Association Requests

The Malaysian English Language Teaching Association is putting together articles for a book on the teaching of grammar and would welcome submissions.

We will consider theoretical and practical ideas for teaching the grammar of English where the purpose of teaching grammar forms and structures are related to the meaning and use of specific communication tasks that students need to complete.

Research-based chapters without any teaching apparatus but with implications for teaching will also be accepted.

Please send in an abstract, by February 21, 2008, with the information as stated below.

We will reply as soon as possible and will expect the full paper by April 30, 2008.
Please send all submissions to: umki@pc.jaring.my

Abstract for submission
Name:
Email address:
Address:
Phone numbers:
Grammar item to be taught:
Target group: children/young adults/adults
Type of submission:

Theoretical:
Approaches, Teaching Techniques, Teaching Problems, Grammar problems etc.

Practical:
Game, Focused practice, Communicative practice, Role Plays,
Drills, Use of Poems, Narratives and songs, etc.

Brief summary of submission

Requirements for paper
The final submission should include the following:
Name:
Title:
Designation (If applicable):
School/Institution (If applicable):
Email address:
Mailing Address:
Phone numbers:
Grammar item to be taught:
Target group: children/young adults/adults
Type of submission: e.g.
Theoretical: Approaches, Teaching Techniques, Teaching Problems, Grammar
problems etc.;
Practical: Game, Focused practice, Communicative practice, Role Plays,
Drills, Use of Poems, Narratives and songs, etc.

Theory-based papers should include the following:
1. Introduction
2. Discussion
3. Application to the classroom, level of learners, classroom environment etc.
4. Research data and findings (if applicable)
5. Examples of application in the classroom
6. Samples of material (if applicable) (max. 2 pages)
7. References (max. 1 page)

Practical-based papers should include the following:

1. Introduction/Background/ Overview
2. Objectives
3. Teacher Preparation (needed resources & materials)
4. Classroom Environment (Rural/Urban; Target learners etc.)
5. Students' reaction & learning (Approx. ½ page)
6. Why is the idea successful (based on language learning theories, etc.)?
7. Has the idea been used elsewhere?
If so, quote sources and reactions to the idea.
8. Sample materials (if possible) (max. 2 pages)
9. References (max. 1/2 page)

**********

Blog URL
http://eslincanada.blogspot.com/

JALTCALL 2008 Conference

JALTCALL 2008 Conference

New Frontiers in CALL: Negotiating Diversity

Venue and Dates:

* Saturday, 31st May - Sunday, 1st June, 2008
* Faculty of Foreign Languages and Asian Studies
Nagoya University of Commerce & Business
4-4 Sagamine, Komenoki-cho, Nisshin-shi, Aichi-ken, 470-0193 Japan

Keynote Speaker:

* Phil Hubbard, Ph.D. Director, English for Foreign Students
Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, Stanford University, USA

Plenary Speaker:

* Gavin Dudeney Project Director, The Consultants-E
* The Internet and the Language Classroom (Cambridge University Press,2000)
* How to Teach English with Technology (Longman, 2007)

Important Dates:

* Deadline for submission of proposals: February 15, 2008
* Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2008
* Details of preliminary schedule: March 30, 2008

Presentations may include the following areas:

* The impact of new and emerging CALL technologies
* Relationships between CALL and other disciplines
* Connections between CALL and virtual learning environments
* Future directions of CALL-based teaching and research
* A focus on CALL and theories of Second Language Language Acquisition

Note that the above list is intended to be representative rather than conclusive, so different perspectives on the conference theme are encouraged. Submissions that do not deal directly with the conference theme are also most welcome, provided they demonstrate a sufficient level of innovation, quality of research, or suggestions for improvement of the field. Proposals are encouraged in either English or Japanese.

For further information, please email jc2008@jaltcall.org

**********

Blog URL
http://eslincanada.blogspot.com/

Announcing the launch of AzarGrammar.com

Dear Fellow teachers,

I am delighted to announce the launch of AzarGrammar.com. At last! We've been working to achieve this for a number of years.

My purpose in creating this site has been to provide useful support for teachers. Hopefully, we can pool our experiences, materials and ideas to create a community of teachers worldwide.

The site isn't just for teachers who use Azar textbooks; it's for any teacher using any materials who is interested in any way in the role of grammar in second language instruction.

Click on the link below and you'll find:

a discussion forum moderated by Maria Spelleri
http://azargrammar.com/teacherTalk/forums/

a blog by Richard Firsten ("The Grammar Guy")
http://azargrammar.com/grammarGuy/

various writings and videos of mine about teaching ESL/EFL
(I'd love to hear your responses!)
http://azargrammar.com/authorsCorner/index.html

Teacher-created grammar exercises that can be printed and modified for class use.
http://azargrammar.com/teachersGuides/index.html

Communicative games and activities (including Suzanne Woodward's entire book Fun with Grammar as well as other class-activity materials created by Maria Spelleri)
http://azargrammar.com/materials/index.html

Printable vocabulary worksheets (from Rachel Spack Koch, the co-writer of the Azar CD-ROMs and moderator of the Grammar Exchange Q&A forum)

song lessons designed to reinforce grammar structures using well known songs
(from University of Pittsburgh teacher, Patti Spinner)

grammar explanations as presented on the Azar CD-ROMs and teacher's guides for the Azar series
http://azargrammar.com/grammarSpeaks/index.html


Here's the home page link:
http://www.AzarGrammar.com

Please give us a look, and we'd love to hear from you!

Betty Azar

PS:
ESL in Canada has posted to the Teacher Talk Forum.
Post your question - or answer
http://azargrammar.com/teacherTalk/forums/showthread.php?t=8

**********

Blog URL
http://eslincanada.blogspot.com/