Calling all teachers: Learn new techniques at SPELT conference

More than 1,000 educators attend first day of training event

KARACHI: With the aim to promote professional training and development, the 32nd Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) Conference kicked off on Saturday at Habib University.

More than 1,000 teachers and educators from different schools, colleges and universities, attended the first day of the conference.

The international conference has been working on the professional development of English language teachers since 1984. This year, SPELT has broadened the scope by including sessions on Urdu as well.

At a time around 15 sessions are being held at the conference with expert instructors from morning till evening on different topics including overcoming learner resistance, dyslexia, cultivating critical thinking, writing for social media, teaching grammar, vocabulary development and developing effective creative writing skills.  The prominent features include special workshops and talks by Oxford University Press (OUP) and webinars by overseas experts from different universities and organisations.

The conference was inaugurated by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, US president Dr Dudley Reynolds and the main speakers include English Language Training consultant Adrian Tennant, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, English language and literature professor Dr Phyllis Ghim-Lian Chew, Dr Christine Ludwig from Association Systemic Functional Linguistics, Australia, Dr Nasreen Hussain of Institute of Business Management, Abbas Husain of Teachers Development Centre and SPELT honourary executive director Prof Zakia Sarwar.

Education: A weapon of change

Discussing the different ways to change the education system, educationist and writer Hamida Khuhro gave the example of Malaysia which spends 20% of its GDP on education.

"The biggest problem we face is of out of school children," Khuhro said, adding that the teaching system we follow is outdated and teachers in Pakistan still emphasise on rote learning.

Suggesting teaching techniques, she said that teachers should encourage students to ask questions. "Our entire curriculum needs to change and should be updated," she said pointing that our country needs to use technology to educate children. If a student has a tablet or a laptop then he will find ways to learn new languages too, she added.

Sindh Higher Education Commission chairperson Shahnaz Wazir Ali was of the opinion that our society does not accept new ideas, views and practices. "We have been dominated by the state and are also directly and indirectly dictated by media sometimes," she said.

She also pointed out that, the system needs to realise that the world is changing very quickly and our education system should also change.

Speaking about the importance of teachers, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi trustee Baela Raza Jamil said "Teaching is a fundamental and radical act and this is the only way one should see it." She added, "Teacher is the catalyst, who makes the invisible things visible to students."

She also pointed out that despite many education policies in the country there is none which can cater to the needs of differently-abled children.

OUP managing director Ameena Saiyid, answering a question about the curriculum taught at schools, said that the situation is better in private schools than public schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2016.