- 2nd AINET International Conference concludes at LAD College
- Over 400 participants from India and overseas participate in one-day conference
Nagpur.
The All India Network of Englsih Teachers (AINET) has organized the 2nd International Conference on the theme “English Language Education Understanding Change” at the LAD College in the city on January 10, 2015. The Conference is supported by the British Council of India and RELO, The American Centre, US Embassy India.
The Plenary Session had National Convenor of AINET Dr Amol Padwad, National Coordinator of AINET Krishna Dixit, Principal of LAD College Dr Shyamala Nair, Plenary Speakers Professor Stephen DeGiulio from DACC, New Mexico State University, USA and Assistant Director, State Partnership, British Council Michael Connolly.
The conference focused on the following:
- Classroom experiments
- Curriculums and syllabuses
- Role of technology
- Teacher training / development
- Testing and evaluation
- Teaching Language skills
- Materials / course-books
- Teaching literature
- Methods and strategies
- Action research / case studies
- Learner / Teacher motivation &
- History of ELE in India.
‘The policies and approaches to English language education are changing very fast and there is need to understand changes in English Language Education’ was the undertone at the second AINET one-day international conference that concluded at LAD College on Saturday.
The conference got overwhelming response as over 400 delegates from India and overseas participated in the conference themed ‘English Language Education: Understanding Change’.
At the outset, Secretary of Women’s Education Society Dr Panna Akhani inaugurated the conference proceedings in the presence of Principal, LAD College Nagpur Dr Shyamala Nair, Assistant Director, English Partnerships, British Council Michael Connolly, Head of English Language Education Policy and Research, British Council Debanjan Chakrabarti and National Convener, AINET Dr Amol Padwad.
Michael Connolly delivered plenary on ‘Managing Change in Teacher Education’ while Stephen DeGiulio, Senior English Language Fellow, RELO gave a plenary on ‘The Magic Learning Triangle: Being, Knowledge and Power’. Debanjan Chakrabarti moderated the panel discussion on ‘English as a Medium of Instruction: How Relevant to India?’ while Principal of Waymade College of Education Vallabh Vidyanagar and Dean of Education at Sardar Patel University Gujrat Sulabha Nataraj and Principal of KITS College, Ramtek Dr Bhaskar Patel contributed to the discussion.
Krishna Dixit, National Coordinator AINET presented the report of the conference, Nidhee Meshram from LAD College conducted the inaugural function, Milind Mane from SJGS College Wardha coordinated the registrations while Dr Vivek Joshi, JSPM College Dhanora proposed vote of thanks.
British Council striving for CPD of English teachers: Michael Connolly
Assistant Director, English Partnerships, British Council Michael Connolly gave a plenary on Managing Change in Teacher Education. He said that Teacher Education scenario is changing fast. British Council works with teacher associations like AINET as teacher associations are crucial to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of a teacher. In language learning, English is best acquired through communication and collaboration. Changes in the teacher education scenario can happen if teachers reflect on their teaching and teaching skills can be developed through experimental activities. He further added that quality in the language classroom can be ensured not just through teacher development programme but with the help of many other activities like orientation of the administrators, selection and training of teacher educators and effective use of resources. British Council CPD framework by Dr Padwad and Prof Dixit has been developed especially for this purpose. British Council is doing all these activities in India in partnership with the governments of Maharashtra through ELIPS and ELISS programmes, Bihar, Karnata and Tamilnadu and the results are encouraging.
Let the children bloom: Stephen DeGuilio
In his plenary speech, Senior English Language Fellow, RELO, Delhi Stephen Deguilio talked about three important things in learning. His topic was ‘The Magic Learning Triangle: Being, Knowledge and Power’. He questioned the relevance of traditional schooling and the undermining of one’s existing knowledge of native language and culture to give importance to English. He propounded that the children are more vibrant and independent learners than we think them to be and we must let them bloom.
