Fifth International Conference

Introduction

This is a conference for professionals in the field of Language Teaching and Development issues related to language and communication. The conference has generally been held in Southeast Asia, but it is not limited to this region by either participation (see conference participants list) or by potential venue.

The Language and Development Conference series began in Bangkok in 1993 and was subsequently held in Bali 1995, Langkawi (Malaysia) 1997 and Hanoi 1999. FollowingPhnom Penh in 2001, the conference was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (2003) and Addis Ababa Ethiopia(2005).

The conference has been conducted on a voluntary basis by institutions dealing with language and development. For each conference there is a steering committee of 5-6 people who establish the general guidelines, coordinate any sub-committees and generally keep track of progress as the conference approaches. The steering committee is made up of a representative of the hosting institution, the co-organising institutions and other interested parties.

The conference has generally brought together the following groups:

• practitioners and researchers in issues of international language in development
• representatives of funding agencies
• representatives of government and non-government organisations
• aid project participants and beneficiaries

Conference history

The organisational history of the conference is as follows:

Phnom Penh conference

The Fifth International Conference on Language and Development was held from 5 to 7 September 2001 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The first and third days were conducted at the Hotel Inter-Continental and the second day was held at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. This conference was hosted by IDP in collaboration with the IFL and Language Australia.

The fifth conference highlighted the role of literacy in Language and Development. By doing so, this conference attracted a range of papers on issues associated with local dialects and regional and national languages, as well as on the subject of language policy.

A selection of the Phnom Penh conference papers has been published in a book available for sale by contacting Language Australia. Non-published (unedited) papers may be found under Conference papers.

Conference participants

The conference brought together international delegates from across the spectrum of stakeholder groups. 212 representatives from 29 countries attended the full three days of the conference. This included 42 Cambodian nationals who were sponsored by various donors such as IDP Education, the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy, CfBT, AusAID, UNESCO, MobiTel and Telstra. In addition, a further 76 Cambodians from local educational institutions and non governmental organisations were sponsored by IDP Education to attend the conference on Day Two.

The range of countries represented for the full three days of the conference is as follows:

Paper presenters

184 abstracts were received. 91 papers were presented. Papers were divided into 11 parallel sessions.

There were five plenary sessions presented by:

• Professor Joe Lo Bianco (Language Australia)
• Professor Allan Luke (University of Queensland, Australia)
• Dr Supote Prasertsri (UNESCO, Cambodia)
• Mr David Henry (Australian Agency for International Development)
• Professor Tom Clayton (University of Kentucky, USA)

Day Two delegates

IDP Education sponsored 76 Cambodians from local educational establishments to attend the conference on the afternoon of the second day. The second day of the conference was held at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) on the campus of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The Abstract Selection Committee attempted to choose papers related to language teaching, and specifically English Language Training, on this afternoon. Most of the Day Two delegates were local English teachers in Phnom Penh and nearby provinces.

Concurrently on this afternoon, the Conference Organising Committee arranged trips for delegates to visit local literacy programs. These trips were offered as an alternative to the ongoing parallel sessions held at the IFL. The aim of this afternoon was to cater to two broad interests of the delegates: foreign language teaching (at the IFL) and literacy programs (at various nearby locations). The purpose of the visits was to enable delegates to experience the practice of informal education in Cambodia. These literacy programs are conducted by local and international NGOs and administered by the Department of Non Formal Education within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

For the literacy visits, delegates chose from five literacy centres supported by the following three organisations:

• Friends / Mith Samlanh
• Street Children Assistance and Development Program (SCADP)
• World Vision International (WVI)

Most of the delegates who chose to visit a literacy program found it to be a highlight of their conference participation.

Plenary poster session

To increase local access to the conference and to facilitate understanding by the international delegates of local conditions, the conference organisers arranged a "Plenary Poster Session" on Day One (afternoon).

Nine local and international NGOs were invited to present at this poster session to the full conference delegation. They were each asked to explain how their posters were designed for education campaigns among the illiterate and semi-literate in Cambodia.

Presentations were as follows:

Exhibitors

Six exhibitors maintained display stands during the conference. The exhibitors were as follows:

• D.K. Today Co. Ltd.
• Language Australia
• Interquess Co. Ltd.
• Australian Centre for Education
• TELSTRA - Bigpond
• IELTS Australia

Conference papers

Abstracts were selected by the Selection Committee consisting of Prof. Joseph Lo Bianco, Mr. Geoffrey Crewes, Ms. Psyche Kennett, Ms. Chan Sok Luong, Ms. Solange Marguerite, Mr. Jean Michel Filippi and Mr. Paul Mahony. The committee spent three days from 17-19 July to review the abstracts received.

Opening ceremony

The conference opening ceremony was chaired by Mr Paul Mahony, Chair of the Steering Committee and officially opened by HE Mr Pok Than, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. The keynote address was de;ivered by Professor Allan Luke of the University of Queensland, Australia.

Ambassadors and other representatives from sponsoring countries and donor organisations attended the opening ceremony. Also in attendance for this ceremony were representatives from local/international NGOs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and several educational institutions in Phnom Penh. In addition, 23 local/international press agents attended the opening ceremony.

Social functions

Welcome reception

This was an informal event held prior to the conference on the evening of the 4th of September in the lobby of the Hotel Inter-Continental. The purpose of this reception was to encourage early registration and to allow delegates to get to know one another and familiarise themselves with the conference venue. It was estimated that 200 people attended the reception.

Conference dinner

The dinner was held in the Imperial 1 Room at the Inter-Continental Hotel on Thursday 6th September. 207 people attended the function, which included some invited guests as well as the 'blue shirter' team.

Cultural tour

There were two cultural tours held during the conference. The first was held on the afternoon of Day Two and a second tour was offered on Saturday 8th of September. The tour encompassed the main attractions of Phnom Penh including a visit to one of the popular markets.