Surviving a teaching conference
Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord offer some suggestions on how to survive springtime and get the best out of a teaching conference.
Springtime can be a long, difficult haul for teachers. Our best ideas may have been used in the first term, we (and our students) are accustomed to the book we're using, and the summer holidays seem so far away. Thank goodness, then, for conferences!
The English teaching conference season usually runs from January or February to May. Many countries or regions hold a national annual event for teachers during these months. It's a great way to reinvigorate yourself, meet fellow professionals and fill up on resources and ideas for the remaining months of the school year. Here are our tips for getting the best out of a conference if you're a first time-attendee (or even a seasoned one).
Before the conference
Find out where the nearest one is
If you don't know anything about conferences or teachers' organisations,
do a Web search on "(your country) + English teacher association
+ conference". Also check that your country isn't a TESOL affiliate.
(For a list of affiliates go to the TESOL site at www.tesol.org.)
Many countries have a national conference and perhaps several regional
conferences. The British Council or International House school in your
country may also run conferences. It is now very common for publishers
to organise their own conferences, so check with the major publishers
in your area.
Look
out for sponsorship opportunities
When you find out where the nearest conference is, look around the conference
website for scholarship opportunities. Check with your school to find
out if they'd be willing to sponsor or partially sponsor you to go (in
return for a report, material and a workshop, perhaps).
Check the programme
Once you've decided to go, check the programme before the conference
itself and plan your time. You can usually find a programme at the conference
website in advance. Choose which talks you think are interesting before
you arrive. You'll be surprised at how little free time you have at
the conference itself.
Be realistic about your expectations
There will be lots of appealing titles to choose from when you are planning
your schedule. Bear in mind they won't all be equally useful or inspiring.
Even if you spend time thinking about which sessions to attend there
will always be an element of potluck. Expect about half of the sessions
you attend to hit the spot.
At the conference
Visit the publishers' stands
Most major conferences will be sponsored by publishers. They will have
their goods set up at stands near or in the main hall. Apart from being
interesting to walk around and see what's new, the stands are a rich
source of free pens, calendars, mouse pads and, occasionally, free books.
It's also worthwhile talking to the people working at the stands to
find out more about what they're offering. If you're interested in writing
opportunities, then you'll probably find editors in attendance who can
give you some tips.
Don't
miss the dinner/cocktail party
Conferences are also all about networking and meeting other teachers.
Try to do as much of this as possible. You never know - you might get
an interesting job offer, an invitation to write an article, or you
could simply make a new friend. Take it easy with the wine, however,
or none of above will happen!
Sit with someone you don't know and participate
Even if you are at the conference with a friend or colleague, make a
point of attending different sessions from each other. Many talks or
workshops include pair and group work, providing a perfect opportunity
to get to know fellow professionals. Comparing notes with colleagues
afterwards will mean you'll get even more out of the conference.
Don't just go and see the "big names"
Top TEFL writers are not necessarily the best speakers or facilitators.
You will find lots of useful and relevant ideas from teachers and lesser-known
writers. On the other hand, it can be a source of inspiration to hear
and see speakers whose books or articles have influenced you, so go
for a bit of both if you can.
After the conference
Write a report or do a workshop for colleagues
Even if this isn't an obligation, it is a good idea to do this. Retelling
helps you to understand ideas better and of course gives your colleagues
the benefit of learning about them, too. The report could be circulated
via email or you could give a face-to-face account in a teachers' meeting
or workshop.
Provide feedback
You'll be asked to complete feedback forms while you're at the conference.
Make sure you complete these and send any general feedback to the organisers.
Feedback is important in helping organisers improve and develop conferences,
so make your voice heard.
Follow up with contacts
You will have come away from the conference with some email addresses.
Were they courtesy exchanges, or would you really like to keep in touch
with these contacts? If the latter is the case, make the effort. Selective
networking can provide a great boost to your development as a teacher.
Think about giving a talk or workshop at the next conference
Would you like to give a talk or workshop at following year's conference?
If so, find out when the deadline is for submissions and start thinking
about an area that interests you. Deadlines are usually about four to
six months before the conference, so get a move on!
Spread the word
Conferences are good for the profession. They provide an opportunity
for teachers and schools to celebrate the work they do and to see themselves
as part of an important community. If you got something from the conference,
it is likely your colleagues will too, so let them know.
Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord are the authors of The Language Teacher's Survival Handbook (iT's Magazines, 2008), a practical guide on how to survive as an English language teacher inside and outside the classroom.