ALA 2016 Conference
I recently participated in the ALA 2016 Conference hosted by the Association for Language Awareness (ALA) at UW Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business) from July 19th to 22nd, 2016.
ALA 2016 participants (Can you spot me?)
I presented a joint paper with Richard (who was there in spirit). Our paper entitled ‘Raising interculturally-oriented ELF awareness of EFL teachers in Thai universities’ was about a book chapter I am coauthoring with Richard. (See original post here http://lantern.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/?p=9092 ).
The presentation went well and some members of audience showed interest on the topic by asking questions such as those in relation to Thai EFL teachers’ perspectives on what and how English should be taught and the question regarding English as a Lingua Franca orientation to teaching in Thai universities.
Part of the opening ceremony
At the conference I also had a chance to meet with Professor Barbara Seidlhofer from Vienna University, a key figure in ELF research and one of the scholars I have cited frequently in my thesis (draft, so far, <sigh>). She is very kind and friendly.
The overall experience was great for me, especially when it took place in the beautiful city of Vienna in the summer. The conference is, perhaps, the last conference for my PhD student’s life as now I have to focus on the thesis – redrafting, revising, editing, repeat.
Haven’t found you yet, Khwan!
So glad you had a fun and useful time, but very sad this is the last time we will read your conference reflections on LANTERN. You have been one of the most regular contributors to this blog over the last few years and I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Thank you very much for finding the time and being so willing to share with us. Having said that, I’m sure there is still another reflection or so in there on ‘finishing the thesis’, ‘last steps’ or something similar!