CATEC- Central Asian Teachers of English Conference 2014

9th Annual Central Asian Teachers of English conference was organized in June 21-22 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. American Councils supported my travelling and other expenses. A team from Kyrgyzstan presented their topics through the workshops, poster-presentation, and talk for Fellows from the USA and teachers from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. All of the sessions were very interesting for us, but there is a practice to choose a session for your interest from several that are conducted at the same time. If I had a chance I would visit all of those sessions, but they were at the same time. Thus, I only could participate at some workshops, such as  "Power Point as a Tool for Teaching Grammar", "Alternative Needs Assessments: Learning What Interests and Motivates Your Students", "Project-Based Learning», «Using Cell phones in Speaking Lessons", "Raising Learner Motivation and Improving Target Grammar Structures through Videos", "Fashion in Kyrgyzstan-How to teach reading and vocabulary using Authentic materials", "Planning Cross Curricular Lessons", "Teaching Vocabulary to Young Learners", "Using America Songs in Teaching English to Young Learners", "Using Jokes in the Language classroom to Motivate Students", "Teaching Vocabulary through Communicative Methodology in the EFL classroom", etc... Only the themes

of these workshops tell a lot....! I have learned from these workshops and have gotten new information about the research work, the presentation itself, the use of mobile phone at the lesson. All of these topics helped me to revise many aspects that I knew before, but to look on them with new perspective. Our coordinator from US Embassy in Kyrgyzsan, Djumanalieva Natalia helped us in orientation and participated at all our workshops, giving us positive emotions and a great support.

I also organized a workshop on the topic “Formative and Summative Assessment in Teaching: Use of Technology”. Through this workshop we could analyze the difference between traditional and alternative assessment and their role in the learning process. We spoke about the alignments of goals, objectives, and instructional strategies of assessment, and demonstration of students’ achievements through the summative form of assessment.

I presented my experience of work by using technology (using blogs, e-mails, PPTs, etc.) for the best way to help and encourage students in their learning process and to assess them by the formative and summative assessment. I could share my experience of work with AEPE students and present the blog that helps us to publish our ideas, success, and teaching practice. All of participants at the workshop were interested in the topic and participated actively in discussion and in a group work.

  The time schedule was organized very well and the conference was from the early morning to late evening. Cultural night followed after the session was beautiful and full of national songs and dances. Souvenirs that were given to each other were wonderful and unforgettable. Official meeting with the US Ambassador at the next night was organized at the Serena Hotel. Speeches, jazz band with a lovely music, and a buffet for dinner made the evening fantastic. Uncountable photo-sessions from all participants were all time and it gave us a lot of memory about this unbelievable event. Dushanbe in the evening is a beautiful as well as in a day time, and our walk after the official meeting gave us a wonderful impression about this city.

I could find new friends from each country and could know better the teachers of English from my country, Kyrgyzstan. I’ve gained new knowledge that I will use in my teaching practice and share with students of AEPE program (teachers of English), young learners,and  with  other teachers.