Professional development events represent a large part of the work associations do. The clips presented here are only a few examples of the hundreds of presentations that have been conducted in Russia which, combined, would add up to thousands of hours in teacher training.

While effective plenary addresses set the tone for a conference and shepherd the audience toward a new idea or approach in the field, practical workshops are the essence of a successful conference. Workshops are particularly useful largely because interaction between a presenter and a small audience means that the session is capable of approximating a classroom setting.

As most teachers are often hesitant to conduct a workshop with their peers, the idea of running a round of poster presentations is gaining in popularity. The “shopping mall” approach to these presentations means that the audience can cull many ideas in a short period of time as well as interact one-on-one with presenters. Other presentation formats include panels, round-tables and display tables.

Presenters at the larger conferences are a collection of local teachers, practitioners from throughout Russia, and enthusiasts and experts from overseas. Russia-based English Language Fellows and Fulbrighters often add an important “other” voice that can be used to reflect on practices in Russia. Publishers also often sponsor speakers and inject conferences with an opportunity to peruse new titles.

It is important to remember that the organization of any event requires a strong sense of camaraderie and an undying spirit of volunteerism. This is particularly true of large events, such as the annual NATE event or biennial FEELTA conference. We hope that the video clips on this page inspire associations to organize events in among local communities of teachers.

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	Maria Verbitskaya Professor, Lomonosov MSU The United State Exam

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	Elena Solovova Professor, Lomonosov MSU Teaching English as a Means of Social and Professional Maturity

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	David Fay The U.S.A. Embassy, Moscow, English Language Officer U.S. Election Terminology

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	David Fay The U.S.A. Embassy, Moscow, English Language Officer Testing English as an International Language