>> THANKS FOR ALL THOSE WHO HELPED US REACH OUR GOAL AND HOLD THE PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE 35TH ANNUAL TESOL FRANCE COLLOQUIUM.

PLEASE HELP US FUND AFRICA PANEL DISCUSSION

AT THE TESOL FRANCE ANNUAL COLLOQUIUM / 18 - 20 NOVEMBER 2016

Hello! We are representing TESOL France a non-profit organisation "Loi 1901" of teachers of English in France run entirely by volunteers. Today we count 371 members who are all teachers of English working across the spectrum from state schools to private language schools in France. We've been operating since 1981 and we are affiliated to TESOL International Association in the US and IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) in the UK.

>> LISTEN TO HARRY KUCHAH KUCHAH, PLENARY SPEAKER OF THE ANNUAL COLLOQUIUM

>> OUR MISSION AND ACTIVITIES

We are dedicated to stimulate professional development, disseminate information about research, books and other materials related to English Language Teaching (ELT), and to strengthen instruction and research. We operate with seven regional branches across the country and hold nationwide as well as local events to our members and also to non-members.

>> OUR PROJECT: PANEL DISCUSSION, "TEACHING IN AFRICA"

This year we want to build in a focus on Africa and share this exceptional opportunity of professional development for teachers with Teachers Associations, similar to ours, in four African countries: Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Yes! Amongst the problems we face in France what could be a better moment to look outwards and to build links with fellow teachers associations who, despite conditions far worse than those we have in France, are managing to do absolutely extraordinary work. Rwanda has even changed its national language from French to English and it's largely thanks to the outreach work of their national teachers association that teachers are able to adapt to this amazing challenge.

Thanks to personal links we have with some of these African associations, (and that amazing melting pot called IATEFL!) we have been able to select representatives from four African countries who we would like to invite to our three-day conference in November in Paris. We feel they can educate us and help us actively build links with them. We need to try and understand their working contexts, their lives as teachers. They are: Caetano from Angola, Rukundo from Rwanda, Abayneh from Ethiopia and Catherine from Cameroon. They will share their experience over a Panel Discussion which is part of the conference schedule, they will establish personal relationships with our members in France and the over 350 conference delegates from around the world.

>> PANEL DISCUSSION: English Language Teacher Associations and Professional involvement in Africa

English language teacher associations (TAs) have become increasingly common in many parts of the world mainly because of their role in professional development. In many parts of Africa and owing to human resource challenges, TAs play even more complex roles since they are placed in strategically useful places to reach many teachers and students. These roles include basic teacher training, CPD, involvement in policy enactment and implementation as well as motivation for teachers in challenging circumstances. In this panel discussion, the four African representatives will showcase some of the work their TAs have been involved in over the years and reflect on the potential mutual benefits of developing long term partnerships with colleagues from across the globe.

>> MEET TEACHERS AND TEACHER TRAINERS FROM AFRICA

We invited Abayneh Haile, Preident of English Language Professionals' Association-Ethiopia

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Abayneh comes from a lake-side city in Ethiopia called Bahir Dar which is in the Northern part.

He has a background in English language teaching, teacher training, project management and leadership. Has a lot of experience in designing and delivering various English language courses and he has also been serving as President of English Language Professionals’ Association in Ethiopia since 2011. Abayneh has a MA in TESOL with an emphasis on Teacher Development from Leeds University in the UK. He is also CELTA certified.

He is interested in literacy studies, teacher education and the role of teacher associations. Enjoys reading, walking and listening to the radio.

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We invited Rukundo Kanyankole

Chairman of ATER – Association of Teachers of English in Rwanda

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Rukundo holds a BA in English Language Studies and Organizational Studies from Makerere University, and an MA in Applied Linguistics and TEFL from University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He is TESOL certified. He entered into the ELT professional in 2000 as an English language teacher. Since 2004 he has been combining teaching English and directing English programs. He currently manages a national ELT and teacher training program that supports the transition to English as a language of teaching and learning in Rwanda, and Volunteers with the Association of Teachers of English in Rwanda (ATER) as a Board member to strengthen sustainable teacher education and teacher development. With respect to networking among teacher associations, Rukundo is interested in collaborating with ELT professionals around the world to empower teacher groups in ways that enable them to engage in bottom-up, teacher-led, sustainable professional development innovations.

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We invited Catherine Moto Zeh

National President of CAMELTA – Cameroon English Language and Literature Teachers Association

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Catherine is an old hand bilingual teacher in Cameroon; I’ve taught English language to francophone learners since 1983 in public and private secondary schools in Cameroon where I played the roles of head of the English language department, teacher trainer, English club coordinator and supervisor. I was made a pedagogic adviser at regional then national levels; I am now serving as a Regional Inspector Coordinator for the teaching and promotion of Bilingualism (French/English) in the Center Region(Yaoundé). I joined the Cameroon English language and literature teachers association (CAMELTA) in 2001 where I served as Think tank, then acting Secretary General, vice president in charge of membership and since 2014 as the National President. I am also an active member of the Cameroon civil society, running an NGO ‘schools as Instruments for Peace-Cameroon (SIP-Cameroon) that promotes human rights and peace education in schools; I am a Human rights educator and trainer of trainers. I am also a US Fulbright summer institute alumna.

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We invited Caetano Capitão

President of ANELTA – Angolan English Language Teachers Association

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Caetano has a BA in English Language Teaching from ISCED-Luanda (Higher Institute of Education Sciences in Angola). He has twenty four years of experience as teacher. He is a co-founder member of ANELTA (Angolan English Language Teachers´ Association) and its third President. Currently he is a lecturer at ISCED-Luanda.

He has finished the year 4 of law studies at Law Faculty – Agostinho Neto University, has a post-graduation in Applied Management. In 2012 he participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program organized by the United States Department of State. He has participated in IATEFL Manchester (2015) and Birmingham (2016) conferences as presenter.

Currently he is writing a book with the title: `` The Four Skills in One``. He resides in Luanda, Angola.

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>> OUR GOAL

We share the same profession, we share the same passion of teaching and educating children and helping adults progress with their lives through learning and perfecting themselves in the English language.

We would also like to share our problems, know more about differences and build a long-lasting professional relationship with four African Teachers Associations.

>> OUR ANSWER

A Panel Discussion on "Teaching in Africa" at the 35th International TESOL France Annual Colloquium.

>> HOW YOU CAN HELP US

As a non-profit organization, we don't have the means to pay their air-fares over. Neither, of course, do they. That's why we've initiated this crowd-funding bid. If you'd like to get involved and support us, and are able to donate a small sum to this initiative, we'll happily give you even a free year's membership to our association, free entrance to the Paris conference and other rewards, so you can come and meet Caetano, Rukundo, Abayneh and Catherine. Our conferences offer an excellent opportunity for professional development, have a wonderful family atmosphere and we feel that this year will be just magic if we can hold this African Panel so dear to us. Please help us make this happen and then come and be with us in Paris. We'd love to have you!

If you want to meet our friends from Africa and learn about teaching in Africa we will be happy to meet you. Please register online before you come on our website.

>> DURATION OF OUR PROJECT

We aim at reaching out to Teachers Associations in developing countries through knowledge sharing during the Panel Discussion at our Annual Colloquium. The event will start on 18 November 2016 and end on 20 November 2016. Following their visit, we will keep in contact via emails, exchanging newsletters, articles, and work on future possibilities of collaboration.

The collected money will be transferred to TESOL France Assocaiation Loi 1901 (46, rue Barrault 75013 Paris) who is in charge of covering the costs of the air tickets, visa and offer a minimum sum of per diem to the four leaders of Teachers Associations in Angloa, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Rwanda.

>> WHO ARE WE?

>> OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

WORKSHOPS

We organise monthly workshops in Paris and four workshops per year in each of our regional branches. These weekend workshops attract many teachers of English to listen to a guest or local speaker, learn new techniques, tools, ideas which they can implement in their daily teaching practice.

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SPRING DAY CONFERENCE

We also hold a one-day conference in Spring that we call Spring Day. We usually focus on one theme. In 2015 our theme was "From Screen to Stage: Creativity and Innovation in Language Teaching", in 2016 we focused on teachers' professional development in a conference co-organised with Cambridge English: "Here's looking at you teacher..."

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ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM

Thanks to the passionate work of our volunteers, every year we manage to hold a major conference in Paris with hundreds of attendees and speakers and workshop leaders from all over the world. These conferences gather over 350 teachers from around the world, to listen to over 80 presentations, exchange knowledge and experience, and to build sustainable professional relationships and friendships. Teachers who attend our conference feel inspired, invigorated and return to their classes with countless hands-on teaching ideas and tools that their students can benefit from every day.

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Our 35th Annual International Colloquium will take place at Télécom ParisTech between 18 – 20 November 2016. Our theme is “Reaching new heights in ELT” (English Language Teaching) and we will have three outstanding, academic plenary speakers: Diane Larsen Freeman (University of Michigan), Péter Medgyes (University Eötvös Lorànd Budapest) and Harry Kuchah (University of Bath/CAMELTA Cameroon). We have 89 scheduled presentations, one live streamed session from the first IATEFL/TESOL Webconference and one Panel Discussion in the programme. Three days of intensive learning, sharing and connecting across borders and cultures.

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>> COME AND MEET US AND TEACHERS FROM AFRICA

We will be happy to welcome you at the TESOL France International Annual Colloquium on 18-20 November.

Please register online on the TESOL France website. Registration is obligatory.

TESOL France Colloquium - Reaching out to teachers in Africa