ESEA

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The “English in Southeast Asia” conference series is the result of collaboration between the National Institute of Education (Singapore), the University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), the University of Brunei Darussalam, Curtin University (Perth, Australia), Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City, the Philippines), Hong Kong Institute of Education, Sanata Dharma University (Yogyakarta, Indonesia), King Mongkut’s University of Technology (Thonburi, Thailand), Waikato University (New Zealand), Macao University (Macao) and Hangzhou Normal University (Hangzhou, China)

ESEA representatives from the collaborating institutions are:

    · National Institute of Education, Singapore: Low Ee Ling
    · University of Malaya, Malaysia: Azirah Hashim
    · University of Brunei Darussalam, Brunei: David Deterding
    · Curtin University, Australia: Toni Dobinson
    · Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines: Ma. Luz C Vilches
    · Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong: Andy Kirkpatrick
    · Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia: Francis Alip
    · King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand: Pornapit Darasawang
    · Waikato University, New Zealand: James McLellan
    · University of Macau, Macau: Andrew Moody
    · Hangzhou Normal University, China: Shi-Xu

Information for ESEA Representatives
    · Guidelines for collaborating institutions
    · Minutes of the 2008 business meeting
    · Minutes of the 2007 business meeting
    · Minutes of the 2005 business meeting
    · Minutes of the 2004 business meeting

Click on the timeline:

1996: National Institute of Education, Singapore {To Timeline}

In November 1996, the Division of English Language & Applied Linguistics, NIE, hosted the first ESEA conference. A total of 120 participants – from Singapore, Southeast Asia, and as far away as Australia, Taiwan, and Canada – attended the conference. Keynote speakers were Asmah Haji Omar (University of Malaya), Gary M Jones (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), and Susan Butler (Macquarie Dictionary). The proceedings, edited by Adam Brown, were published in 1977.

1997: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur {To Timeline}

The second ESEA conference was hosted by the Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, in May 1997. Participants came mainly from Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Proceedings were not published.

1998: Universiti Brunei Darussalam {To Timeline}

The third ESEA conference was hosted by Universiti Brunei Darussalam in November 1998. A total of 140 participants, mostly from Brunei, attended. Overseas participants came from Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia. Invited and prominent speakers included William Littlewood (Hong Kong Baptist University), Chris Kennedy (University of Birmingham), Phyllis Chew (NIE), Tan Sri Dato’ Awang Had Salleh (formerly of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Azirah Hashim (University of Malaya), and James Bourke (Universiti Brunei Darussalam). Proceedings were distributed on disk.

1999: National Institute of Education, Singapore {To Timeline}

NIE again hosted the ESEA conference entitled “Developing Multiliteracies n Southeast Asia” in November 1999. A total of 250 participants, mostly from Singapore, attended. Keynote and prominent speakers included Frances Christie (University of Melbourne), Sandra McKay (San Francisco State University), Ron Carter (University of Nottingham), Jack Richards (RELC), Ted Rodgers (University of Hawaii), Beverly Derewianka (University of Wollongong), Ian Malcolm (Edith Cowan University), William Littlewood (City University of Hong Kong), and Hajah Rosnah Haji Ramly and James McLellan (Universiti Brunei Darussalam). The proceedings, edited by Adam Brown, were published in 2000.

2000: Curtin University of Technology, Australia {To Timeline}

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2001: Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines {To Timeline}

Entitled “Learning to Teach, Teaching to Learn: Issues, Options, and Directions in Language and Literature Education”, the conference comprised 76 papers and workshops. Keynote speakers were Christopher Brumfit (University of Southampton), Edna Z Malagaz (Ateneo de Manila University), and Malachi Edwin Vethamani (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Country speakers were Andy Kirkpatrick (Curtin University of Technology), Rita Skuja-Steele (NIE), Maya Khemlani David (University of Malaya), James McLellan and Pearl Chua-Wong Swee Hui (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), and Tony Hung (Hong Kong Baptist University).

2002: Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong {To Timeline}

Entitled “Changing Responses to Challenging Times”, the conference was held from 6 to 8 December 2002. Keynote speakers were Guy Cook (University of Reading), B Kumaravadivelu (San Jose State University), and Shirley Geok-Lin Lim (University of Hong Kong and University of California Santa Barbara).

2003: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur {To Timeline}

With the theme “Adapting to New Realities: Prospects, Perspectives and Possibilities”, the 2003 conference was held from 8 to 10 December 2003 at the PJ Hilton. Plenary speakers were Tan Sri Dato’ Awang Had Salleh (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris), Alastair Pennycook (Sydney University of Technology), Janet Holmes (Victoria University of Wellington), Joan C Kosta (Mercy College, New York), Gerald Knowles (Lancaster University), and Vijay Bhatia (City University of Hong Kong). The proceedings, edited by Azirah Hashim and Norizah Hassan, were published by University of Malaya press with the title “Varieties of English in Southeast Asia and Beyond”.

2004: Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia {To Timeline}

The 2004 conference was hosted by Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 13 to 15 December 2004. The theme was “Texts and Contexts of English Language Studies in Southeast Asia”. Plenary speakers were Suwarsih Madya (Office of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation, Indonesian Ministry of National Education), Willy Reynandya (RELC), Michael Silverman (USC and RELO Senior Fellow), Simon Colledge (British Council).

2005: Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam {To Timeline}

The 2005 conference hosted by Universiti Brunei Darussalam was held from 12 to 14 December. The conference was opened by the Brunei Minister of Education Pehin Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib and included invited speakers Dr David C. S. Li (City University, Hong Kong) and Anthea Fraser Gupta (Leeds University). The conference themes were literature in English in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asian varieties of English, multilingualism, roles and contexts of English in Southeast Asian societies, using language in new technologies, and English in the media in Southeast Asia. Principal sponsors were The British Council and Royal Brunei Airlines. Selected papers are to be published in October 2006 in a special issue of South-East Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal, edited by David Prescott and Alistair Wood published by The Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

2006: Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia {To Timeline}

Click here for more information.

2007: King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi, Thailand
{ To Timeline}

In 2007, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi hosted the ESEA conference for the first time. The 12^th ESEA conference: Trends and Directions was held from 12^th to 14^th December with 129 participants from 22 countries. The conference included 84 papers and poster presentations. Keynote speakers were Teun van Dijk (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain), Vijay Bhatia (City University of Hong Kong), Edwin Thumboo (Emeritus Professor at National University of Singapore and former SEA Write Award Winner) and Patricia Duff (University of British Columbia). The proceedings, comprised of selected paper in traditional format plus a CD-ROM, are ready for distribution. To order the proceedings, go to http://arts.kmutt.ac.th/sola/esea

Click here for more information.

2008: National Institute of Education, Singapore {To Timeline}

The 13th International Conference on English in Southest Asia was held at
NIE from 4 - 6 December 2008.

Theme: Englishes and Literatures-in-English in a Globalised World

The phenomenon that we have come to understand as globalisation has led to a marked increase in cultural connections, affiliations and networks around the world. This has led, in turn, to the development and spread of varieties of English Language and Literatures-in-English around the world. The conference explored issues pertaining generally to the problems and possibilities of living in a globalised world.

For ESEA information and forms, please visit the ESEA 2008 website .

2009: Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines {To Timeline}

The 14th International Conference on English in Southest Asia was held at
Ateneo de Manila University from 26 to 28 November 2009.

Theme: English Changing: Implications for policy, teaching, and research

Educators today face the challenge of teaching learners who need different
Englishes for diverse purposes all while English and its uses are themselves
also changing. These changes raise new questions for policy, teaching, and
research. How should governments and educational systems respond? In what
ways should classrooms change? What kinds of research are needed given these
new realities? The 14th ESEA conference aims to provide a venue for the
discussion of these issues from a variety of perspectives and for stimulating
new work in these areas.

2010: University of Macau, Macau {To Timeline}

The 15th International Conference on English in Southest Asia will be held at
University of Macau from 9 to 11 December 2010.

Click here for more information.