TESOL France/IATEFL BESIG

'Best of BESIG' joint event, Paris, 10 June 2006

TESOL France's Spring Day this year was a joint event with IATEFL BESIG and was held at ENST (Télécom Paris) in the 13th district of Paris.

"Best of BESIG" ("BOB") was an unmissable event in the Business English calendar. It was an all-day event with no fewer than 15 workshops of interest to teachers of both pre-service and in-service Business English students. Speakers included Nick Brieger, Graham Tullis, Adrian Pilbeam, Charles Talcott, and more. The event ended with a round table on future trends in Business English materials and a chance to meet the speakers over a glass of wine.

Below is a first-hand account of the event by John Overton; for photos please click here.

BEST OF BESIG: Overall Impressions

Tired and peckish but replenished the day after the event on Saturday 10th June, I feel moved to write down some of my overall impressions of yesterday’s summer event at ENST for those who were AWOL. The day abounded with acronyms! The BESIG of TESOL France began a hopefully lasting love affair with that of IATEFL to produce BOB. DVDs, TMS, VHS, AC/DC, Q&As, R&R (see below!) were all present at the birth.

For clarity, this was a historic first for TESOL France as we joined forces with the Canterbury-based International Association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, to stage a truly international Business English Special Interest Group day. It was a full day packed with workshops and presentations, a Best of the BESIGs previously held or attended by TESOL France and IATEFL. There was enough food for thought.

The nibbles were available right from the start as you registered, rubbing shoulders with the authors/speakers and their new offerings, the aroma of coffee setting the mood for a business-like schedule.

A tasty buffet of wholesome goodies were served up for the 120 participants – a great turnout: Using video for class work; exploiting Hollywood; exploring case studies; learning about Team Management Systems for team building; how to make the transition from teacher to coach and author; soft skills; suggestopedia; spontaneity in practice; TOEIC teaching; PowerPoint presentations; voice control for presentations; studies revealing the needs in Business English in Finland and how higher education can deal with them, intercultural training for trainers – a smorgasbord fit for an international business English teaching king or queen.

The choice of one-hour bite-size presentations/workshops was a good way of trying to keep things tight. The coffee breaks in-between provided a welcome buffer/networking and resourcing opportunity, though times could have been adhered to more strictly.

At several points throughout the day, the idea was raised about our identity as teachers of business English. The mindset that we as Business English teachers/trainers/coaches are in any way less professional than the important clients we deal with is not helpful, but is probably felt by many of us. Nobody disputes that business English is the key to success for international companies, and we provide this help. Without us, will they get the promotion/pay rise/ contract…? We can enjoy the feeling of advancement we provide for our clients and let this continue to stimulate us. That is not to say that we should do this job for the love of it.

The future for business ELT was alluded to especially by Nick Brieger of IATEFL in a scenario where in perhaps 40 years French students will all leave school with a C1 level of English while global English may see native speakers/ near native speakers sidelined. David Graddol’s website provides a wake-up call. Before this time comes, and while we are riding high on the constant demand for classes, it is time for creative trainers to play on their strengths, find niches, stick together, find innovative ways of keeping a respectable income and status, use - not refuse - technology and more. Can we keep on doing the same thing and expect a job for life? That would make us rather an exception to the rule!

Innovation is the title of the next TESOL France colloquium in November 2006 (keep a regular eye on the spanking new www.tesol-france.org site).

Organisation-wise, this was a real tirumph for TESOL France. I think it was smoother-running than I have ever known. A welcome smile, a clear programme in mini format yet with enough space for all your notes. This encourages me to keep hold of it and all the useful contact details therein. I could go on. It takes a great deal of dedication to work on the executive committee. The right balance seems to be there, and Michael Ashworth appeared quite moved at the end of the round table as he thanked his magnificent team for their professional approach and good nature.

TESOL members and non members alike, please remember that these events are served on a platter for you by volunteers. As Michael pointed out, it is worth telling all your friends and colleagues about our appetizing events.

For next time, just as many international teachers please, but I would especially welcome more French teachers from education nationale to add their ingredients to the fruit salad. That would be the icing on the cake.

Now, it’s definitely time for breakfast, if you’ll excuse me.

ENST Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications (Télécom Paris)
AWOL Absent without leave
BESIG Business English Special Interest Group
TESOL France
IATEFL International Association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages to produce
BOB Best of BESIG
DVD Digital Video Disc
TMS Team Management Systems
VHS Video Home System
AC/DC Alternating current/ Direct Current
Q&As Questions and Answers
R&R Rock ’n’ Roll /Rest and Relaxation

Contributed by John Overton: Coach, Formateur en anglais
j_overton_uk@yahoo.com