“Exploring teachers’ cognitions regarding their own continuing professional development in a Macedonian context“

It is increasingly recognized by teacher educators around the world that continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for language teachers can be more effective when they make the teachers themselves, their learners and their contexts central to the educational process. When, therefore, teachers are actively engaged as knowledge generators, critically and collaboratively (supported by context-sensitive mentoring) reflecting on and exploring their beliefs and practices, the view of many teacher educators is that this is likely to be more beneficial than if the teachers are treated simply as knowledge consumers, there simply to receive. It is uncertain, though, how language teachers in different national contexts perceive the CPD opportunities that have been provided for them. Are their reported experiences more of ‘top-down’ or ‘bottom-up’ CPD, and how do they feel about this? Are there any messages about the CPD opportunities provided for them that teachers need to send to their administrators? This talk reports on a recent study involving Macedonian English language teachers that explored this issue. Implications for practice in teacher education are discussed.

“The role of grammar instruction in second language learning and teaching“

How do people learn grammar? Does instruction make a difference? Is there an effective pedagogical intervention to grammar instruction? In the last fifty years, scholars have debated to what extent grammar instruction makes a difference in acquisition of morphological and syntactic aspects of language (VanPatten and Benati, 2015; Benati, Laval, Arche, 2013).

Theory and research around the role of grammar instruction seem to indicate that grammar instruction might have a beneficial role in speeding up the rate of acquisition of formal properties of language. Despite the fact that language learners bring to the task of acquisition a variety of mechanisms that override instructional efforts, a type of instruction that is both input oriented and meaning-based might have a facilitative role in language acquisition (Benati, 2013).

This type of instruction include pedagogical interventions such as input enhancement, input flood, processing instruction and recasts. The question on the role of grammar instruction has shifted from ‘Does instruction make a difference to ‘Does manipulating input make a difference?’

Benati, A. (2014). Issues in second language teaching. London: Equinox.
Benati, A., Laval, C., Arche, M. (2013). The grammar dimension is instructed second language learning. London: Bloomsbury.
VanPatten, B., Benati, A. (2015). Key terms in SLA. London: Bloomsbury.

“The Role of Language Assessment in the Implementation of Language Policies in Higher Education”

Language assessment is often used to enforce language policies established by governments, institutions, and different educational and cultural agencies. As instruments of such policies, language assessments impact educational systems and societies, so their uses and consequences need critical examination. Of equal importance is defining the ethical relationship between policy-making and language assessment and understanding the practical concerns regarding assessment procedures, as situated within the particular social, economic, and historical contexts. This paper addresses how educational and language policies at the University of Copenhagen have affected the university-wide uses of standardized tests (e.g., TOEFL and IELTS for international student admission) and the development and validation of local language assessment procedures (e.g., TOEPAS for oral English language certification of lecturers). Given the complexity of the local teaching and learning contexts and traditions in which these assessments are administered and used, the paper emphasizes the challenges in the endeavor to reach improved understanding of the interface between language, disciplinary content, and pedagogy.

Domestic participants should pay the conference fee in denars based on the exchange rates of NBRM on the day of payment. Please see a sample of the payment slip.

Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology , where the ESIDRP conference will take place, is located at the Ss Cyril and Methodius University campus in Skopje, reachable by taxi or by bus.

Skopje taxi transport

Taxis are available throughout the city and can be found at many corners, and run a 24 hour service. Taxis in Skopje are relatively cheap, however, (unregistered) taxi drivers might approach you offering their services. To avoid being overcharged, it is safer to book a tax via a taxi company . To give an idea about pricing, a taxi in Skopje from the city centre to the outskirts of the city typically costs around 300 denars (5 EUR), though during rush hour the price can go up to 500 denars (9 EUR).

Skopje public transport

There is a dense network of bus lines connecting most parts of the city and suburbs. There are two companies: JSP and Makekspres Prevoz . Bus tickets should not exceed 1EUR. Bus tickets can be bought on the bus, from the bus driver.

Due to extensive construction works and logistical considerations, the University Campus parking lot will NOT be available on March 12 and 13. The nearest and most convenient alternative parking facilities are available within a three-minute walking distance across Goce Delchev Blvd. These are the multi-storey car park on Goce Delcev Blvd, the Macedonian Radio and Television (MRT) parking lot and the parallel parking places on Dimitar Vlahov Street by The Vardar River (behind the tallest black building opposite the campus).

Please be advised that the MRT and street parking facilities are payable via mobile phones only and are therefore convenient for domestic mobile network subscribers. Parking there is free of charge on Saturdays after 2 p.m. and on Sundays. The multi-storey car park requires cash payment and is therefore the only facility convenient for international participants

In terms of price and convenience, participants are encouraged to use taxi and public transportation services. (See Venue Access below)

If foreign pronunciation is your forte, try saying to the taxi driver “Filoloshkee fakultet – rampa” (Faculty of Philology – the ramp).

Should you decide to use public transportation, please ask our volunteers at the reception desk for more information regarding buses and routes.

Venue access

Due to construction works, the main University Campus entrance is closed to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic, which has been redirected to the side entrance from Goce Delcev Blvd (across the street from the Macedonian Radio and Television building).

reception@hotelcontinental.com.mk
info@hotelcontinental.com.mk

• Prices include breakfast (vegetarians can order special food)
• Extra meals are extra charge
• VAT and Taxes included in the price
• Wi-Fi and Parking - Free of Charge!

contact@hotelsuper8.com.mk

• Prices include breakfast
• Extra meals are extra charge
• VAT and Taxes included in the price
• Wi-Fi and Parking - Free of Charge!
• Capacity: 25 rooms (with cable TV, air-conditioning, coffee and tea in the rooms)

adomazetovska@hotelarka.mk

• Prices include breakfast
• Extra meals are extra charge
• VAT and Taxes included in the price
• Wi-Fi and Parking - Free of Charge!
• Capacity: 25 rooms (with cable TV, air-conditioning, coffee and tea in the rooms)

wiptours@wiphotel.com.mk

• Prices include breakfast
• Extra meals are extra charge
• VAT and Taxes included in the price
• Wi-Fi and Parking - Free of Charge!
• Capacity: 25 rooms (with cable TV, air-conditioning, coffee and tea in the rooms)