| Key Dates | 2010 Conference | 2008 Conference | 2006 Conference | 2004 Conference
ABOUT The CLESOL Conference
 Since its inception in 1990 the CLESOL
conference has brought together the needs and interests of two
groups of language teachers. Community languages are
the first part of the CLESOL equation. Community languages teachers
are committed to maintaining the first languages of migrant
and refugee groups settled in Aotearoa New Zealand, and
introducing those languages to others interested in learning them.
Community languages teachers are bilingual (or multilingual) and
their work is usually community based. The other half of the CLESOL
equation is ESOL teachers. By comparison, ESOL
teachers are a much bigger group who work in State education institutions
(primary, secondary and tertiary), for private language schools,
or as volunteer community tutors. The language of, and
focus for, instruction is English, and ESOL teachers
are predominantly monolingual native English speakers (but not
exclusively so).
The interests of these two groups of
teachers coincide in many ways and the CLESOL conference
provides an important opportunity for dialogue between the two
groups to occur. Each has much to learn from the other and the
synergy of the CLESOL conference draws on the energy and interests
of both.
Two organisations contribute to the planning
and running of the CLESOL conference, which moves around the country,
being held every two years in a different location. TESOLANZ – Teachers
of English for Speakers of Other Languages, Aotearoa New Zealand – is
the larger partner, and has been an incorporated society since 1994. CLANZ – Community
Languages Association of New Zealand – is the smaller partner
having been an incorporated society since 2004. The organising committee
for each conference is made up of TESOLANZ members from the local
branch where the conference is to be held, and local community language
teachers. With the assistance of a professional conference organiser,
the CLESOL conference is a well organised and professional conference
attracting over 600 national and international delegates.
Photo: Destination Manawatu
GREETINGS FROM THE CLESOL 2012 ORGANISING COMMITTEE
 Ko te reo te taikura o te whakaao marama.
Language is the key to understanding.
Tena koutou katoa.
Warm greetings to you all.
We would like to welcome you to Palmerston North for CLESOL 2012, which will be held from Friday 5 October to Sunday 7 October 2012. We are really looking forward to seeing lots of teachers and researchers from around New Zealand and around the world. We are planning a conference that we think will have all the ingredients to ensure you not only enjoy yourself and learn something useful, but also make new friendships and renew old ones.
You can look forward to many enlightening and entertaining sessions tackling the contemporary challenges and opportunities that exist for both learners and their teachers in the diverse learning spaces we teach and learn in. Alongside this, we are planning a lively programme of social activities that will introduce you to Palmerston North’s cultural and environmental landmarks.
We also invite you to become a presenter at CLESOL’s 13th national conference, sharing your knowledge, expertise, understanding, and teaching practices with colleagues. Proposals are invited for a variety of sessions: poster, demonstration, workshop, and seminar. These should in some way address the conference theme, but we hope that it is wide enough for you to think in many different ways about the dynamics of teaching, learning, and expressing our language and identity in ‘new learning spaces’. Whether you have undertaken an extensive research project you want to tell us about, or want to share an exciting activity from your teaching, whether you teach primary students, teenagers or adults, we hope that there will be a slot for you. The call for papers will open in October 2011 and conference registration will be open from May 2012.
We hope to see you at CLESOL 2012!
- Gillian Skyrme—Chair
- Gill Claridge—Secretary
- Penny Haworth— Keynote Speakers
- Shantona Poduval—Treasurer
- Dana Taylor—Marketing and Public Relations
- Ute Walker— Conference Programme
- Hilary Smith— TESOLANZ
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