The Thirteenth International Conference of the Iranian Association for the Teaching of English Language and Literature Concludes

The closing ceremony of the 13th International Conference of the Association for the Teaching of English Language and Literature was held at Lorestan University. At the closing ceremony of this conference, prominent English language professors who had participated as speakers were honored in the presence of Dr. Mohammad Feyzian, Vice President for Science and Technology of Lorestan University, Dr. Marandi, President of the Iranian Association of English Language and Literature, and Dr. Mahmoud Reza Moradian, Secretary of the Conference. They were presented with commemorative plaques and conference trophies. Dr. Mohammad Feyzian, the esteemed Vice President for Research and Technology of Lorestan University, while welcoming the domestic and foreign guests again at this ceremony, stated that the goal of holding these conferences is to create scientific relationships as well as peace and friendship in this fragile world. I hope we can establish relationships regardless of race and skin color and move towards world peace and loving each other, as well as strive to bring cultures closer together despite their differences. It should be noted that at this conference, in recognition of a lifetime of continuous and fruitful efforts, the wise and esteemed Professor Dr. Mohammad Hassan Tahiriyan was specially honored. According to the reporter of the Public Relations of Lorestan University, on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, the 13th International Conference on English Language and Literature officially began in the amphitheater hall of the Faculty of Basic Sciences of Lorestan University with the presence of a large number of professors and students from inside and outside the country. The respected President of Lorestan University, Mr. Dr. Azizi, as the first speaker, while welcoming the audience and guests present in the hall, said that language is the most developed intellectual tool that is used to establish communication between humans and human societies. Today, the English language is used as the main tool for transferring concepts in financial, commercial, educational, research, and scientific activities around the world. Dr. Azizi concluded by thanking the group of provincial managers, especially the esteemed Governor of Lorestan, and university colleagues for their comprehensive support in holding this conference. This conference began with the holding of three workshops by professors and researchers from universities inside and outside the country on November 17, 2015. The opening ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, in the amphitheater hall of the Faculty of Basic Sciences, and its closing ceremony was held at five o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, November 19, 2015. About a thousand abstracts were sent to the conference secretariat through the database designed for the conference; after the articles were reviewed with the cooperation of the Iranian Association of English Language and Literature and professors from universities across the country, three hundred articles were accepted for presentation as speeches and posters, of which two hundred articles were in the form of speeches and one hundred articles were in the form of posters. Dr. Moradian, the conference secretary, stated that special speakers were invited from Lorestan University, who included Professor Peter Mican from the University of Australia, Dr. Farhadi from the University of Turkey, Dr. Ishihara and Dr. Suzuki from the University of Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Zohreh Eslami from the University of Texas, USA, Dr. Christian Camb from the University of the Emirates, and Professor Richard from the University of Sydney, Australia, as special speakers of the conference. On the sidelines of this conference and in line with introducing the rich culture of Lorestan province, the Cultural Heritage Department of Lorestan province also held an exhibition of Lorestan handicrafts.