Call for Papers

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CALL FOR PAPERS

International Conference on Language Teacher Education
May 20 - 23, 1999
Radisson-Metrodome Hotel
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Research and Practice in Language Teacher Education:
Voices from the Field
May 20 - 23, 1999
Call for Papers
Registration Form

This conference will be of interest to anyone involved in the
preparation and ongoing professional development of language teachers of
all kinds: practitioners and researchers in the various sub-fields of
language teacher education. The conference will address the education of
teachers of all languages, at all instructional and institutional
levels, and in all the many national and international contexts in which
this takes place, including:
•ESL/EFL;
•foreign/modern/world language teaching;
•bilingual education;
•immersion education;
•indigenous and minority languages; and
•the teaching of less commonly taught languages

The conference aims to bring together research, theory, and best
practices from all these contexts, and to initiate and sustain
meaningful professional dialogue across languages, levels, and settings.

Conference Themes

THEME I: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION

A central issue in language teacher education is the question of what
constitutes the knowledge base of language teaching and how it relates
to the processes and content of teacher education. This theme will focus
on:
•teachers' knowledge and beliefs;
•teacher learning in formal and informal contexts;
•teachers' ways of knowing;
•teacher socialization;
•professionalism;
•the nature of disciplinary knowledge.

THEME II: SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS OF LANGUAGE TEACHER
EDUCATION

Language Teacher Education takes place in multiple contexts and with
diverse populations, where language, culture and identity are
intricately bound together. This theme will include critical and
analytical perspectives on:
•institutions, communities, and discourses within which teacher
education practices are situated;
•power, status, and authority and language teacher education;
•diversity and equity in language teacher education, including issues of
race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and language;
•the socially situated nature of language and learning.

THEME III: LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION POLICY

Actions taken by formal and informal decision-making bodies have an
impact on language teacher education. These policies influence the
directions of teacher education even though they may or may not involve
the participation of teacher educators at the local through the national
level. Papers will focus on:
•standards;
•legislative mandates;
•teacher education program requirements;
•recruitment and retention;
•advocacy by language teacher organizations.

THEME IV: PROCESSES OF LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION

The processes of language teacher education refer to the ways in which
the knowledge base is conceptualized and operationalized. These are
constructed through the contributions and interpretations that all
participants bring to the process. This theme will examine:
•program design;
•curriculum;
•pedagogical methods;
•organization of instruction;
•practica;
•materials;
•observation/supervision;
•teacher professional development.

A note about the conference sponsors:

The University of Minnesota has long been involved in language teacher
education through its English as a Second Language program in the
College of Liberal Arts (CLA) which prepares individuals for language
teaching to adults in the U.S. and abroad. The Second Languages and
Cultures Education program within the College of Education and Human
Development (CEHD) has a national reputation for its foreign language
and ESL teacher preparation program. Language faculty from both the CLA
and CEHD often come together through activities sponsored by the Center
for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University
of Minnesota. As one of seven U.S.D.E. sponsored National Language
Resource Centers in the country, CARLA supports a number of coordinated
programs of research, training, development, and dissemination of
information related to second language learning, teaching, and
assessment. Visit the CARLA website for more information about our
research and action initiatives, summer institutes for teachers,
assessment tools, and working papers series.



Registration

The conference registration fee is $150 and includes lunch on Friday and
Saturday. Registrations must include payment. A copy of the registration
form can be obtained here. Space at the conference is limited - after
May 1st, please call Tracey Benson at the number listed below to confirm
availability before sending in your registration.

As a special incentive for early registration, those who register by
February 15th will pay only $125. Graduate students who are currently
enrolled in a full time program of graduate study can register for the
conference for $110 with documentation of full-time graduate student
status.

Refunds for the conference, minus a $25 cancellation fee, will be issued
if a written request is received in the registration office by May 17,
1999, three working days before the conference begins. After this date,
refunds minus $55 (which includes the registration fees and cost of the
meals) will be issued upon receipt of written request. A full refund of
fees paid will be made if the conference is not held. The University of
Minnesota reserves the right to cancel the conference if necessary. If
you have special needs, please contact the CARLA office by May 3, 1999
at (612) 626-8600.

Registration is being coordinated by the University of Minnesota's
Professional Education and Conference Planning office. Payment options
include: check payable to the University of Minnesota; a purchase order
from your institution; or credit card charge (VISA, Mastercard, Discover
Card or American Express). Payment must be made in U.S. dollars and must
accompany your registration.

Contact: Tracey Benson
Phone: (612) 624-3708 or 1 (800) 367-5363
FAX: (612) 625-2207
E-mail: tbenson at extension.umn.edu

If you have other questions about the conference program, please contact
the CARLA office at:
Phone: (612) 626-8600
FAX: (612) 624-7514
E-mail: carla at tc.umn.edu

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CALL FOR PAPERS

The International Conference on Language Teacher Education welcomes
proposals for papers on all aspects of the education and professional
development of language teachers. Papers may report on data-based
research, theoretical and conceptual analyses, or best practices in
language teacher education, and should be based on one of the four
conference themes.
The committee will accept proposals until October 31, 1998. Contact Dr.
Bill Johnston for details on the proposal format at billj at tc.umn.edu or
by phone at (612) 626-2269. You can also get information and a proposal
form here.

This URL: http://carla.acad.umn.edu/teacher-ed.html