As busy practitioners, we rarely have the chance to step back and think about the future of our field — we’re too busy resolving day-to-day issues. The Science and Art of Language Teaching (SALT) international conferences are held every two years as a professional development opportunity for practitioners and other language teaching professionals. Participants gather for the 2 days SALT International Conference, which offers full-length papers, workshops, poster sessions, demonstrations, plenary speakers, product exhibitions, and networking opportunities.
The Conference invites proposals from the introductory through advanced level on all topics related to language teaching and learning. Proposals which address the theory, research and applications as well as describe innovative projects are encouraged. All papers submitted to this conference will be peer reviewed by the Program Committee. Acceptance will be based primarily on originality, significance and quality of contribution. All submissions are subjected to a blind refereeing process.
We invite you to join us and reap the rewards of sharing minds, ideas, knowledge, research, and best practice in the science and art of language teaching in various areas including:
1. Pedagogies
Pedagogy is the art and science of how something is taught and how students learn it. It includes among other things matters such as how the teaching occurs, the approach to teaching and learning, the way the content is delivered and what the students learn as a result of the process. Current pedagogy concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to ecological language learning and teaching, blended learning, learner centred learning and project-based language learning.
2. Technologies
Technology is the knowledge and use of tools, techniques, and crafts, or systems or methods of organization used to solve practical problems that help us act and think better in learning and teaching. Current technology concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to computer assisted language learning (CALL) and softsystems such as social networking as well as hardsystems such as Short Message Systems (SMS).
3. Social Transformations
Social transformation defines a process of change that takes the individual, community or organization on entirely new paths to effectiveness. It is the process by which an individual alters the socially ascribed status into a socially achieved status. Current social transformation concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to learner-centred language learning and teaching and an ecological perspective of language learning.
4. Managements
Management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively.It is the organization and coordination of the activities in accordance with certain principles, and policies and in achievement of defined objectives as outlined in approaches, techniques, curricula and syllabi in language learning and teaching. Current management concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to management of learner-teacher classroom interaction, and language learning and teaching approaches such as outcome based education in language learning and teaching.
5. Human Factors
Human factors include behavioural, medical, operational, task-load, and work environment factors that influence the performance of people. Human factors in language learning and teaching is the study of how learners and teachers behave physically and psychologically in relation to particular environments, products and approaches to teaching and learning language. Current human factors concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to learning styles, learner strategies, cognitive load and stress as well as learner-teacher interaction.
6. Environments
Environment, milieu, ambiance, setting, surroundings all refer to what makes up the atmosphere or background against which someone or something is seen or done. It is the physical, social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual, and community of language learning and teaching. Current environment concerns in language learning and teaching include but are not limited to virtual and real environments as well as classroom and home-schooled environments.
7. Other language or teaching related issue
Other language or teaching related issue may include issues other than pedagogy, technology, social transformation, management, human factors and environment. This may involve the theory of language or linguistics, assessment, portfolio assessment, school-based assessment, and alternative assessment. This sub-theme also includes other novel, fundamental, exploratory or application issue related to language or the field of language teaching.
The Science and Art of Language Teaching International Conference is an opportunity to help each other become more efficient. By gathering and sharing practical solutions for everyday challenges, we can create more breathing room to plan for what’s to come. We hope that the conference will provide not only stimulating and insightful presentations, but that it will also provide participants with the chance to come together in a spirited environment in which they can exchange ideas by participating in lively discussions.
We can’t wait to meet you at 2012 SALT International Conference.
