The 8^th Annual International Symposium of Foreign Language Learning (AISOFOLL) was convened by SEAMEO QITEP in Language (SEAQIL) at Ciputra Hotel, Jakarta on 18-19 October 2017. The purpose of this year symposium was to enlighten language teachers on the importance of critical thinking skills in the process of teaching and learning. As teachers, they should not make the students only to learn the contents imminently at the classroom, but they should also prepare students always to learn even after leaving the classroom. It can be done by teachers by integrating critical thinking into activities and tasks in the classroom. Through critical thinking skills, the students will be capable in analysing new situations related on facts and concepts, and thinking critically as well as creatively to solve problems by relating those to each other, criticising, drawing conclusions, and creating new ideas. In other words, critical thinking skills is needed to make the students become lifelong learners. Based on those reasons, “Supporting the Critical Thinking Skills through Language Teaching” was chosen as the theme of this year AISOFOLL.

To provide a current overview of critical thinking in language teaching and its good practices, The 8^th AISOFOLL invited four keynote speakers namely Ms Kamariah Samsuddin from English Language Teaching Centre, Ministry of Education Malaysia, Dr Tran Huu Phuc from University of Foreign Language Studies, the University of Da Nang, Vietnam,  Ms Tan Geok Hoon, MEd from Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, Singapore, and Dr  Raimond Selke from Goethe Institut, Jakarta. In addition to the keynote’s presentation, twenty-eight papers were also presented at the parallel session.

In short, as the annual event, AISOFOLL has provided a platform to language teachers, education professionals, and researchers to share their insights, views, best practices and research findings in language teaching and learning as well as recent issues in language education.

Photo session at the opening ceremony of the 8th AISOFOLL: Centre’s Officials, Goethe Institute Representative, Keynote Speakers and Presenters

Dr Tran Huu Phuc, Keynote Speaker from University of Foreign Language Studies, the University of Danang, Vietnam

One of the participants raised questions to the keynote speakers during the plenary session