Please Join Me in Assisting SPELT
By Siraj Khan
SPELT Goodwill Ambassador
Abu Dhabi, UAE
I am honored to have been affiliated closely with SPELT Pakistan since 2010. Despite its ties with the English language, I have often taken the liberty to refer to its work with the Urdu phrase Andhi mein diya jalaye rakha hai .....in enhancing the standards of teaching English in Pakistan - consistently since 1984, and with limited resources.
In 2012, SPELT honored my English teacher Mrs Yolande Henderson with a Lifetime Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching. It is because of her that today I am able to communicate in the few words of written and spoken English that you often see off and on (more off than on). Achieving high grades in English Language and English Literature in my Senior Cambridge/"O" Levels in the class of 1967 has been the cornerstone of my life and all that came along. That I ended up as a voracious reader later in life could also be because of her. She returned back to the Creator in December 2015, teaching English up to her last day - the last of my school teachers to go.
Please go through the letter below and also the attachments. May I request you to please join me in assisting SPELT in their ambitious forthcoming conference. You can make your payment in any manner which is most convenient to you. Eventually, SPELT will acknowledge receipt of your generous contribution directly to you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Email would work best. - khansaheb2@aol.com
Dear Siraj
SPELT has always been extremely appreciative of the strong support you have always provided whenever we have requested you for help-- perhaps because SPELT, since 1984 has worked tirelessly for the improvement of the teaching learning standards of English is Pakistan. This has been a goal dear to your heart too, since the key to Pakistan's betterment lies in the provision of quality education in our country --- especially English Language teaching, so that we can face the challenges of the modern world. Thank you so much for your encouragement and the time you devote to this noble cause.
SPELT is holding its 33rd International Travelling Conference in 2017 on 28-29 October Karachi; 4-5 November in Lahore and Islamabad; 11-12 November Abbottabad. It will impact at least 3,000 classroom practitioners from all over the country on the theme:"Glocalization - Think global, Act Local".
Our conferences provide opportunities for national and international networking to teachers - including those from the low income areas , and opens new horizons for them. It gives all teachers a valuable exposure to best practices around the world which is so crucial for continuous professional development and output to improve the quality of education in Pakistan.
It also gives Pakistan's a positive image in the international community of English language teachers. As a Pakistani, I am sure you would be proud to know that SPELT has put Pakistan on the ELT map of the world and our sister organizations like TESOL USA and IATEFL UK hold SPELT in very high regard indeed. Please visit SPELT's website for more details. Here are two links from our presenters which I would like to share with you.
Rosa Aronson Executive Director, TESOL USA 2014
http://blog.tesol.org/best-practices-in-elt-in-context-pakistan/#comments
Sherry Blok from University Montreal Canada writes about 31st SPELT Conference 2015:
http://blog.tesol.org/teacher-of-the-year-speaks-at-the-2015-spelt-conference/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
I am now making two requests to you to please help SPELT yet again raising funds to sponsor ,
1. Dr Christine Coombe from Dubai Men's College to come as SPELT's Keynote Speaker. She is one of the leaders in TESOL and acknowledged for her expertise, and input would greatly benefit Pakistani teachers as she teaches in Dubai and understands the contexts our culture as well as the language requirements. I believe the Visa fee and return ticket from Dubai to Karachi and back is approximately 3,500 Dirhams.
2. Twenty-five (or more teachers) from low income areas to enable them to attend the conference and give them an opportunity for professional development. SPELT has devised a subsidized package of offering each participant one-year membership as well as the conference enrollment fee which includes 16 hours of training, conference materials certificate and lunch for PKR 2,000 only.
Needless to say, the sponsors/donors who help this great initiative, will be sent a personal letter of thanks from SPELT, besides acknowledging their names prominently in the Conference Program Book
I hope to have an early and positive response very soon.
With best wishes
Zakia Sarwar (Professor)
Hon. Executive Director
SPELT Head Office Karachi
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