IB Asia Pacific Newsletter

April - June 2006

Professional Development

Salutations! IB Asia-Pacific Events has had a jam-packed first half of the Year of the Dog. We like to thank you for your continued support and patience, and appreciate your feedback on our events, as we continuously endeavour to improve our workshops and conventions.

The high point of IB Asia-Pacific events so far this year has been the highly anticipated Global Language Convention, which aimed to explore the challenging and often controversial topic of linguistic and cultural diversity, a prominent element in IB schools around the world and especially in the Asia Pacific region. Held in Singapore, Asia’s multicultural melting pot, this small island nation, also home to IBAP’s regional office, was the ideal location for an examination of these significant issues.

The Convention provided a conducive platform, bringing together language experts, teachers and educators from around the world, allowing them to share their thoughts and discuss issues relating to language teaching challenges and best practices. Some of the key issues addressed during the Convention were Second Language Teaching & Learning, Language Acquisition, and Mother Tongue Maintenance. A highlight of the Convention was the Student Voices Panel Session where a group of students from international schools in Singapore were invited to share their experience of having a bilingual and bicultural education.

Events that are currently available for registrations online:

1. PYP & DP workshops at Somerset College, Australia

(4 - 6 July)

2. PYP & MYP workshops at the Australian International School,

Singapore (30 September – 2 October)

3. PYP & DP workshops at Kristin School, New Zealand

(30 September – 2 October)

4. PYP, MYP & DP workshops in Hanoi, Vietnam (3 - 5 October)

5. 21st IB Asia-Pacific Annual Regional Conference for Heads &

Coordinators on "Values and Internationalism", Hanoi,

Vietnam (6 - 9 October)

Sign up for workshops early to enjoy early bird rates and to secure your places in the workshops. Do not forget to provide proof of payment to validate your registrations!

21st IB Asia-Pacific Annual Regional Conference for Heads & Coordinators - Hanoi, Vietnam (6 - 9 Oct)

In October, IB Asia-Pacific will host its 21st Annual Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. This year’s conference is on the theme of "Values and Internationalism", featuring diverse keynote speakers such as Dr. Peter Vardy Vice Principal of Heythrop College, the specialist Philosophy and Theology college at the University of London; Swamini Vilamananda, Director of the Chinmaya Vision Programme and Dr. Mallika Sarabhai the celebrated classical dancer and social activist who was nominated in 2005 “1000 Women For The Nobel Peace Prize” campaign.

This conference is targeting "Educational Leaders". Heads of Schools, Divisional Principals and IB programme coordinators (DP, MYP, PYP) from International and IB World Schools around the region will enjoy challenging plenary sessions, interactive workshops, "job-alike" seminars and sub-regional discussion groups exploring the contemporary challenges faced in IB schools regarding values and internationalism as well as other important administrative matters.

Ed Lawless, Teacher Education Manager
Rosalyn Goh, Events Manager

Chanderni Devi, Events Associate

Email: ibapevents@ibo.org

Upcoming Workshops

Please click here for a list of upcoming workshops in the Asia Pacific region.

The Events Calendar is out! Please read introduction letter from Ed Lawless.

Online Registration

The implementation of online registration for workshops and conferences starting with the Global Language Convention and Somerset College Workshops has been successful. We would like to thank everyone for their support and patience with technical issues regarding the registration platform.

Please click here for steps to register online. [65.1 kb, PDF]

Snapshots from the Global Languange Convention

Singapore, 8 - 10 April

GLC