对话｜A Letter To You, Dear Teacher

今年3月，Cambridge University Press为全球英语语言教师组织了名为Grammar Week 2021的英语教学技能发展活动。被剑桥大学出版社誉为“Three Leaders in English Language Teaching” 的三位英语语言教学重量级嘉宾Lawrence Zwier, Randi Reppen 和Alice Savage的精彩演讲给来自世界各地的教师留下了深刻的印象。

更值得期待的是，今年9月上海，这三位语言专家将在SETRA教学教研国际交流大会上，为大家带来他们各自教学领域中最新的教学方法与实践分享。其中，Prof. Lawrence Zwier 既是SETRA教学大会的学术主席，也是SETRA的老朋友。

Lawrence Zwier 教授在SETRA教学大会主旨演讲

我还记得3年前, 在南京的SETRA教学大会Lawrence Zwier 教授演讲后，一位老师激动地对我说“天啊，原来Lawrence 就是我们一直使用的TOEFL课程教材的作者，他讲得太棒了！”是的，作为英语语言学业内的标杆性人物，除了他在众多学术期刊上的著作，他最为大家所熟识的就是作为“the author of numerous ELT textbooks”， 尤其是在阅读与词汇教学上的丰硕著作，几乎每本都堪称是语言教学的经典，比如在漫漫教学路上给了我太多启发和灵感的 Vocabulary in Use系列。

Prof. Lawrence Zwier 著作的ELT 系列教材

以下是来自Lawrence Zwier 教授写给大家的一封邀请信，相信读完后，你会感受到平实的字句里他对教学这一终生职业的热爱，更能体会到他对每一位同行伙伴成长的期待。“As the world’s experience during the past year and a half emphasizes, no one can foretell the future. Yet this experience also reinforces my confidence that teachers will always find a way.”

9月，SETRA见！

Dear Educators,

Teaching is a wonderful profession. Occasionally, among our daily tasks, we suddenly become aware that our work can transform lives. Remember those occasions when you have truly connected with a class or even an individual student? You feel like celebrating! I am writing today as we anticipate another occasion when the power of what we do will charge the atmosphere—the 2021 SETRA conference in Shanghai.

I am an associate director and an instructor at Michigan State University in the United States. I am also a longtime friend of SETRA. During the four conferences so far where I have spoken to the bright and eager attendees, I have come to know some of you personally. Even among those attendees I have met only briefly, I am amazed at the energy I feel. Maybe it is that so many teachers are gathered together, feeding off each other’s enthusiasm and expertise. Maybe it is that at SETRA, teachers are able to remember why they chose this profession and can reconnect with their core priorities. Whatever the cause, the SETRA experience is remarkable.

This year, as the academic chair for the conference, I have seen a very special group of speakers take shape. Although travel restrictions have not yet rolled back enough for our foreign experts to speak on site at the conference, their recorded presentations will open windows on some fascinating aspects of language teaching. These are the leaders who are shaping our field. Many are top researchers and authors in grammar, vocabulary, and the skills areas. Others are innovative teachers and teacher-trainers who are breaking barriers and pioneering new techniques.

I know how dangerous it is to promise anything. As the world’s experience during the past year and a half emphasizes, no one can foretell the future. Yet this experience also reinforces my confidence that teachers will always find a way.

It is my fond hope that you will join us this September for SETRA 2021. Meanwhile, I wish you success and joy in your roles as educators.

Sincerely,

Lawrence J. Zwier
Associate Director
English Language Center
Michigan State University