National English Teachers' Conference addresses student transition to university-level English

The program was designed as a networking event for English language teachers at the secondary and post-secondary levels in Qatar, with panel discussions and poster presentations focused on guiding students through the transition from secondary to university level English reading, writing and speaking.

The conference, entitled English Teaching Excellence for Qatar: The Transition to College (ETE-Q 2009), was open to English teachers from the secondary and post-secondary levels as well as administrators and policy makers involved in English language instruction. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Jodi Crandall from the University of Maryland in the United States.

Crandall is the former President of both TESOL, the largest international professional organization for teachers of English to speakers of other languages, and the American Association for Applied Linguistics, one of the most prestigious organizations internationally for researchers in the field of applied linguistics. Dr. Crandall covered the topic of "Academic English."

The conference was conceived and organized by Professors Erik Helin, Dudley Reynolds and Silvia Pessoa of Carnegie Mellon Qatar and Professor Alan S. Weber of WCMC-Q who all teach undergraduate students in English language and writing skills.

The conference was organized around panel presentations by invited representatives from institutions at the secondary, pre-university, and university levels as well as poster presentations on "ideas that work" at each level.

"The event was designed to introduce all stakeholders interested in improving English language teaching in the State of Qatar to what other teachers are doing in different institutions," according to Dr. Alan S. Weber of WCMC-Q, a member of the Steering Committee.

"Networking and professional development of English teachers in Qatar needs more attention, and this conference will provide opportunities for teachers to discuss and debate 'best practices."

he added.

Dr. Silvia Pessoa from Carnegie Mellon Qatar emphasized that, "it is crucial for us at the college level to know what English high school teachers are doing to prepare students for college and for them to know what the expectations, objectives, and outcomes are at the college level." Erik Helin indicated that "based on a previous workshop on language teaching, high school teachers are eager to participate in professional development workshops and learn about theories and techniques that can help them with their teaching. This conference provides such opportunity." Dr. Dudley Reynolds of Carnegie Mellon Qatar adds that he was "very excited about this opportunity to find out what's going on both inside and outside of Education City in preparing students for the next level. It's very easy to become engrossed in our own classrooms and lose sight of what our students need for the next step in their academic and professional careers."

The conference was strongly endorsed by WCMC-Q Dean Javaid Sheikh, who commented: "Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar has a strong commitment to developing physicians who can communicate effectively with patients and their families, and who can share their medical discoveries with their colleagues in clear scientific writing and persuasive public speaking."

In addition, Carnegie Mellon Qatar Dean Charles E. Thorpe stressed the importance of preparing high school students in English for Carnegie Mellon Qatar's rigorous college programs: "The freshman curriculum [at Carnegie Mellon Qatar] requires fluent use of academic English starting from the first day of classes. Of course we surround our students with help: specially-designed English courses, an Academic Resource Center, help with study skills and advising. But the transition is much easier if the students arrive well-prepared. Our partnership with secondary school teachers is a vital part of helping students arrive at the university with all the tools they need to succeed."