"Rethinking Disciplinary Diversity: Challenges of Teaching English in

the 21st Century"

A Two-Day International Conference on English Language and Literature

15-16 November 2018

Venue: BRAC University Campus
Department of English and Humanities

CALL FOR PAPERS

English as a discipline in the 21st century is undergoing significant transformations and

accommodating changes taking place in the study of language and literature. In the past three
decades, English Language teaching (ELT) has emerged as a prominent part of English
studies. ELT thus is also responding to various needs, ranging from formulating state-level
policies to implementing new pedagogical perspectives in classrooms. Like ELT specialists
across the world, academics in Bangladesh are facing challenges that are clearly reflected in
curriculum reforms, textbook revisions, teacher training, methodological tailoring, and tools
development for testing and evaluation. Likewise, the teaching of literature is going through
changes, as students make their career choices, and need to be equipped with the specific
skills that will help them through life. It is also welcoming such disciplines as cultural and
media studies into its fold.

To respond to the many challenges as well as to explore new solutions, the Department of
English and Humanities (ENH) at BRAC University is organising a conference which will
act as a platform for scholars and academics from a range of disciplines and countries to
share their valuable research and insights in identifying and debating over these challenges.
The two-day international conference titled "Rethinking Disciplinary Diversity: Challenges
of Teaching English in the 21st Century," will focus on the following issues:

● Examinations and their consequences– is change possible?

● Communicative language teaching – where are the communicative elements?
● English teachers’ training, initial teacher education and professional development
● Intention of the curriculum and education policy and the reality at the ground level
● English medium vs Bangla medium
● Role of English in Bangladesh in catching up with the modern world
● The development of Bangladeshi literature in English
● Role of literature in English teaching
 ● Role of ICT in English teaching and learning in Bangladesh
● What kind of research is needed to examine, improve or change the role of English
language teaching in Bangladesh?

The Department of English and Humanities, BRAC University invites you to submit an
abstract in one of these topics or any other topic that is of importance to the future of teaching
and learning English in Bangladesh. Research, reports of exciting practice and theoretical
perspectives are all welcome. Please email your abstract and author/s bio data (60 words) to
enhconference@gmail.com by 30thAugust 2018.
The abstract should be no more than 250 words.

Keynote speakers
Professor Janinka Greenwood Dr Obaidul Hamid
University of Canterbury, New Zealand University of Queensland, Australia

Important dates Session duration

Deadline to submit abstract: 30thAugust, 2018 Paper presentation: 25 minutes
Notification (Acceptance/ rejection): 25th September, 2018 Workshop: 1 Hour
th
Registration starts: 25 September 2018 Panel discussion: 1 Hour
th
Deadline for registration: 8 November 2018

Registration:
Early bird: 25th September to 15th October: BDT 1500
Standard registration: 15th October to 8th November: BDT 2000
Contact: enhconference@gmail.com