creating sense texts realities call papers creating sense texts realities organized department english language literature national university singapore cambridge university press materials development association matsda 7 9 september 1998 venue orchard hotel singapore keynote presenters david nunan university hong kong liz hamp lyons hong kong polytechnic university mario rinvolucri pilgrims canterbury jane arnold university seville conference organisers invite papers theoretical practical explore characterise main ways language used create sense contemporary life encourage papers present recent developments address significant theoretical issues studies language discourse explore ideas applications broad domains language education media studies possible areas focus list meant exclusive include development creative thinking critical awareness current issues teaching assessment listening speaking reading writing relations language literacy curriculum content principled development evaluation educational materials activities impact different media newspapers television computers internet contemporary ideas literacy education citizenship papers invited keynote speakers last 60 minutes parallel papers last 40 minutes speakers parallel sessions asked limit presentation time 30 minutes leaving 10 minutes discussion paper papers normally presented morning sessions conference intending paper presenters interested developing ideas afternoon workshop sessions especially encouraged submit proposals call workshops organisers invite proposals workshop sessions intending conference participants paper presenters willing take role workshop leader parallel workshops held afternoon sessions lasting 3 hours workshops extend one afternoon main aim workshops conference provide participants opportunities become actively involved developing adapting evaluating educational materials language education media studies along lines workshop leader first related major theoretical issues arising conference theme intending workshop leaders make links workshop activities paper presentations conference especially encouraged submit proposals organisers assume workshop comprise approximately thirty participants arranged least 2 hours 3 spent workshop participants working pairs groups workshop leader arranges tasks corresponding workshop theme please send abstracts 200 words programme committee accordance guidelines follow write preferably email programme committee attention allison creating sense conference department english language literature national university singapore 10 kent ridge crescent singapore 119260 departmental fax 65 7732981 e mail ellconlk nus edu sg guidelines submissions abstract must specify category paper workshop proposed presentation please submit three anonymous copies abstract including title paper workshop review purposes plus fourth copy includes author name affiliation please also include notecard size 3 5 stating author name affiliation title paper workshop contact telephone fax numbers email address postal address paper presenters asked specify special requirements presentation rooms overhead projectors workshop presenters asked specify intended length workshop workshop may run 3 6 9 hours specify special requirements workshop session deadline abstracts 15 may 1998 replies sent end may 1998 conference theme focus conference notions creating making sense education widely throughout society making sense sounds reassuringly uncontroversial taken insights jerome bruner 1960s michael halliday associates recent years bring richness meaning expression carry widely accepted sense simply world waiting discovered documented actually created human beings societies idea reality created language also implies must one reality number realities articulated compared possibilities carry major implications language education social identity participation less reassuringly educational social exclusion thematic emphasis conference creating sense includes essential notions single form sense also questioned unmade alternative kinds sense remade recreated texts making unmaking remaking meanings fundamental aspects social educational experience infancy primary secondary school years beyond continuing adulthood maturity much education learning think talk write things ways differ initial commonsense knowledge belief children already acquired communities bring without undermining valid valued children lives enormously challenging problematic social cultural activity also necessary one argued terms mainstream rationality development scientific thinking prime example critical awareness includes learning deconstruct powerful people accounts world ought propose alternative accounts full participation social political life possible people learned ronald carter put see language concerns creating questioning recreating sense explored conference relation two domains language education media studies context formal education learners discern meaning offered actively make meanings interpret analyse experience variety perspectives may proposed discovered raises important issues participation exclusion relating learners personal social explorations language ways two modes exploration may related conference pursue concerns broad context language education first domain second conference domain media studies particular attention media discourse reality construction conference seeks bring light ways realities like stories invented told represented mediated available technologies diverse experiences accounts reality constructed interplay language image instance presented fantasies fictional explorations experience docudramas documentary coverage events among things impact accounts audiences public depends many social cultural educational factors need modern citizens able make sense accounts offered also offer accounts increasingly appears fundamental effective social participation well social critique conference looks stimulate debate grounded informedly set current theories practices findings teaching research communities language communication studies another main aim suggest guidelines informed responsible reflective practice domains language education mediaoa studies theme particular interest developed especially workshop mode materials writing educational purposes conference domains