(2004.8.9) David Shaffer
Asia TEFL has given birth to a plan to recognize its most outstanding
scholars. It was announced on July 7, 2004, by President Lee that the
Executive Council had approved a plan to set up an annual award to give
recognition to the best research submitted to The Journal of Asia TEFL. The
brain-child of President Lee, the "Asia TEFL Best Research Paper of the
Year Award" is envisioned to stimulate original and impact-creating
research within the membership of Asia TEFL that will affect change in
ELT in the Asian sphere, and to stimulate the quality and quantity of
submissions to our Journal. (Volume 1, No. 1 of The Journal of Asia TEFL, a
400-page tome, is now available at the Asia TEFL website and in hard
copy also, issue two is forthcoming). The goal is for the Journal to expand to four issues
being published per year in 2005.
The first Best Research Paper of the Year Award will be
bestowed upon a lucky recipient at the 2005 Asia TEFL International
Conference in Beijing in November. To be eligible for the award, a
researcher must have submitted a research paper to The Journal of Asia TEFL and had
it accepted between November, 2004, and October, 2005. The selection of
the awardee will be made by a review committee composed of Asia TEFL
members according to criteria yet to be established.
The award itself will be more than just a high-grade paper
certificate suitable for framing. It will consist of either a monetary
award of US$1,000 or a round-trip ticket to the Asia TEFL Conference
and hotel accommodations for four nights at the Conference. In the case
of multiple authors of a winning research paper, the award will be
divided equally among the recipients.
This award will be restricted to authors whose primary
place of both residence and work are in Asia and whose research is
directly related to the Asian context. To be eligible for the award,
the author or authors must also hold current Asia TEFL membership at
both the time of submission of their research paper and at the time of
publication of their paper. One of the main criteria for selection is
that the research carried out and reported in the research paper be of
a magnitude that has the potential of having a great impact upon the
teaching and learning of English in Asia.
It is envisioned that the award will be expanded from one
to two award-winning research papers in the future and that the amount
of the award will also increase.
Don't miss out on this opportunity. Begin planning your
research now, or plan on submitting your present research to The Journal of Asia TEFL. It may be
you standing upon the stage at the 2005 Conference in Beijing,
receiving this award for excellence and enjoying the time of your life.
David Shaffer Chosun University (Korea) Executive Director for Internal
Affairs, Asia TEFL
