Qatar Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Meet

On Saturday, January 19, 2008, 165 professionals convened to share ideas and experiences on the teaching of English as a second language. The organizers selected “Teacher-to-Teacher” as the underlying theme for the presentations and discussions. “The goal of the conference was to attract first time presenters from local schools in Doha and also to present practical ideas and experiences for the classroom,” said Candith Pallandre, a professor of English as a Foreign Language at Georgetown University’s Qatar Campus.

The conference hosted 16 presenters who came from different local educational institutions such as the Supreme Education Council, the Academic Bridge Program, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, independent schools, government schools, and private language organizations.

The goal of Qatar TESOL is to establish a network of teachers, supervisors, and researchers who are committed to improving teaching in English as a Foreign or Second Language in Qatar and the Gulf region. The organization has more than 450 members who come from Education City, Qatar University, local primary and secondary schools, and other educational institutions. It hosts a yearly conference in the spring, publishes a newsletter, and brings language experts to the area to interact with local teachers and administrators. The Third International Qatar TESOL Conference will be held at the College of North Atlantic in Qatar between 11 – 12 April.