Talking Across the World:
Exploring Opportunities in Language Training

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and FuturePerfect Business English Specialists organized its inaugural conference, Talking Across the World, and held it at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center on February 24 and 25, 2006. The conference aimed to better understand the demand for high levels of oral English proficiency and competent language use in the IT-Enabled Services industry. By bringing together the linguistic expertise of academic institutes and the day-to-day practices found in business, the conference sought out the exact requirements of the industry and industry-tested methods with which to meet these requirements.

The sponsors were John Clements Consultants Inc, Mellow 94.7, YEHEY!, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Globe Telecom, DTSI Inc, BusinessWorld, and the Asian Media Development Group.

The presentations and their abstracts can be found below:

Authentic Materials for Communication Training

Culture Training in Call Centers

Customizing American-style training to suit the Filipino learner

GENPACT's Differentiator

Interpersonal Language in Call Centre Discourse

Issues in Language Training and Curriculum Development in the ITES Industry

The Scorecard

Training the Trainers and Coaches