How to Unite The World through "World Englishes across Cultures"

Today, English has become the language for communication spoken by native and non-native speakers worldwide. The tremendous demands for the use of English in the 21st century have forced language teaching experts and professionals to look into other concerns besides language teaching and learning alone but language teaching and learning in different settings, cultures, and linguistic backgrounds.

The profession of English language teaching today has to examine the pros and cons that deal with considerations of World English or World Englishes, English as an International Language, and acceptable standards that should be applied.

To keep abreast with what language teaching experts are concerned with, LBPP LIA (Lembaga Bahasa & Pendidikan Profesional LIA), the biggest unit of YAYASAN LIA, presents LIA International Conference 2010, April 28-30, 2010 in Sanur Beach Hotel, Bali with the theme : World Englishes across Cultures.

LIA International Conference 2010 hopes to provide a platform for language teaching experts and professionals to bring in and share new insights, current considerations and problems that impact on language teaching and learning in all of its aspects: linguistic, social, and cultural. LIA hopes that with this kind of dialog, the conference will bring about a better understanding and greater tolerance and acceptance of the differences in communication among world cultures.

The committee has received confirmed attendance from participants & presenters representing language institutions, colleges and universities from 20 countries. The featured speakers to talk about the implications of the existence of world Englishes among others are Andy Kirkpatrick, Alastair Pennycook, Jihyeon Jeon, etc, who are spesialists in multilinguals and English as a lingua franca.

The goal for LIA International Conference is to provide a platform in which experts and practitioners from all over the world share new insights, current considerations and problems within the realm of English language learning and teaching related to World Englishes in all of its aspects: linguistic, social, and cultural.

Directorate General of Higher Education-the Ministry of National Education in Indonesia-, fully supports LIA International Conference 2010 manifestated in Certificates of attendance for the participants which are co-signed by The Director General of Non Formal & Informal Education and The Director General of Higher Education.

Hafilia Ismanto, Director of Academic Affairs LBPP LIA as well as The Chairperson of LIA International Conference 2010, said that the committee felt proud to receive 190 abstracts submitted from all over the countries, eventhough after a selection only 90 presenter are confirmed.

Established on September 7, 1959, YAYASAN LIA started out with name Lembaga Indonesia Amerika, to be changed later to Perhimpunan Persahabatan Indonesia Amerika, shortened to PPIA. PPIA’s mission is to enhance friendship between USA and Indonesia through English classes, art-related events, music concerts, film showings, exhibitions and other cultural programs. In order to enhance its mission in education, in 1986 YAYASAN LIA was established as an entity legally separated from PPIA. Since then LIA has been the official name of the foundation, abandoning its mark as an abbreviation or acronym.

Whereas PPIA remain focused on its cross-cultural mission, YAYASAN LIA’s main involvement is in language education and professional training programs for such skills as required in computer operation, accounting and hotel management. LIA started its first activity by opening English classes for around 40 college students, a number at present stands at approximately 65.000.