UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, VNU
Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English-speaking Countries
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NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER ISSUE, 2013
In this issue
I. ULIS News
II. Domestic Conference
III. International Conference
IV. Material Sharing
I. ULIS News
1. Faculty Meeting at ASEAN Resort
On 23 August, 2013, the annual meeting of The Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English-speaking
Countries was held in ASEAN Resort, Ba Vi, Hanoi. The participants included Prof. Nguyen Hoa, Dr. Do
Tuan Minh, and many of our remarkable teachers.
In the meeting, the last school year's report and the next school year's plan were presented and heartily discussed. A great number of interesting ideas were raised by Prof. Nguyen Hoa, Dr. Do Tuan Minh, and other members of the faculty, the details of which can be found in the attachment of this newsletter. Near the end of the meeting, Prof. Nguyen Hoa awarded several teachers of the faculty with ULIS Certificates of Merits. In the afternoon, all teachers enjoyed fun-filled team-bonding activities at the resort.
2. The Opening of English Space at ULIS
On 12 September, 2013, the University of Languages and International Studies, in cooperation with the
US Embassy, opened the English Space to public use in B3 building. This Space is a place for teachers and students to study the languages, cultures and people of English-speaking countries. The Opening
Ceremony was honoured by the presence of Mr. Michael Turner ( Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S.
Embassy Hanoi), Mrs. Wendy Zaman (Information Regional Officer, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand),
Mrs. Quan Mai Binh (American Center Director, U.S. Embassy Hanoi), and Mr. Do Tuan Minh (ULIS
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Vice President). Some of our very own teachers (Ms Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, Ms Nguyen Le Huong, and
Ms Doan Thi Nuong) also participated in the ceremony and assisted the students at English Space in searching and making use of information.
II. Domestic Conference
Public events at the U.S. Embassy, Rose Garden, Ngoc Khanh, Hanoi
1. Friday, September 20, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Student Life and Academic Success in the U.S.
Come and meet students from the University of California! The University of California is considered to be the top public university in the world. Five of its 10 campuses rank in the top fifty universities intentionally (Times Higher Education, UK 2013). Eight UC students are visiting Hanoi as part of their 4 month study abroad program at Can Tho University. You are invited to join a group discussion about what is like to live in California, student life in the UC and academic success in the U.S. Come join us in a very interesting event!
2. Tuesday, September 24, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
American English Club: Back to School
Well, the summer has ended and the new school year has started. Students everywhere are all back to school with plans for study and activities ahead. Join us in the English Club for some games, fun activities, share your plans and ideas and hear what your peers have in mind for this school year. Immerse yourself in an English-speaking environment and make new friends!
III. International conferences
1. 3rd Language Arts and Linguistics - LAL3 - Conference
Date: September 29-30, 2013
Location: Hong Kong
Website: http://www.engl.polyu.edu.hk/events/lal3-2013/
Rapprochement between linguistic and language studies, and the more traditional literary studies is a global trend which includes Hong Kong as well as many other parts of the world. This rapprochement is underway in academic circles, as contemporary global culture enhances connections and the legitimacy of new kinds and contexts of interpretations. It is underway in the classroom, reframing the way we understand language teaching and learning, syllabi and curricula, the media we use to access and explore literary content, and the lives of the teaching professionals involved in these changes.
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Language arts in its new form is in part a response to profound changes in curriculum, and in part a response to similarly profound changes in the globalised, media-driven cultural contexts of literature.
Language arts now embrace new forms, as new media revisions and represent traditional literary works.
Language and literature have much to offer each other. These developments are particularly affecting the teaching of English and Putonghua as second languages.
2. Biennial International Conference on Task-Based Language Teaching
Date: October 3-5, 2013
Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Website: http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/tblt2013/
Plenary Speakers:
Heidi Byrnes (Georgetown University)
“Linking ‘task’ and curricular thinking: An affirmation of the TBLT educational agenda”
Patricia A. Duff (University of British Columbia)
“Sociocultural and discursive approaches to task-based language learning, teaching, and research”
Martin Bygate (Lancaster University and St. Mary’s University College)
“On fetters and goals, and the development of an empirical TBLT in terms of language, learning and teaching”
3. JALT2013: Learning is a Lifelong Voyage
Date: October 25 - 28, 2013
Location: Exhibition Kobe Convention Center, Portopia, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Website: http://jalt.org/conference
We start to learn even before we are born and continue learning throughout our lives. It’s an important part of the life voyage of each human being. Every one of us has learning stories—our own stories as well as the ones we contribute to as friends, partners, parents, and teachers. What are your learning stories?
What are your learning memories? Bring them to Kobe in 2013 and share them with your colleagues.
JALT2013 promises to be a captivating port on your lifetime learning voyage.
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IV. Material sharing
1. The Bias Against Creativity: Why People Desire But Reject Creative Ideas
Jennifer S. Mueller , University of Pennsylvania
Shimul Melwani , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jack A. Goncalo , Cornell University
Publication Date: 2011
Citation: Mueller, J. S., Melwani, S., & Goncalo, J. A. (2011). The bias against creativity: Why people desire but reject creative ideas [Electronic version]. Retrieved [insert date], from Cornell University, ILR
School site: http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/articles/450/
Abstract
People often reject creative ideas even when espousing creativity as a desired goal. To explain this paradox, we propose that people can hold a bias against creativity that is not necessarily overt, and which is activated when people experience a motivation to reduce uncertainty. In two studies, we measure and manipulate uncertainty using different methods including: discrete uncertainty feelings, and an uncertainty reduction prime. The results of both studies demonstrated a negative bias toward creativity (relative to practicality) when participants experienced uncertainty. Furthermore, the bias against creativity interfered with participants’ ability to recognize a creative idea. These results reveal a concealed barrier that creative actors may face as they attempt to gain acceptance for their novel ideas.
2. Defining and Encouraging Creativity
Jane Piirto
Alane J. Starko
Summary: Though creativity has been a buzzword in education for over 50 years, we still struggle to define and identify it. DGL recently asked Jane Piirto and Alane J. Starko, two experts widely known for their research in the area, to help clarify this complex concept. Their responses follow.
Full Text: https://www.tip.duke.edu/node/816
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