A presentation to show what SPELT traveling conference is?

1. ELT Scn
Title : Affiliate Leadership Break Out Session
Focus on conference
SPELT’s travelling Conferences
Prof. Zakia Sarwar
Hon. Executive Director & Founder member
SPELT Head Office, Karachi, Pakistan
Website: www.spelt.org.pk, zakiasarwar.wordpress.com
E-mail: sarwar.zakia@gmail.com

2. ELT Scenario – Pakistan
A porous border from all sides, Arabian sea
on one side, bordered by Iran, India,
Afghanistan .
Public Spending on education (total % of
GDP) in Pakistan is just 2%
Since its conception it has been struggling to
provide quality public education.
In early 1980’s ESL became a major need due
to a high influx of Iranian, Afghan and Iraqi
refugees.
•
Abbottabad

3. Evolution of SPELT …
1984
1994
2004
2016
SPELT came into
existence with the
hard work of 7
dedicated
educators in a
context where
“ELT” was not a
focus in teaching at
all.
In a decade the
small organisation
from Karachi started
chapters in 7 other
cities of Pakistan
and started hosting
International
Travelling
Conferences
SPELT became
affiliated with IATEFL
& TESOL
Our founder
member became the
English Chair for
South East Asia
Even today not many
Universities have Applied
Linguistics Departments.
“English is taught as a subject
not as a discipline”.
Rehmat Ebrahim: Pakistan
SPELT stepped in to bridge the gap and groom our teachers to teach ESL and
become quality trainers through its dedicated volunteers and members.
“One of its truly remarkable accomplishments is its stability over the years…SPELT
has remained strong throughout its evolution, no doubt due to the longevity of service
of its founder(s).”
Diane Larsen Freeman: USA
Keeping up with the
challenges of the 21st century
SPELT introduced Webinars.
25th session of ICELT being
run through SPELT

4. SPELT Founder Members
L to R: Farida Faizullah, Aneesa Mumtaz, Ambrina Kazi, Talat Raza Rafi, Zakia Sarwar,
Fauzia Shamim, Abbas Husain

5. SPELT – Mission & Objectives
To provide a professional forum for its members and practitioners
to improve and facilitate effective teaching of ESL/EFL in Pakistan
A forum to voice their concerns and raise the issues that they face
on ongoing basis.
SPELT is being recognized for working towards these goals
consistently against all odds.
A platform for ELT practitioners and other educators to learn and
share their learning and expertise
Mission &
Objectives
“Making language
teachers aware of the
nature of language and
the importance of
studying language
objectively.”
MAK Halliday: Australia
Sydney University
“SPELT has not been
defeated by the situation
on the ground; despite
uncertainties and volatile
conditions, it has set and
met its targets.”
Batul Ali: Pakistan

6. Our Vision
Reaching out to parents
Inspiring and Involving Social/Community Leaders
Key Focus on Young Learners, Grooming Future Leaders
Creative Writing and Academic Writing Summer Workshops
Adding Administration Training Strand
Promoting Friends of SPELT to increase Volunteer Participation
Conceptualize the basis of a dedicated Fundraising Group - focused
fundraising groups globally.

7. Innovations …
Hybrid Journal
The journal has 2 research
articles, rest of the articles focus
on teaching techniques and
strategies. It is teacher focused.
Never missed an issue since its
conception in 1985 even when
there was a lack of sponsorsAcademic Sessions
Held across Pakistan in Karachi,
Lahore, Abbottabad, Peshawar
and Sukkur on the same day at
the same time on the last
Saturday of every month. SPELT
has never once missed holding a
session since its start in1984
HELPING REGIONAL TA’S GROW
“In the past SPELT invited some
teachers from Afghanistan which gave
the idea of founding our TA, ELTAA”
Zaitoon Bahram: Afghanistan, First
President ELTAA
TRANING TEACHERS BEYOND ELT
“Going beyond ELT: Urdu Strand,
Leadership Strand to include
teachers of other disciplines
“I feel that the Urdu teachers had a
great feeling that they are not
ignored.”
Raza Ali Abidi: UK BBC London

8. SPELT : TESOL’s Affiliate since
1989
◦ TESOL Plaque given on 25th year of partnership
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9. SPELT @ TESOL
◦ Active participation of SPELTers in TESOL
◦ SPELT has been a TESOL Affiliate from 1989 to date.
◦ Prof. Zakia Sarwar has served TESOL in various Interest sections ;
As Chair EFL IS: Chair Professional Development Standing
Committee; member TESOL Publications Committee
◦ Dr. Fauzia Shamim, a founder SPELTER
has been selected for TESOL mentorship
programme 2016
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10. TESOL @ SPELT
◦ SPELT & TESOL have had a long association.
◦ SPELT has done a research Professional Development Project with
TESOL
◦ Every year TESOL sends books for the SPELT membership raffle
◦ A number of renowned speakers have presented at the SPELT
conferences. The list includes:
◦ Thomas Scovel
◦ Michael Halliday
◦ Rosa Aronson
◦ Dudley Reynolds
◦ Dr. Diane Larsen Freeman
◦ Dr. Rebecca Oxford
◦ Dr.Michael Medley
◦ Dr Hema Ramanathan
◦ Sherry Blok
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11. Questions for you?
◦ Q.1 Why do TAs hold conferences?
◦ Q.2. What kind of issues do you face while organizing the conference in your TA
a. Academic
b. Conference Programme Book
c. Logistics for the D-Day
d. Budget and planning
◦ Q.3. What kind of solutions do you come up with?
◦ Q.4. Any hard nuts to crack?
◦
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12. SPELT’s Solution
◦ Travelling Conference
◦ In the travelling conference, using the same conference theme, the
presenters travel from one city to another, giving the same
presentations, instead of participants gathering for the conference in
one place unlike TESOL & IATEFL
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13. 13
Conference 2007: Presenters' Travel Schedule
* Karachi Nov 2-4; *Abbottabad & Multan Nov 6-7; *Islamabad & Lahore Nov 9-11, 2007
S. No Name Abbotabad Islamabad Lahore Multan
1
Sandie Mourao
Portugal x
▪ Plenary
▪ Workshop 10 Nov
▪ Keynote
▪Fly From Lahore to Islamabad
9th Evening
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
6-7 Nov. 2007
2
Brian Shields
UK
▪Plenary
▪ Workshop
▪Panel Discussion?
11 Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
10 Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion?
6-7 Nov 2007
3
Adrian Tennant
UK
▪ Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
10 Nov 2007
▪ Keynote
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
4 Ahmar Mahboob
▪ Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
10 Nov 2008
5
Jane Hoelker
UAE
▪ Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
▪Keynote
9th Nov 2007
6
Marc Helgeson
Japan
▪ Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
6-7 Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
10th Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
11 Nov 2007
7
Margret Early
Canada
▪Keynote
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
6-7 Nov 2007
▪Keynote
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
10 Nov 2007
▪Keynote
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
11 Nov 2007
8
Richard Smith
UK
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion?
11 Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion?
10 Nov 2007
9
Richard Boyum
India
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
11th Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion
10th Nov 2007
▪Plenary
▪Workshop
▪Panel Discussion?
6-7 Nov 2007
10
Nurcon Cose
Turkey x
▪ Paper
▪ Panel discussion?
On learner autonomy
Logistic Solutions: Presenters’ Conference Schedule

14. Why a travelling conference?
• In Pakistan as yet, there are no large conference
venues to hold an audience of three to four
thousand, with facilities for breakout sessions for
70 or so workshops, papers, demonstrations and
panels discussion etc.
•It is financially challenging for teachers to travel
from one place to another, and bear the hotel
expenses etc. to attend a conference.
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15. Why a travelling conference?
• The majority of participants are women, and it would be
socially unacceptable/ inconvenient for them to travel to
other parts of country alone or spend a night in a hotel
without family.
•Two SPELT chapters Lahore and Islamabad - about 4 hours
bus travel away from each other- -- both wanted the
conference on a weekend, so there are two simultaneous
conferences. It is like a relay race between team A and Team
B. Team A crosses over after the first day of presenting in
one city to the other, and vice versa.
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16. Advantages of the travelling
conferences
Maximizes input of visiting experts
from abroad
Gives the visiting experts a chance to meet teachers
from all over the country
They also get a chance to travel across the country,
and appreciate different cultural differences from the
tip of the Arabian sea to the foothills of Himalayas

17. Why a travelling conference?
“ If teachers cant come to the conference, the
conference goes to the teachers!..... simple but
brilliant!! Plenary and featured speakers travel to
give the same presentations to at least three
different cities. Dates and presentations are juggled
to maximize the input of visiting experts.”
Arifa Rehman BELTA President

18. Why a travelling conference?
“ SPELT’s traveling conference is a great
innovation. It affords the possibility for many
teachers to participate in the conference who
would not otherwise be able to. It also gives us
speakers the opportunity to travel around the
country and to visit three different special cities.”
Diane Larsen Freeman

19. Why a travelling conference?
“ It was my great privilege to participate as a speaker in
the SPELT traveling conference. It seemed like a great
way to knit together the country of Pakistan. Instead of
Pakistan's being fragmented into cities and towns where
English teachers did not have a chance to communicate
with and learn from each other, SPELT brought the
conference to three major cities so that more people
could attend and interact. As a person visiting from the
United States, I valued this amazing conference as a way
of getting to know more English teachers in Pakistan and
finding out more about different parts of the country. I also
found that SPELT was brilliantly organized.”
Dr Rebecca Oxford

20. Why a travelling conference?
“ I applaud SPELT leaders for being so creative,
innovative and responsive to the needs of their
members. The traveling conference is a brilliant
concept that allows English teachers to enhance
their skills, and to network, regardless of their
location.”
Rosa Aronson: Former President TESOL

21. Why a travelling conference?
“SPELT's traveling conference is Mohamet coming
to the mountain, taking the experience to people
who cannot come to it themselves. Because of that
experience, I was ready for a similar 'professional
development tour' with SLELTA in Sri Lanka and
hope to be part of a similar program in the more
difficult to reach areas of India. Thank you, SPELT,
for pioneering this and building such a great model.”
Dr Hema Ramanathan

22. Why a travelling conference?
SPELT travelling conference allowed me to experience
the linguistic and cultural diversity of Pakistan. Each
audience provided different insights and perspectives on
my practice which has encouraged self-reflection and
growth as an ELT practitioner. Impromptu invitations to
speak and visit educational institutions prompted
opportunities to share my area of expertise with content
teachers in need of support in teacher training and
development. It was a personally and professionally
enriching experience which has impacted my classroom
teaching and has led to exciting new directions for
partnerships and research.
Sherry Blok :TESOL Teacher of the Year 2015

23. SPELT Conference Poster 2016
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