I'm on the prepare on my means dwelling from a bully weekend inwards Liverpool for the MATSDA (Materials Development Association) conference too reflecting on the similarities too differences betwixt the MaWSIG crew who I normally hang out amongst too the MATSDA crowd ... or at to the lowest degree I'm trying to over a rather raucous hen political party who I'll last sharing my journeying amongst every bit far every bit Wolverhampton!
I was invited to speak at the conference every bit a pace towards encouraging to a greater extent than cooperation betwixt the ii groups. We're both involved inwards working on ELT materials, later on all, therefore in that place should last lots of overlap. So what did I notice?
Well, I intend the get-go clue is possibly inwards the bring upwards - materials writers vs materials developers. The departure may seem a subtle one, but it came out quite clearly inwards a number of ways. As I looked downward the programme of presenters, solely v out of 53 (including myself) weren't representing universities. This gave the lawsuit a much to a greater extent than academic experience than the average MaWSIG gathering which is typically dominated past times freelancers who go on projects for commercial publishers.
This academic bent also came through inwards the sessions. Many had a fairly abstract focus on instruction too were peppered amongst references to academic research, others were close private inquiry projects, presenting or evaluating materials developed for really specific, mostly small-scale, contexts (South Korean tour guides, High German police describe officers, Malaysian academy students). MaWSIG events tend to focus to a greater extent than on the work of materials writing; the constraints too issues around working amongst publishers, the practicalities of beingness freelance. That's non to state that they don't address pedagogical issues likewise sometimes, but they tend to come upwards at them from a slightly unlike perspective.
One of the other things that actually struck me was the international nature of MATSDA, amongst belike to a greater extent than people from exterior of the Great Britain than inside. There were people who'd come upwards from Asia, Africa too South America simply for the two-day event, which was both impressive too made for some fascinating insights. This possibly comes dorsum to the fact that most of the delegates were funded past times their institutions, an alternative non opened upwards to self-employed freelancers who typically conduct hold to self-fund whatever trips. My experience of most MaWSIG events is a largely British crowd either based inwards the Great Britain or travelling inwards from Europe (on budget airlines!), rarely from whatever farther afield.
So what am I taking away from the weekend? Well, when I joined MaWSIG, it was bully to reckon upwards amongst a grouping of people who did the same matter every bit me, who understood the joys too frustrations of beingness a freelance writer, people amongst whom I could portion ideas, problems, advice or simply conduct hold a laugh. Although many of the MATSDA members didn't quite portion my professional person context, nosotros nevertheless flora enough nosotros had inwards mutual too nosotros nevertheless had a laugh. I flora it actually useful to forget close commercial constraints too the woes of the publishing manufacture for a spell too to acquire dorsum to thinking close the basics of what materials writing's close at its heart; helping teachers to learn too students to larn inwards the most effective, engaging means possible. It felt similar a combat of a luxury that I rarely acquire fourth dimension for too it was much to a greater extent than fun beingness involved inwards informal, interactive sessions amongst academics than trying to maintain upwards amongst 'the literature'!
I also flora it actually fascinating to reckon people working inwards therefore many unlike contexts. Although I acquire to reckon teachers from around the the world when I'm giving talks too workshops, it was interesting to acquire a slightly unlike accept from folks who are developing materials independently; a the world away from the large-scale, global projects I'm mostly involved in. I came away amongst a number of ideas that I intend I tin transfer to my ain go inwards some form.
So in that place are lots of things that I intend other MaWSIG members similar myself could acquire from dipping a toe into MATSDA territory every forthwith too then. But what could MATSDA members attain from exploring what MaWSIG has to offer? As good every bit insights into the the world of commercial publishing, I intend the primary matter they mightiness attain is to a greater extent than practical hands-on ideas that they tin accept away too brand purpose of. Although the MATSDA sessions provided enough of nutrient for thought, I didn't come upwards away amongst concrete things to endeavor out, links to follow, tools to play amongst inwards the same means that I oft produce later on a MaWSIG event.
Overall, I intend there's definitely room for both groups to proceed looking at the the world of ELT materials from their slightly unlike perspectives, but I also intend there's lots of range for overlap too sharing too.
If you're interested inwards finding out to a greater extent than close either group:
MATSDA: https://www.matsda.org/
MATSDA: https://www.matsda.org/
MaWSIG: http://mawsig.iatefl.org/
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