CLESOL

The CLESOL Conference

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Since its inception in 1990 the CLESOL conference has brought together the needs and interests of two groups of language teachers. Community languages are the first part of the CLESOL equation. Community languages teachers are committed to maintaining the first languages of migrant and refugee groups settled in Aotearoa New Zealand, and introducing those languages to others interested in learning them. Community languages teachers are bilingual (or multilingual) and their work is usually community based. The other half of the CLESOL equation is ESOL teachers. By comparison, ESOL teachers are a much bigger group who work in State education institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary), for private language schools, or as volunteer community tutors. The language of, and focus for, instruction is English, and ESOL teachers are predominantly native English speakers (but not exclusively so).

The interests of these two groups of teachers coincide in many ways and the CLESOL conference provides an important opportunity for dialogue between the two groups to occur. Each has much to learn from the other and the synergy of the CLESOL conference draws on the energy and interests of both.

Two organisations contribute to the planning and running of the CLESOL conference, which moves around the country, being held every two years in a different location. TESOLANZ – Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages, Aotearoa New Zealand – is the larger partner, and has been an incorporated society since 1994. Its Executive liaison is Moyra Sweetnam Evans (Email ).CLANZ – Community Languages Association of New Zealand – is the smaller partner having been an incorporated society since 2004. The organising committee for each conference is made up of TESOLANZ members from the local branch where the conference is to be held, and local community language teachers.

With the assistance of a professional conference organiser, the CLESOL conference is a well organised and professional conference attracting over 600 national and international delegates.

CLESOL 1996 Proceedings (pdf - 1.388 Mb)