59th RELC International Conference

Learning and Teaching English in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts

17 – 19 March 2025

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Registered Conference speakers and participants will enjoy a special 20% discount off room rates at the RELC International Hotel.

Rationale

The complex landscape of communication in today’s postmodern era of globalization, characterized by its multilingual, multicultural, and multimodal dimensions, necessitates a critical re-evaluation of the various perspectives, positions, policies, and purposes in English language learning and teaching. The traditional monolingual and monocultural approach to English Language Teaching (ELT) no longer suffices in the face of such diversity. Instead, educators must be inspired to learn to navigate the complexities of multilingual and multicultural contexts, recognizing the richness inherent in linguistic and cultural plurality. This requires a shift from prescriptive methodologies to inclusive pedagogical frameworks that legitimately recognise and honour learners’ rich linguistic repertoires and cultural identities. By embracing a dynamic understanding of language, educators can create learning environments that foster intercultural communicative competence.

The 59th RELC International Conference serves as a forum for stakeholders to engage in critical dialogue and collaborative inquiry. By examining current perspectives, positions, policies, and objectives of one’s pedagogical approaches, curriculum guidelines, and assessment methods, participants can identify areas for improvement and innovation. Through the exchanges of ideas and insights, we aim to explore the prospects and possibilities of learning and teaching English in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

Aims

The 59th RELC International Conference has the following aims:

• To bridge the gap between theory and practice in teaching English for intercultural communication;

• To create opportunities for collaborative inquiry among academics, practitioners, and policymakers to explore innovative approaches and best practices in response to the multilingual, multicultural and multimodal nature of today’s communicative exchanges;

• To foster a greater understanding of the multifaceted roles of English within a globalized context, emphasizing its far-reaching implications for language education and professional development.

Topic Areas

• Intercultural communication in English language teaching

• Promoting an inclusive culture in the globalised English language classrooms.

• Intercultural competence in the global workforce

• Translanguaging in the globalised English language classrooms.

• Multiliteracies and the globalised English language classrooms.

• Role of technology in fostering learning across languages and cultures.

• Assessing English proficiency of multilingual learners of English.

• Curriculum and materials for developing intercultural competence.

• Multilingualism and multiculturalism in language teacher professional development.

• Identities and investment in language education in the globalized world.

Paper/Workshop Proposals

Parallel Papers

These are 30-minute formal lecture sessions, including 5 minutes of question time.

Workshops

These are 50-minute sessions with minimal lecturing. Participants will be engaged in activities that have been carefully structured by the workshop facilitators.

Procedure for Submission of Paper/Workshop Proposals

Due to numerous requests made to the Conference Planning Committee, the deadline for abstracts submission has been extended to 15 October 2024

• A 200-250 word abstract with a title not exceeding 15 words and a 50-word biodata should be sent no later than 15 October 2024.

• Abstracts exceeding the word limit will not be accepted.

• The Conference Planning Committee will inform proposers the results no later than 15 November 2024.

• We partner with Oxford Abstracts Platform for submission of Abstract/Workshop Proposals. You need to create a user account if you have not done so, please refer to: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com

• Presenters/Speakers are required to confirm participation with payment of the registration fees and to register for the conference by 31 January 2025.

• For proposers who are including co-presenter/speaker(s), kindly ensure that the email address of the co-presenter/speaker(s) is valid and currently in use.

• For submission, please click here: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/75980/submitter

Criteria for Acceptance

All abstracts will be evaluated by the Conference Planning Committee. Relevance to the theme of the Conference and freshness and originality of approach are among the major considerations in the acceptance of papers. The Committee reserves the right to decline paper/workshop proposals without providing reasons.

To All Speakers/Presenters and Participants:

Conference Registration

Please register at the Conference Portal managed by Oxford Abstracts via the link here: https://tinyurl.com/RELC59

You will be able to perform the following functions at the Conference Portal:

View Conference Announcements.
Update Personal Profile.
Submit a Proposal as a Speaker.
Register as a Participant.
Make Payment.

Conference Fee

The registration fee for the 3-day conference is payable by all participants, parallel and workshop presenters and co-presenters. Registration will be confirmed only upon receipt of the conference registration fee, which is non-refundable.

Conference Registration Fees:

– S$540.00 (inclusive of GST paid by 15 January 2025)
– S$600.00 (inclusive of GST paid from 16 January 2025)

The conference registration fee includes coffee breaks and lunches.

The conference registration fee is non-refundable.

An administrative fee of S$54.50 (inclusive of GST) will be charged for replacements.

Conference Bag Collection

The Conference Registration Counter, Level 1, RELC Building, will be open on the following days for onsite registration and the collection of your conference bag:

Date	Day	Collection Time
16 March	Sunday	1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
17 March	Monday	7.45 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
18 March	Tuesday	8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
19 March	Wednesday	8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

The Conference Registration Counter will be paused until the Opening Ceremony has ended on Monday, 17 March 2025. To avoid delay on the first day of the Conference, Speakers and Participants from Singapore are urged to collect their conference bag at RELC International Hotel – Level 1 on Sunday, 16 March 2025 anytime between 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Conference Badge

For security reasons, you are requested to produce your conference badge/name tag to the RELC ushers for admittance to the Auditorium for the Opening Ceremony on 17 March 2025. Please be advised that there may also be additional security checks for bags taken into the Auditorium. In view of these security measures, we encourage you to arrive early on 17 March 2025 to avoid congestion. Please be seated in the Auditorium by 8.45 a.m. for the Opening Ceremony.

Please ensure that you wear your badge throughout the conference to enable easy identification for entry to the conference sessions and lunches.

Drinking Water and Lunch

Water dispensing machines are located on Levels 5 and 6. You may also refill water, hot coffee or tea at Level 1. An insulating mug will be provided for you during onsite registration.

Halal international buffet lunches will be served at Level 2 and Level 4. Please wear your name tags with the lanyard so that the staff on duty can direct you to the lunch venue.

On Day 1, in lieu of conference lunch, Muslim presenters/participants may collect packed hot meals from the staff on duty at Level 1 after 5.20 p.m. before breaking fast.

For Day 2 and Day 3, in lieu of conference lunch, Muslim presenters/participants may collect packed pastries from the staff on duty at Level 1 after 4.30 p.m. before breaking fast.

During your free time, do visit the exhibition booths at Level 1 and the RELC Library at Level 4.

Conference Program - The names of non-registered co-speakers/co-presenters will not be included in the Conference Programme.

Accommodation

Registered Conference speakers and participants will enjoy a special 20% discount off room rates at the RELC International Hotel (terms and conditions apply). Please book hotel accommodation early at www.relcih.com.sg or email to ihreservation@relc.org.sg.

For information, please contact:

The Conference Secretariat

SEAMEO Regional Language Centre
RELC International Hotel
30 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258352
Phone No.: (65) 68857844 / (65) 68857815
Email: conference@relc.org.sg

Our team will get back to you within 3 business days