Mekong - U.S. Partnership
The Lower Mekong Initiative Education Pillar Symposium on English for Specific Purposes: Collaboration and Innovation
June 3-4, 2014, Bangkok, Thailand
As the LMI region moves towards the use of English in teaching content areas and integrating Internet Communications Technology (ICT) in English language teaching (ELT), it will be instrumental for ELT communities to learn from the experience of the LMI teaching teams. ELT communities need to advance their theoretical and practical knowledge in using face-to-face and distance learning ESP courses for working professionals and those students preparing to enter the new mobile work force of an integrated Asian Economic Community in 2015.
The LMI Education Pillar Symposium on English for Specific Purposes will work towards building synergy among LMI and ASEAN countries and on developing stronger professional ELT networks. The dialogue and exchange generated at the symposium will examine why ESP is a strategic education issue, and will aid the region in addressing wide-ranging issues in regional/international fora where an ability to communicate professionally in English is essential. Furthermore, the symposium will encourage attendees to voice and overcome concerns and constraints in designing and delivering high-level professional skills development programs that integrate ICT and can be shared across LMI borders.
The symposium will be the culminating event of the 2013-2014 LMI English Support Project; lessons learned will be shared on curriculum, technology-assisted and distance learning, assessment and motivation in order to promote consideration of a sustainable means of carrying on the goals of this project on a broader scale throughout the region.
Participants
A maximum of 160 participants will be chosen from the following populations:
1. LMI/ASEAN ministries of education
2. LMI/ASEAN academics working in or researching distance education and ESP
3. Regional TESOL organization chairpersons
4. Language institutes that have run or desire to run ESP training for professionals
5. Publishers who are developing or will develop ESP instructional materials
6. HR officials from regional and international organizations interested in training their professionals
Facilitators and Presenters
Key facilitators will be the LMI Phase 2 English Support Project teaching teams from Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam who have been working in collaboration with the host institution (CULI) LMI 2 coordinators and the US State Department English Language Fellows.
Other presenters will include professionals who are leaders in the field of ESP and the integration of ICT in ESP and distance learning courses from the U.S., Thailand and other ASEAN countries, academics in the field of ESP and HR representatives from regional and international organizations.
