WELCOME FROM THE CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS

Dear Colleagues, Members and Supporters of TESOL Arabia,

On behalf of the Committee for TESOL Arabia's International Conference and Exhibition 2012, we would like to thank our conference delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and recruiters of previous years for their continuing support and participation. We would also like welcome new and prospective conference participants to what is the largest EFL conference in the region, attracting well over 1,000 delegates each year. We invite you to participate in what we believe will be one of our best conferences ever..

The theme for this year's conference is Achieving Excellence Through Life Skills Education. Our lives are changing at an exponential rate, both personally and professionally. We need to be able to adapt to the changes we are experiencing in the world, learn about ourselves, learn about others and learn about the world around us. Our theme and the presentations offered will allow delegates to better understand themselves and how they can individually become better teachers, educators and administrators. We want teachers to be open to new ideas and new technologies that shape the world today. We hope that delegates will learn new ways to incorporate age-old tried and tested methods in their teaching.

The intention behind the current theme is to reflect on these and other changes we face, and to share how we are meeting them or how they are influencing our practice. Overall, the theme Achieving Excellence Through Life Skills Education invites participants to explore the ways in which EFL teachers and educators adapt to changes in their workplace and society to become better teachers.

As always, we have a fantastic line up of plenary, featured and invited speakers ready to challenge you with fresh ideas and insights. On this website, you will find details of who those speakers are, as well as the key highlights to this year's conference agenda.

For those who would like to contribute to the program, the Call for Papers is open for submissions until midnight on the 15th November 2011. Presentations and workshops will look at personal and professional development through new eyes. We hope this year's conference will bring meaningful and beneficial changes to the lives of those participate.

The 2012 conference will be held at Dubai Men's College, located in Academic City. We are grateful for DMC's offer to host the event, with even more areas and space than previous conferences held at this venue.

As with past conferences, TESOL Arabia delegates will once again be offered the opportunity to participate in a range of specialized professional development courses both before and during the conference. These specialized courses require payment of fees in addition to your main conference registration. As spaces on these courses are limited, you are advised to register for them early to avoid disappointment. Further information about the courses can be found in the relevant sections of the website.

For all book lovers and material writers, as well as those looking for the latest teaching aids or edition of their preferred texts, the TESOL Arabia Exhibition will once again host the major education publishers and distributors in addition to many tertiary institutions. In addition to the Exhibition, we continue to offer the Innovative Material Showcase. This part of the conference gives publishers, distributors, and education establishments a chance to showcase their latest products in interactive presentations and workshops. The new Innovative Material Showcase, coupled with the Exhibition, provides delegates with great networking and learning opportunities.

The 2012 Conference will also continue to offer a comprehensive Job Fair, which will once again bring together job seekers and the major recruiting organizations in the region. Looking for qualified candidates to fill a variety of posts, including some positions that are filled onsite, the TESOL Arabia Job Fair retains its position as the premier employment opportunity for both recruiters and job seekers in the EFL teaching profession. Please note job seekers must register for the Conference in order to attend the Job Fair.

Due to the incredible success of Dubai as an international tourist and conference destination, demand for hotel space is high. We have done our best to provide you with some options for your stay here in Dubai. Please feel free to make use of those listed on the conference website, and make hotel reservations as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

On behalf of TESOL Arabia's Conference Organizing Committee we look forward to welcoming you all to the 2012 Conference!

Christine Coombe Conference Co-Chair	Beth Wiens Conference Co-Chair