Second Conference Update

Dear CLaSIC 2008 Participants,

We are pleased to inform you that preparations for CLaSIC 2008 are progressing smoothly. Because of the limited seating capacity in the auditorium where the opening ceremony and keynote lectures will take place, registration will end with the 200th participant. We would like to thank all of you for your support of CLaSIC 2008.

In the following is the latest conference update with some essential information for our participants. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to send them to us at clasic2008@nus.edu.sg.

With warm regards,

Dr. Philippe Martin-Lau
Chairperson
CLaSIC 2008 Organising Committee


Conference Update 2 (November 2008)

1. Conference Programme

The detailed conference programme including the schedule of paper presentations in the parallel sessions is now available at the following URL: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls/clasic2008/con_prgrmm.htm. The Organising Committee reserves the right to make changes to the programme closer to the conference, if required. Participants are advised to visit the webpage above from time to time to keep themselves updated about the programme.


2. Conference Venue and Access Information

The conference will be held at the newly renovated Shaw Foundation Alumni House at NUS. The venue is located right at the campus of National University of Singapore. For more access information about the conference venue, please refer to the following website: https://www.alumni.nus.edu.sg/images/alumni/sfah_map.jpg and http://www.nus.edu.sg/campusmap/

The following is the address of the Shaw Foundation Alumni House for your information and reference.

Shaw Foundation Alumni House11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244Tel: (65) 6516 5775Fax: (65) 6777 2065



3. Conference Opening Ceremony

The official opening will be at 8:45 a.m. on 4 December 2008 in the Auditorium of the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. Registration of conference participants will commence at 7.45 a.m. at the reception area in front of the Auditorium. All participants are requested to be seated by 8.35 a.m.


4. Social Programme: Official Conference Dinner, and Excursion Trip

CLaSIC 2008 Organising Committee has planned an attractive social programme for the conference participants. The social activities include official conference dinner on Day 2 (5 December), and a half-day excursion trip on Day 4 (7 December). Fees for these activities are included in the registration fee and no extra charges will be required except for the dinners on Day 1 and Day 3. The excursion trip is scheduled in the morning through the afternoon on Day 4. Its itinerary includes Singapore Botanic Gardens and National Museum of Singapore . For further details on the excursion trip, please visit our website at http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls/clasic2008/social_prgrmm.htm.

We would be grateful if you could let us know your dietary preference (e.g. vegetarian food, Halal food) for the official conference dinner and lunches, if you have not done so during on-line registration, as well as your intention to participate in the excursion by 17 November to facilitate our arrangements.

Participants will be requested upon registration on Day 1 (4 December) to sign up for the excursion trip scheduled for Day 4 (7 December).


5. Accompanying Persons who will NOT join the Academic Proceedings of the Conference

If you are planning to bring a person who will NOT participate in the academic proceedings of the conference but wishes to join the aforementioned social programme (i.e. official conference dinner, and excursion trip), we would appreciate it if you could let us know her/his full name by 17 November to facilitate our arrangements. The fee for such accompanying person is *SGD 120 (SGD 70 for dinner and SGD50 for excursion). Please settle the payment of the fee upon your registration on Day 1. Payments can only be made by cash.

* The fee for accompanying person will not applicable to co-presenters. A full registration fee of SGD 480 or SGD 420 (for early bird registration before 30 September 2008) will apply to the co-presenters, if they attend the conference. The payment of the full registration fee should be settled prior to the conference either by bank draft or a credit card (Visa or MaterCard only). On site payment cannot be accepted.

6. Hotel Accommodation

If you have already booked a guest room at our official conference hotel, the terms and conditions indicated on the e-booking website will apply to your room reservation. Among others, please note following policies of the hotel.

Check-in: Check-in is at 1400 hours. Early check-in before 1100 hours is subject to pre-booking one night before and room availability. Alternatively, guests can leave luggage with hotel concierge and check in at a later time.
Check-out: Check-out is at 1200 hours noon on the day of departure. Hotel agrees to extend complimentary late check-out till 1500 hours subject to room availability. Late check-out from 1500 hours to 1800 hours on the day of departure can be arranged at additional 50% of one night room charge. Additional one night room full charge will be levied for check-out after 1800 hours.

If you need an accommodation during the conference period and yet to reserve a hotel room, you can book a guest room at River View Hotel Singapore at the following URL: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls/clasic2008/accmmdtn.htm. Please note that the booking at the stated preferential room rates can only be made through the webpage above. In addition, you can enjoy the preferential room rates from 3 December 2008 to 8 December 2008 only.


7. Book of Selected Papers from CLaSIC 2006

We are pleased to announce the recent publication of the book of selected papers from CLaSIC 2006. The book, entitled "Processes and Process-Orientation in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning" and edited by Wai Meng Chan, Kwee Nyet Chin, Masanori Nagami and Titima Suthiwan, contains eighteen chapters. The theme of this book reflects the paradigm shift in foreign language education, and the papers included in the book provide vital insights into processes in curriculum planning, instructional design, teaching methodology, teacher education and professional development, language acquisition, language discourse, classroom instruction and interactions, the development of language skills and learning strategies, and language learning motivation. The book will be available for sale at a discounted introductory price at CLaSIC 2008. Alternatively, it can be purchased from the Centre for Language Studies through e-mail. Order form and more information about the book are available now at our temporary URL: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls. It will continue to be available at our website: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/cls/index.htm under the Publications section after the temporary URL is removed.


8. Weather and Clothing

Singapore has a hot and humid climate throughout the year with a daily average temperature range of 24 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius. Light and summer clothing is best for everyday wear. Air-conditioning at the conference venue may however be strong and a sweater or light jacket might be appropriate indoors.

There is a high probability of rain in December. Participants are thus advised to pack an umbrella for the trip.