[EDLING:215] Teaching Southeast Asian mother tongues as a foreign language

[Francis M. Hult]

An Invitation to the International Conference on Teaching Mother Tongue as a
Foreign Language: The Emerging Roles of ASEAN Languages and Cultures in the
21st Century

25-27 August 2004
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1. Rationale
Southeast Asian Studies and Southeast Asian languages have been offered in
many universities around the world.  Each years thousands of students in
these SEA programs travel to Southeast Asia to learn ASEAN languages and
cultures. At present, the role of local (SEA/ASEAN) languages and cultures has
become more and more vital to education, government, economics and commerce
both at global and regional levels.  Even, among ASEAN countries, learning
neighboring languages and cultures becomes an integral part of modern life
in the near future in order to enhance friendship, tourism and mutual
political, economic, social and cultural interest.  It is, in economics,
predicted that this 21st century will be the "Asian century", the center of
world economic power. Asia will definitely play an important role in world
politics, economics, and other aspects. Under the leadership of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, ASEAN, and Thailand have been pushed forward to the
central spot of world politics and economics.

Consequently, teaching and learning ASEAN languages are certainly
important tools for the new century.  It is a major goal of this international
seminar to share experience in teaching local/SEA languages to foreigners.  It
is hoped that seminar participants will learn more about theories and best
practices, curriculum, text writing, teaching methods, teaching techniques, an
integration of  culture, and educational technology.

2. Objectives

2.1 To share knowledge and experience in teaching local/SEA
languages to foreigners

2.2 To develop teaching ability, methods, techniques, theories and
practices, curriculum, text, technology, etc., in teaching local/SEA
languages to foreigners

2.3 To learn more from each other to have a closer educational and
cultural  cooperation and to build an ASEAN language teaching
network among   ASEAN countries.

3. Topics of Discussion
     - Current knowledge and research on teaching ASEAN languages to
       foreigners
     -  Current theories and best practices in teaching foreign languages
     -  Best foreign language curriculums
     -  Textbooks and teaching materials
     -  Methods of teaching, teaching techniques and effective classroom
        management
     -  New technology in teaching mother tongue as f foreign languages, e.g.
        e-learning, etc.
     -  Best and most impressive experience in teaching ones own (ASEAN)
        language to foreigners
     -  Any other related areas of research

4. Language of the Conference
        English and Thai (interpreters provided)

5. Participants
Teachers, researchers and students of ASEAN languages in ASEAN
countries, and around the world.

8. Conference Registration Form
Preferred Tile
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9. Registration Fee
        Bht 600  or USD 15.00  (free of charge for speakers)
        To be paid on arrival at the conference registration desk.

10. Contact Address
Sompong Witayasakpan
Department of Thai, Faculty of Humanities
Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
E-mail: sompong at chiangmai.ac.th