"If you can't come to ETAI, ETAI will come
to you."
ETAI is getting better and better!
ETAI: Keeping in Touch
Newsletter 31: June, 2010
Dear Readers,
We're in the last month before the conference, and getting feverishly
busy: both the office and the committee - not to mention the sub-committees
responsible for the book exhibition, 'gmul', the pre-conference
event and so on. Following are various things I'd like you to
know about:
Pre-registration. Low-cost pre-registration has ended,
and we have over 200 participants already registered. It's still
worth pre-registering at the full price, if you're sure you're
coming, in order to save standing in long lines to register at
the conference. You can download the form on the website until
June 24th.
Program: The full program is now up on the website: it's
only 'preliminary', so changes / updates of details are likely.
But it gives an overview - go and have a look. Even I was impressed
when I read it, and I've been involved from the beginning! There
are unusually few 'commercial' slots; the large majority are interesting
topics given by both 'veteran' ETAI presenters and a lot of new
ones, as well as by our guests from abroad.
Pre-conference workshops July 12th. You can pre-register
for these too. Some of our perennial favourites at ETAI conferences
are giving in-depth workshops that day. Have a look at the program!
The event is taking place at David Yellin College, not far from
the Conference Center itself, the day before the conference -
see the website for details and registration. The date of the
pre-conference event is the day of Mo'ed Bet of the Bagrut, which
is why the pre-conference workshops are mainly targeted at Elementary
and Junior High.
Presenters' Workshop. There's a new Tip of the Day for
presenters every day now on the website; and the old ones still
listed, so you can scroll through. Also, Ann Shlapobersky and
I are running a Workshop for Presenters; so - particularly, but
not only, if you are a novice presenter - it's worth coming along!
Date: Sunday, June 20 Time: 16.00 - 18.00
Place: Seminar HaKibbutzim, Building Bet, Room 7.
Presenters will automatically get an invitation; but all ETAI
members are welcome, no cost, just send me an email (pennyur@gmail.com)
to let me know you're coming.
No time to write more now… I'll send out a last Newsletter
just before the conference.
Hope to see you there!
Best wishes,
Penny Ur
ETAI Chair
Newsletter 29: May, 2010
Dear Readers,
Looking back at my last Newsletter, written from the IATEFL conference
in Harrogate, and thereafter at different points on my way home:
I was pretty busy…
And so am I now, though less with other people's conferences,
and more with our own.
The convening team of the ETAI 2010 International Conference (Valerie
Jakar, Nava Horovitz, Debbie Lifshitz and myself) are meeting
now pretty well every week, either face to face or through two-
or three-hour long conference calls, trying to keep up with the
deadlines and make sure everything is organized and will run smoothly
on the Day (Days, I mean). (more)
So lots to look forward to …
Best wishes,
Penny Ur
Chair, ETAI
Newsletter 28: March, 2010
Dear Readers,
Since I last wrote we've had three mini-conferences: in Holon,
Bet Yerach and Rehovot. All three events were greatly enjoyed
by the participants. Many thanks to the organizers: Laura Shashua,
Nava Horovitz, Aviva Shapiro, Michele Ben, Amanda Caplan and their
teams. The only one I managed to attend myself was in Rehovot,
where the Inspectorate and ETAI working together produced a very
well-attended, enjoyable and learning-rich event. (more)
Newsletter 27: February, 2010
Dear Readers,
Last month we were saddened by the death of Marna Snyder's husband,
Stan. His death, coming after a long period of ill-health, was
a tragic loss for his family and friends: particularly Marna,
of course, their son Benny and their devoted caregiver and friend
Victor. I know that all members of ETAI join me in sending their
condolences to Marna and the family. Many of us visited them during
the ‘shiva’ and continue to be supportive as she returns
to the tasks awaiting her at the ETAI office. (more)
Newsletter 26: January, 2010
Dear Readers,
I don't know if you noticed, but there was no Newsletter last
month! I got 'bogged down' in an enormous amount of work, plus
festivities, family events: I apologize! Anyway, here is the January
newsletter, a little longer than usual.
First, happy belated good wishes to all those celebrating festivals
in December and January 1! All of us are now recovering, getting
back to school / college / university routines …(more)
Newsletter 25: November, 2009
Dear Readers,
A very quick newsletter this time, and a bit late:
I've been doing a lot of travelling over the last two weeks. I
attended two weekend conferences one after the other: one, at
the end of October, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece; the second
the first week in November in Paris. These were enjoyable, if
tiring, events, and I hope I've persuaded a few people to come
here for our International Conference in July. (more)
Newsletter 24: October,
2009
Dear Readers,
First of all, happy holidays to all our Jewish and Muslim members
who have just had and/or are about to have festive days at this
season!
And best wishes for an enjoyable and learning-rich year to those
of you who are involved as teachers or students in the universities
and colleges, and are beginning the first semester of 2009-10
this month! (more)
Newsletter 23: September, 2009
Dear Readers,
It's the beginning of September, and most of you are busy beginning
the new year: greeting new classes, or renewing familiarity with
ones you taught before; starting new textbooks; getting used to
new schedules; some of you even beginning in new schools. It's
always a challenge: exciting but sometimes a bit daunting. It's
the time when things change from day to day, and the actual situation
in any particular class may turn out to be quite different from
what you expected. I learnt not to do very much long-term planning
in detail, until things settle down a bit. (more)
Newsletter 22: July, 2009
Dear Readers,
This is the last Newsletter of the year, written the day after
the Jerusalem Conference.
The Conference was, as expected, an excellent event, with a 'buzz'
to it that happens at all the best conferences. I didn't get into
any sessions myself, except for plenaries, because of ETAI meetings
of one sort or another, but I heard a lot of good feedback about
them. The exhibition was well attended (well, it could hardly
not be, as it was strategically placed in the corridors on the
way to sessions!), the main auditorium was spacious and comfortable,
and the arrangements for lunch and refreshments very good indeed.
Congratulations to Susan Bedein and her team, and to Marna as
always ably managing registration, as well as to the brilliant
group of orange t-shirted ushers. For the first time at this conference
we were able to take payment by credit card, which was very convenient
for all concerned (further evidence for the 'ETAI is gettng better
and better' trend!). (more)
Newsletter 21: June, 2009
Dear Readers,
There's an interesting development relating to the term ETAI.
I hear (or read in ETNI) people saying things like, 'That was
at ETAI last year', 'When is ETAI this year?' 'See you at ETAI',
'Let's talk about it at ETAI'. In other words ETAI, apart from
being the name of an association, is increasingly used to mean
'the (current) ETAI conference'. Another example of what is called
'semantic extension'! News: May saw two final ETAI mini-conferences,
in Nazareth and Eilat. Nazareth was very well attended, and a
lovely venue (the Eshkol Payis). Congratulations to organizers
Fran Sokel, Stephanie Fuchs, Yousef Daghash and their team. Eilat
was naturally a more intimate affair, with between 20 and 30 participants:
a really warm (and I don't mean the weather!) atmosphere: lots
of round-table sharing of good ideas and interesting talks. Many
thanks to Rose Whitman and Betty Simelmitz and their helpers,
and to the generous hosting of the Neptune Hotel! I flew down
to Eilat via Tel Aviv from Bulgaria, where I'd been to a conference
the weekend before and then rushed back to teach the following
day … exhausted by the end, but it was well worth it! I'm
an ETAI event groupie (as well as being Chair): call me addicted!
(more)
Newsletter 19: April, 2009
Dear Readers,
I am writing this from the IATEFL annual conference in Cardiff,
Wales: cooler than home, but not cold, with a watery yellow sun
penetrating a misty, grey sky.
It has been an exciting conference and very worth attending:
more than 1,700 delegates, (including ETAI members Valerie Jakar,
Inas Deeb, Ahmad Amer, Marcelle Dray and others); and about 400
sessions to choose from during the week. Lots of networking with
interesting people from all over the world: I chatted to teachers
from Oman, Nepal, Peru, Austria, Pakistan, France, Chile, China,
India .. and lots more. If you have an odd moment, log into http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2009/
which is the live website of the Conference(but will be available
for some time) and enjoy some of the sessions... (more)
Newsletter 18: March, 2009
Dear Readers,
At last some rain! Up here on the shores of the Kinneret, we are
breathing sighs of relief: the lake is not yet back to what we'd
like to see, but at least beginning to rise, and the Jordan's
frothy, brown water is rushing down to replenish it… (more)
Newsletter 17: February, 2009
Dear Readers,
I would like to start this newsletter with a message of 'Get
Well Soon!' to Shaee Zucker, a long-standing and active ETAI member
and board member, who is in hospital - but hopefully will be home
soon. All of us at ETAI send you our warm greetings and best wishes
for your recovery! (more)
Newsletter 16: January, 2009
Dear Readers,
At the time of writing, everyone both here in Israel and in the
neighbouring
Palestinian territories is preoccupied and distressed by the ongoing
events
in Gaza and the surrounding area. We all pray for a solution that
will
enable both sides to live in peace and security, without threat
from
rockets, guns or bombs.(more)
