ICON–ELT 2022: The 1st International Conference on English Language Teaching
“World Englishes inEnglish Language Teaching in the Digital Age”
Date: 14 May 2022
Venue: Buriram Rajabhat University, Thailand
According to the International Association for World Englishes (IAWE), The conceptualization of world Englishes within a sociolinguistic framework actually goes back to the early 1960s (Kachru 1965) and mid 70s (Smith 1976). However, organized efforts in discussing the concept of world Englishes and its formal and functional implications were not initiated until 1978 (http://www.iaweworks.org/about-iawe.html). World Englishes is a term for referring indigenized varieties of English, especially varieties developed in territories influenced by the United Kingdom or the United States. Seidlhofer (2005) describes the current status of English as an “unstable equilibrium.” In many ways, this analogy regarding the current state of affairs with English language teaching (ELT) is appropriate. A successful English language teaching and learning under a pragmatic and humanistic approach can be described via the World Englishes (WE) perspectives. The sweeping changes of globalization and industrialization force teachers to cope with the change in the perception of the learners and to take a closer look at the new roles of teachers in the light of the enormous importance being given to the use of technology in imparting the English Language.
The use of technology will help the learners and teachers to move beyond the walls of the classrooms as the learning can take place anywhere anytime. It is necessary to realize that English Language Teaching is not only a work of art but also science. The teachers and researchers have to admit the fact that the demands on the teaching profession have increased and it is necessary that teachers should be an innovative, reflective, and technologically savvy learner by nature (Mangayarkarasi et ta. (2011). Due to tremendous technological progress in a digital age, the scenario of English teaching techniques is entirely changed. Consequently, the teachers of 21st century should shed traditional concepts and techniques of classroom teaching and should adopt the recent and innovative teaching techniques, using different social media.
In 2021, the Ph.D. (ELT) Program under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Buriram Rajabhat University has been developed with the aims to develop students’ specialization in English language teaching, to equip them with full potential for conducting research and creating innovation in English language teaching, and to build their ability for creating a new body of knowledge in English language teaching and effective application of it. In order to fulfil these aims, the ICON-ELT 2002 or the first international conference on English Language Teaching (ELT) is held with the theme on “World Englishes in English Language Teaching in the Digital Age.” This ICON-ELT 2002 will open a platform for researchers, academics, and scholars to present academic and research works relevant to ELT, focusing on World Englishes in a digital age. The forum will also bring together international leading experts on World Englishes to discuss the influence of English variants on standard Englishes and its implications on English Language Teaching.
Conference Purposes
- To publicize research, and innovative works on English Language Teaching, covering the conference theme and sub-themes such as Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), English as an International Language (EIL), World English, and English as a Global Language, etc. 2. To be a platform for researchers, scholars, lecturers, and students both inside the country and abroad to exchange knowledge and experiences, and also to present their quality academic and research work in ELT, and WE.