Professional growth

A BORN teacher always does a perfect job. It is at the backdrop of such a wide continuum that the 33rd Annual Conference of the English Language Teachers' Association of India (ELTAI), was held on February 1and 2, 2002, at Loyola College. Inaugurating the Conference, Ms. Eunice Crook, First Secretary, British Council Division, Chennai, said that opportunities for professional growth of English teachers in India had never been better than before. Dr. K. Chellappan received the eminent teacher award.

In his key note address Professor Talgeri , Vice Chancellor , CIEFEL, Hyderabad, asserted that language has adjusted itself to the cultural changes . Today, we share a type of hybrid culture as found in Commonwealth Literature; hence teachers ought not to stick to the old parameters and continue to quote Shakespeare. Opening the panel discussion on various dimensions of teacher development Dr. Prabhu claimed that in the Epic Age, Dronacharya was never expected to improve his calibre. Is there a need for a teacher to develop at all and even if he does should it be transparent ? V.J. Mathews and Rhekha Shetty argued for the place of multiple intelligence. Padmashri Natarajan Endowment Lecture by Robert Bellarmine highlighted the differences between academic research and action research and, also about key features of research.

The ELTCS presentation by Amol Padwad and Havovi gave a clear outline of the outstanding contribution of ELTCS to the Indian ELT scenario. Gautama in his session on assessment in teacher development made the participants aware of the need for self assessment and introspection in helping the growth of teachers. Nic Humphries, First Secretary , English Studies , British Council , New Delhi, who spoke during the valedictory function, promised to identify more areas of co operation between ELTAI and the British Council . Mrs. Gayatri Devi Dutt , Director, Regional Institute of English, Bangalore, in her valedictory address gave a comprehensive overview of the various ways in which teachers could develop themselves. There were also workshop sessions by Melane Williams on teaching young learners, Graeme Reid on non-linear narrative in the classroom and Paul Thompson on teaching poetry. The spark ignited by this conference will definitely help teacher participants go a long way in the process of growth in their career.

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