Two Global Resources for ESPers: A New ESP Book on Global Best Practices and an International LSP Conference

Hello, ESPers worldwide!

As we all know, TESOL 2014 will be taking place in Portland, Oregon from 26 to 29 March 2014. In this TESOL Blog post, I would first like to share with you information about a new edition of a TESOL ESP book that you will hopefully be able to obtain at the convention.

A New ESP Book on Global Best Practices

Kay Westerfield is a founder of the TESOL ESP Interest Section, a former member of the TESOL Board of Directors, and one of the authors of the new ESP book. I received permission from Kay to post her response to a question I asked in an e-mail exchange with leaders and former chairs of the TESOL ESP-IS. My question was whether the old edition of her book could be considered to contain “global best practices.”

Hi Kevin and All, 

Yes, the Effective Practices in Workplace Language Training TESOL text provides global best practices in the design of an ESP program for the workplace. Does it include all the possible ways of doing that? No, but the steps are definitely best practices in ESP SWOT analysis, curriculum and materials design, implementation, and evaluation. 

I also find those best practices globally applicable for the development, implementation and evaluation of EAP programs — where the “sponsor” is the content discipline department. 

Our TESOL text was based on international survey work that Anne [Lomperis] and others did in the early years of our IS. The text includes case studies from workplace language training programs around the world. 

We are excited to announce a new edition of the text with an exciting, updated technology section written by Debby Lee and Amber Warren that includes a great case study by David [Kertzner]!  The new edition will hopefully be available at the convention. 

Cheers!
Kay

International LSP Conference

I also wanted to share with you information about an international conference that is scheduled to take place in Beijing, China, 7-8 June 2014. I have received permission from conference organizers to post the call for papers below.

The conference aims to bring together researchers and practitioners in Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP), English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Professional Communication in the Asia-Pacific Rim and beyond to take part in a dialogue on research and collaboration in academic, professional and workplace contexts. Selected contributions to the conference will be published in Journal of Business Languages Research.

I hope to see you in Portland at the TESOL booth or in Beijing at a session about professional communication in the intercultural world. As ESPers, we are participating in a global adventure!

All the best,
Kevin

———————————–

Call for Papers

International Conference and Workshops on Professional Communication in the Intercultural World: Theory and Practice

Fourth Conference of the LSP and Professional Communication Association for the Asia-Pacific Rim

and

The Third National Conference of the Chinese Association for ESP

 hosted by

University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

The School of International Studies of University of International Business & Economics is going to host the international conference on “Professional Communication in the Intercultural World: Theory and Practice” June 7-8, 2014, in Beijing.

The conference aims to bring together researchers and practitioners in Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP), English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Professional Communication in the Asia-Pacific Rim and beyond to take part in a dialogue on research and collaboration in academic, professional and workplace contexts. Selected contributions to the conference will be published in Journal of Business Languages Research.

Prior to the conference on June 6, 2014, workshops will be run by renowned professors and senior practitioners in the industry.

1.    Conference Theme:

Professional Communication in the Intercultural World: Theory and Practice

2.    Speakers:

1)   Keynote speakers (in alphabetical order):

 2)   Speakers for the workshops (in alphabetical order):

3.    Call for Papers/Colloquiums:

We invite papers in all aspects of ESP, LSP and professional communication from teachers, researchers, research students, training consultants and practitioners from the industry. Conference topics include, but are not limited to:

• Applications of LSP/ESP theory in workplace practices
• Collaboration between language teachers/trainers and the industry in professional communication teaching and research
• Intercultural and interdisciplinary studies of professional communication
• Workplace communication and curriculum and materials design
• Professional communication for different rhetorical functions
• Teaching and researching business languages
• Confucius Institute and Intercultural Communication

4.    Organizers

• School of International Studies, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
• Asia-Pacific LSP & Professional Communication Association
• The Chinese Association for ESP

5.    Co-organizers

• Research Institute of International Business English, School of International Studies, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
•  Journal of Business Languages Research, China

 6.    Co-sponsors

• CSSCI Journal of Foreign Languages in China, China
• Research Centre for Professional Communication in English, Department of English, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
• College ESP Journal, Australia
• Research Center of Multinational Corporations, UIBE

7.    Conference Organizing Committee

 Co-chairs

Prof. Lifei WANG

Dean, School of International Studies, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

 Prof. Vijay BHATIA

President, Asian-Pacific LSP and Professional Communication Association

 Prof. Youzhong SUN

Dean, School of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China; President, The Chinese Association for ESP, China

8.    Advisory Committee (in alphabetical order):

Prof. Jigang CAI, Fudan University, Shanghai
Prof. Winnie CHENG, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Prof. Weilin, DOU, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Libo FAN, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Dr. Jieyun FENG, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Ping HUANG, Chongqing University, Chongqing
Dr. Chun JIANG, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Dr. Benedict LIN, The University of Nottingham Ningbo, Zhejiang
Dr. Paul ROBERTSON, College ESP Journal, Academic Scholars Publishing House, Australia
Prof. Xingsong SHI, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Jun XU, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Dejin XU, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Ruiying YANG, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi
Prof. Lijun YU, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Dr. Cuiping ZHANG, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing
Prof. Xiaoshu ZHU, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing

9.    Abstract submission

The presentations take three formats:

1)    Individual papers. Presenters will give presentations, followed up with short discussions.

2)    Colloquiums. A group of conference participants can submit a proposal for a colloquium. The proposal will be a collection of 3-4 abstracts of individual papers that form the colloquium.

3)    Invited industry panel discussion. Professionals and practitioners from the industry will be invited to form a panel discussion.

Please submit your abstract (in MS Word format) in English.  Note that the abstracts must be 250-300 words with 3-5 keywords, your name and institutional affiliation.

On a separate page, please indicate the theme area (state one of the above, or a theme that best describes your paper), your academic title, your email address and postal address.

The main working language of the conference will be English.

10.  Registration Fees

The registration fees cover the handout materials, all the meals and snacks during the event.

1)    Registration fees for the conference

2)    Registration fees for the workshops

11.  Important Dates

Deadline for abstract submission: April 30, 2014

Notification of acceptance: May 5, 2014

Registration deadline：May 15, 2014

12.  Contact persons

 Dr. Jieyun Feng (Wendy)

Deputy Director, Research Institute of International Business English, SIS, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

Dr. Chenle Li

Director Assistant, Research Institute of International Business English, SIS, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

Email: esp2014@126.com

Tel：0086-10-64494629

Please visit the http://sis.uibe.edu.cn for the update of the conference arrangement.