Cfp: "Academic Writing and Beyond in Multicultural Societies," Tel-Aviv, July 28-29, 2010.

Hosted by the Institute of Research, Curriculum and Program Development for Teacher Education. At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, more and more educators have come to realize theimportance of academic writing programs both in and beyond academia. The view that thoseentering higher education are able to cope with their writing tasks without guidance has been widelychallenged. The need for quality writing ability after leaving higher education is clear. Beyond theacademy, with globalization in today’s worlds of business, research, and culture, writing skills are anecessity for all who wish to advance professionally. Especially in multicultural societies wherestudents come from many different cultural and linguistic traditions and are often expected to writein more than one language, supporting student writers at all levels of study and preparing them forwriting after their studies are pedagogical imperatives. Two years ago, the Israel Forum for Academic Writing held its first meeting at Tel Aviv University.Its purpose was to connect people engaged in the teaching and research of academic writing in Israel. Instructors in academic writing in Hebrew and English from colleges and universities throughout thecountry attended this meeting. Since then, our organization has grown – we now have over 150members on our mailing list. Visitors from abroad as well as local members have addressed issuessuch as responding to and assessing student writing, the use of technology in the teaching of writing,and how to gain administrative support for our programs. We have been fortunate in finding a homeand support for our organization through the MOFET Institute. In keeping with the intercultural and multi-linguistic nature of today’s societies, invited speakers atthe first international conference on academic writing in Israel will address current issues in firstlanguage, second (third, fourth, etc.) language and foreign language writing. We are also planning to present a panel of writers in English, Hebrew, Arabic, and perhaps other languages on the topic,“Universals and Specifics of Academic Writing across Languages”. Participants will address thequestion of what it means to write in their various languages. Parallel sessions will include individualpresentations, round table discussions, and workshops. The program is designed to engage all those interested in academic writing programs and the writersthey educate. Keynote and plenary sessions will be delivered in English. Papers and small grouppresentations may be given in Hebrew, English, or Arabic. Research-based contributions, as well aspractical approaches to the teaching and learning of academic and professional writing are welcome. Types of Presentations • Individual paper or presentation: 40 minutes including at least 10 minutes for discussion • Panel presentation: three 25-minute presentations with 15 minutes for discussion • Workshop: 90 minutes allowing at least 30 minutes for non-presenter participation • Round-table discussion: 90 minutes including non-presenter participation • Poster presentation Organizing Committee: Trudy Zuckermann — Achva Academic College of Education; Hebrew University of Jerusalem Bella Rubin — Tel Aviv University Hadara Perpignan — Bar Ilan University Sue Schneider — David Yellin College of Education; Open University of Israel Michael Dickel — Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Ohalo College Miri Yochanna — Seminar Hakibbutzim College of Education; CET (the Center for EducationalTechnology) Bev Stock — David Yellin College of Education Ziona Snir — Tel Aviv University; Seminar Hakibbutzim College of Education Cherryl Smith — California State University in Sacramento Further information is available from the conference chair, Dr. Trudy Zuckermann, mailto:trudy@vms.huji.ac.il