On February 7 and 8, 2009, the University of Crete held its inaugural “Language for Specific and Academic Purposes” conference (LSP) and played host to 130 L.S.P. practitioners from all over the world in order to address the issue of “Options and Practices of L.S.P. Practitioners”. The conference was attended by delegations from 20 different countries. Two thirds of the participants worked on the tertiary sector, teaching English for Specific and/or Academic Purposes, and one third was secondary school or private sector teachers, or students.

The conference programme was rounded off around 22 papers and four workshops, and an exhibition covering 300 square meters floor space. There were five plenary sessions and 17 concurrent sessions. The conference sought to provide the opportunity for University instructors and other L.S.P. instructors from all over the world to meet and debate issues on current teaching practices and research applications.

Two thirds of Conference participants that evaluated the conference’s organization, content and opportunity to exchange information provided useful feedback for present and future conference organizers.

Here are the outcomes of the Evaluation Forms Report:

Participants from Tertiary sector 68% of which international 60%

Secondary 13%

Other 19% (private schools, students etc)

Issues

Tertiary68%

Secondary13%

Other19%

How did you hear about the conference?

90% online

10% off-line (poster, E.L.T. Newsletter, colleagues)

50% Online

40% Off-line

10% colleagues

70% Online

30% colleagues

Registration time

70% more than 2 months before conf

20% 1 month before

10 % on the day

70% more than 2 months before conf

30% on the day

30% more than 2 months before conf

30% 1 month before

40% on the day

Registration process

Uncomplicated 70%

Moderately easy 20%

Complicated 10%

Uncomplicated 50%

Moderately easy 50%

Uncomplicated 60%

Moderately easy40%

How would you rate the

conference?

Excellent 65%

Good 25%

Poor 5% *

(*one of the plenaries was not up to standard)

Excellent 40%

Good 60%

Excellent 60%

Good 40%

Main reason for attending?

Personal growth and development 85%

Prof. obligation 10%

Other 5%

Personal growth and development 100%

Personal growth and development 95%

Prof. obligation 5%

Prior knowledge to the topics addressed?

More than 75%: 50%

About 50%: 45%

Less than 25%:05%

More than 75%: 25%

About 50%: 65%

Less than 25%:10%

More than 75%: 70%

Less than 25%:30%

Topics addressed relevant to your work/studies?

Extremely rel. 30%

Quite relevant 70%

Not at all 0%

Extremely rel. 15%

Quite relevant 85%

Not at all 0%

Extremely rel. 40%

Quite relevant. 60%

Not at all 0%

To what extent did the conf improve understanding of topics addressed?

More than 75%: 30%

About 50%: 55%

Less than 25%: 15%

More than 75%: 15%

About 50% : 85%

Less than 25%: 0%

More than 75%: 50%

About 50% : 30%

Less than 25%: 20%

Succeeded in promoting exchange of ideas/experience btw participants?

Yes absolutely 70%

Yes, partially 30%

No

Yes absolutely 70%

Yes, partially 30%

No

Yes absolutely 80%

Yes, partially 20%

No

How do you rate blend of theory and practical applications?

Excellent 30%

Good 60%

Poor 10%

Excellent 30%

Good 70%

Poor 0%

Excellent 50%

Good 50%

Poor 0%

How would you rate the workshops?

Excellent 30%

Good 50%

Poor 10%

Did not attend 10%

Excellent 30%

Good 70%

Poor 0%

Excellent 20%

Good 70%

Poor 10%

Has the conf inspired you to consider any follow-up activities?

Yes absolutely 50%

Yes possibly 50%

No 0%

Yes absolutely 50%

Yes possibly 50%

No 0%

Yes absolutely 30%

Yes possibly 70%

No 0%

Was post-presentation discussion time adequate?

Yes absolutely 65%

Yes possibly 25%

No 10%

Yes absolutely 50%

Yes possibly 50%

No 0%

Yes absolutely 30%

Yes possibly 50%

No 20%

Did you find the conference material useful?

Yes absolutely 60%

Yes partially 40%

No 5%

Yes absolutely 20%

Yes partially 80%

No 0%

Yes absolutely 40%

Yes partially 60%

No 0%

Would you have recommended this conference to others?

Yes, without hesitation 80%

Yes, with

Reservations 20%

No 5%

Yes, without hesitation 70%

Yes, with

Reservations 30%

No 0%

Yes, without hesitation 80%

Yes, with reservations 20%

No 0%

How did you feel about the conference content?

Extremely satisfied 45%

Partially satisfied 45%

Dissatisfied 10%

Extremely satisfied 25%

Partially satisfied 65%

Dissatisfied 0%

Extremely satisfied 50%

Partially satisfied 50%

Dissatisfied 0%

Rate the venue and facilities

Excellent 40%

Good 60%

Poor 0%

Excellent 80%

Good 20%

Poor 0%

Excellent 75%

Good 20%

Poor 05%

Rate food and beverages?

Excellent 45%*

Good 55%

Poor 05%

*Lunches were a wonderful surprise

Excellent 90%

Good 10%

Poor 0%

Excellent 70%

Good 20%

Poor 10%*

* More Mediterranean

/local products needed

Out-of-conference

Organized activities

Excellent 70%

Good 30%

Poor 0%

Excellent 90%

Good 10%

Poor 0%

Excellent 80%

Good 20%

Poor 0%

Did not attend 10%

Rate the overall organization?

Excellent 60%

Good 40%

Poor 0%

Excellent 50%

Good 50%

Poor 0%

Excellent 70%

Good 20%

Poor 10%

Did the conference satisfy your reasons for attending?

Yes absolutely 75%

Yes partially 20%

No 05%

Yes absolutely 60%

Yes partially 40%

No 0%

Yes absolutely 70%

Yes partially 30%

No 0%

Any missing areas from the programme?

Comments

We need more practical workshops/aspects/examples

Need for discussion of ESP fundamentals: where we are going and why.

Need more discipline teachers who collaborate with LSP teachers.

Excellent job!

There was a good blend of theory and practice.

Need more languages, other than English.

Really friendly organizing committee!

Comments

Make more time for workshops.

Great hospitality.

One session overlapped.

Comments

Some topics discussed insisted on theory and not on the applications in class