Plenary Speakers at this year's Conference:
Featured Speakers at this year's Conference:
Plenary Speaker: Janna Fox
Topic: EFL in transition: Variations on the theme of best practice
Janna Fox, Ph.D. (McGill University), M.A. (Carleton University) is currently a professor within the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Carleton University (Canada) where she teaches courses in language curriculum, language testing, and research methodologies in Applied Language Studies. Her international experience in second and foreign language settings includes system-wide educational reform involving curriculum development, syllabus design, materials development, teacher preparation and in-service training; language policy, language testing and program evaluation. Dr. Fox was awarded the prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship in 2002 in recognition of her educational leadership and excellence in teaching. This is Canada’s only national teaching award at the tertiary level. Also in 2002, her doctoral dissertation received the Jacqueline A. Ross Award. Offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) as part of the TOEFL grants and awards program, this international award for the best dissertation in language testing is presented annually for doctoral research that makes an original and innovative contribution to language testing. Her research is published in such prestigious journals as Language Testing, Language Assessment Quarterly, Curriculum Inquiry, and the International Journal of Testing.
Plenary Speaker: Nancy Overman
Topic: Launching independent learners
Nancy Overman of Georgetown University (USA) is Senior CLED Instructor in the Division of English as a Foreign Language. She has extensive experience in materials development for onsite and distance learning programs in the U.S., francophone Africa, Panama, and China and has also taught in Japan and France. Nancy emphasizes the use of authentic materials in her teaching, has designed many special courses, and is a frequent presenter at TESOL, Inc. on such topics as using technology in teaching, creating independent readers, and improving student writing.
Featured Speaker: Armeda Reitzel
Topic: Strategies for vocabulary development in authentic contexts
Armeda Reitzel is a Professor of Communication and Program Leader in the Linguistics Department of Humboldt State University (USA). She is the recipient of the D. Scott Enright Award of TESOL, Inc. in 2005 and is Chair of the Transitional Leadership Committee for Interest Sections of TESOL, Inc. She has published and presented extensively in the field of cross-cultural communication at domestic and international conferences.
Featured Speaker: Christine Coombe
Topic: Tips for writing presentation proposals & Tips for effective presentations
Christine Coombe of Dubai Men’s Higher Colleges of Education (UAE), has a Ph.D. in Foreign/Second Language Education and Testing from The Ohio State University. She works as an Assessment Leader for HCT. She has won many awards including: the International Language Testing Association (ILTA) grant for the promotion of professionalism in the area of language testing (twice); the ETS International Speaker Grant; the 2002 Spaan Fellowship for Research in Second/Foreign Language Assessment; the 2002-03 TOEFL Outstanding Young Scholar Award; and the Chancellor’s Teacher of the Year for 2003-04. She is Past President of TESOL Arabia and was elected to the TESOL Board of Directors as Convention Chair for Tampa 2006.
Featured Speaker: Mark Algren
Topic: Tips for writing presentation proposals & Tips for effective presentations
Mark Algren, director of the Intensive English Program – American University of Sharjah (UAE), has taught ESL since 1979, earning a masters degree from Southern Illinois University in 1982. Since 1982, he has lived in the Middle East for over 14 years. He has published articles and a book chapter with TESOL, has served on committees, the Board of Directors, and chaired TESOL 2003 in Baltimore (USA). In TESOL Arabia, he serves as executive secretary and is co-chair the 2006 conference in Dubai. He is a frequent presenter at local, regional and international conferences.
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