APrIR Newsletters: 2016 and back 5/13 Dec 2013

5 so was FAAPI during the three days that it lasted, there was a mix of the most varied presentations and perspectives, catering for all tastes: • From the most dreamy spotlighst that have made Britain great[2] over the centuries (Robin Walker, OUP, “So what’s so great about Britain, Friday 27th September) to the most remote corners of the globe where the language is equally spoken but seldom conveying the same (Cecilia Acquarone “British Postcolonial literature, a gender perspective.” Thursday 26th September). • From traditional EFL storytelling for all ages (Fabiana Parano,“Stories in a Bag” Friday 26th September, workshop) to the roots of Ancient Kamishibai (Matías Ansando and the Art of Japanese storytelling, Friday 26th September) • Cristina Banfi – opening the conference with a highly thought-provoking presentation and Claudia Ferradas – as emotive as she was in 2012 - made us reflect upon the significance of revisiting our roots to tread more steadily along new routes… • There was room for thumbing pages over paper stories that have constituted pillars to our personal and professional development (the analysis of “Little Women” by Adriana Lanzi)…and there were e-books, I-Poes[3], and more of the digital world (A Room Of One’s Own, Discussion group) • There were papers, panels, workshops, academic presentations, keynote presentations, professional development and the added value of the chance to “meet and greet” beyond the walls of a canonical environment. • From commercials parodying the American Cowboy (see “Cat herder”) to the fun of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Talking Turkeys or the laughable insanity of listening and watching Rasta-mice speaking in sonnets (check BBC Rastamouse)[4] Most presentations agreed upon the shift from the design of a framework that could help us understand SLA in a more theoretically eclectic perspective (See Ellis, 1995) to a framework for understanding others… Before a garden of forking paths (Cristina Banfi quoting Borges) the XXI century teacher must once again take sides, choosing the stance that wil l offer the clearest perspective to achieve THE goal that has remained forever immutable in spite of the roaring chances around: helping our students LEARN. Myriam Met (US Embassy) reflected upon the XXI century student’s toolkit, and the importance of defining ourselves as teachers but above all the need to acknowledge that this role inevitably calls for the need to continue being learners. I embrace this event as a golden opportunity to feed and breed on the profession we have chosen. I celebrate FAAPI conferences as a meeting point most – if not all – teachers should jot down in their calendars. Next venue, Santiago del Estero 2014: I wholeheartedly wish to encourage you readers to take active part in it. It will enrich your practices, but – above all – it will enrich your souls. [1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/london-europes-new-ethnic-melting-pot-1525506.html [retrieved on October 15 2013] [2] Check this site for further details and illustrations: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great [3] For further details on this interactive literary application, check this review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7uBZUvM_0I [4] For further details check http://rastamouse.com/wp/ or http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/rastamouse/

APrIR Newsletters: 2016 and back 5/13 Dec 2013 | Page 5