Why ELT conferences are important

by Yeter Akbulut

Hello everybody!

I am a senior student at FLE Department and throughout my bachelor years, I have been so willing to participate in the professional seminars and conferences given according to my academic interests. Here, I want to assure you that these important conferences have really positive effects on my personal and educational development.  I started to participate in these conferences at my third year at this department and I figured out how significant these events in terms of educational development are. Especially, the conferences which are held as an international event have added richness to my educational knowledge and background.  Thanks to our department, I met really important academicians who are expert in their fields and their speeches, keynotes and workshops were so informative and creative for the participators of these unique events. When you start to listen to one of these qualified people, at the same time, you start to see the things differently and you gain many creative and excellent ideas. Sometimes, you get the chance to meet the academician whom you really want to meet. For example, the best conference for me was held in Istanbul under the name of Istek Schools International ELT Conference by Jeremy Harmer, Meghan Beler etc. At this conference, I met Jeremy Harmer and I felt so lucky to see the writer of one of the ELT course-books that we used in our own courses. I want to specify that participating in these conferences not only contributes to your educational and self development as a prospective teacher, but also it gives the chance to meet many expert academicians who have really great ideas in terms of teaching and learning a language. In other words, these conferences broaden your horizons and make you feel more confident as a future teacher. Moreover, at the fourth year, we are all about to graduate from this department and I want to give you a piece of advice, which is  that writing all these participation certificates to your curriculum vitae makes you go one step further from your friends. While searching a job, including this information into your curriculum vitae would leave a good impression on the people who evaluate your educational and personal background and teaching performance. What is more, thanks to our instructors, you do not go far away to get the chance to participate in these formative and entertaining conferences, since they have prepared really efficient professional development series and this is an opportunity to add more to your background and of course your résumé. There are many things and ideas from which you will get benefit thanks to attending to these kind of academic and professional events. That is why, if you want to get more professional, creative and qualified at your field, I strongly recommend you to participate in these educatory conferences and seminars as much as you can. Then, see how your horizons broaden.