Korea TESOL to host 25th annual conference

By John Redmond

The 25th Annual Korea TESOL (KOTESOL) International Conference kicks off its two-day conference for teachers, educators and researchers at Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, Oct. 21.

One of the largest teaching conferences in Asia, it attracts over 1,000 attendees each year from Korea, Asia and beyond.

This year the conference is being held in conjunction with the Pan-Asian Consortium of Language Teaching Societies (PAC), of which Korea TESOL is a founding member.

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

The conference theme is “Why are we here? Analog learning in the digital era.”

The theme provokes thought and discussion on the relevance of in-classroom teaching when there are now so many digital alternatives.

The goal of the conference is to support KOTESOL’s mission to “assist teachers in self-development and improve ELT in Korea.”

Experts in the field of English language teaching, such as Andy Curtis of Anaheim University and Nicky Hockly from The Consultants-E, will conduct numerous presentations, workshops and discussions.

The schedule is also packed with presentations by educators who just want to share what has worked for them.

“The result is that there is something for everyone: Whether the attendees are kindergarten practitioners or university professors, they will not leave disappointed,” the organizer says on its website. “Every teacher, no matter their experience, leaves with new activities, strategies, and methods to use straightaway in their classroom.”

Featured speakers include Glenda Rose of Texas A&M University, Ted O'Neill from Gakushuin University, Mark Dressman of the University of Illinois, Helen Slatyer from Macquarie University, Kalyan Chattopadhyay from the University of Calcutta, Korea National University of Education’s Chan Kyoo Min, Kathleen Kampa from Seisen International School and Bodo Winter from the University of Birmingham.

Registration is 60,000 won for KOTESOL members and 85,000 won for nonmembers.

The conference will be held at the Gemma Hall of Sookmyung Women’s University in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Saturday registration opens at 8 a.m. and there are sessions from 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Sunday registration opens at 8 a.m. and there are sessions from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

To get there, go out exit 10 of Sookmyung Women’s University Station on Line 4. Turn around and walk through the tunnel under the railway line, cross the main road and walk up the hill towards the university. Keep going up the hill until you come to a second set of traffic lights.

There is a large staircase on the left. Go up the stairs and follow the signs, crowds, and volunteers up to conference registration.

Visit koreatesol.org for more information.