The Journal for Language Teaching provides a quality outlet of language teaching research that adds value to this field that is unique. This is an important role in light of the relationship between language and academic success in South Africa, says the editor, Prof. Tobie van Dyk, as quoted in a report from the Academy of Science of South Africa. This year the Journal was subjected to independent scrutiny  by the Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic globally schooling now occurs at home.
 
As parents and caregivers we are now the custodians of our children’s learning and we are partnering with teachers to support children to learn to think about content.
 
But how can we be useful to guide our children to learn?

​Dear Colleagues 
It is with regret that we have to inform you of the Organising Committee’s decision to postpone the SALALS/SAALT 2020 Conference that was to be hosted in June/July this year. 

​CANCELLED: Please note that the conference has been postponed until 2021. See: http://www.saalt.org.za/blog/salalssaalt-2020-conference-postponed

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria plans to host an interdisciplinary conference on  children’s literature and storytelling in Africa. The conference will take place at the Future Africa Centre on the university’s tranquil Hillcrest campus from 30th to 31st March, 2020.

English language teacher representatives of the four regions of Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), academics, DBE and GDE officials,  and others vested in promoting English language teaching and learning packed the hall of Parktown Boy’s High School on 02 June 2019.

Special issue: Journal for Language Teaching, Volume 53, Number 2
Topic: Teaching academic writing in a multimodal era

Literacy is inextricably bound to an array of social, technological and economic factors. According to Kress (2003) two specific influences have given rise to a revolution in the uses and effects of modes and media for representing and communicating at almost every level and in every domain: the global move from the dominance of writing to the dominance of the image, and the move from the dominance of the medium of the printed document to the medium of the screen – computer, tablet, and cell phone.

Who taught you to read and write? No doubt a teacher!  Who encouraged you to keep on walking or brought you back on track? No doubt a teacher!

For 2018, the UNESCO adopted the theme: "The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.”

SAALT salutes all teachers who — often under difficult and very trying circumstances — carry out their professional duties.  We appreciate the importance of what you do and how you inspire the learners and students of our country! 

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." — William Arthur Ward

"Education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela
​

On behalf of all members of our Association, we express our deepest sympathy with the family, friends and colleagues of Brenda. Her contribution to academia cannot be underestimated and her legacy lives on in the numerous projects and persons she guided kindly and expertly over many years. 

​Our sincere condolences!
SAALT Exco 2017-2019
 
Also see:  A tribute to Brenda Leobowitz. 

Two FIPLV Conferences are lined up for 2018. The Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes, founded in Paris in 1931, is the only international multilingual association of teachers of languages. Don't miss registration and early bird deadlines!

​The 2018 ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) will be held November 16-18 with pre-convention workshops on Thursday, November 15 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year it will be incorporating the FIPLV World Congress as part of the convention, appropriately called Where Language Educators Meet.
Conference website: https://www.actfl.org/convention-expo
EARLY bird deadline: 11 July 2018 (huge discount applies)

​It isn’t too late to register for the FIPLV Nordic-Baltic Region Conference, which will take place in the beautiful city of Vilnius.  Please see below for further information.
Conference website: http://www.conference.uki.vu.lt/
​Abstract and registration deadline: 15 April 2018. 
Important dates: http://www.conference.uki.vu.lt/important-dates/

The following attachment was sent to the SAALT chairperson, Rinelle Evans. The update includes an invitation to consider hosting the World Congress 2021!