The China English Language Education Association

Constitution

Article I. Name of the Association

The China English Language Education Association (CELEA) is a professional organization under the aegis of the China Foreign Language Education Association.

Article II. The Aims of the Association

The aims of the Association are as follows:

1. To unite the academics engaged in English teaching and research at colleges and universities in China;

2. To promote academic research in the field of applied linguistics and the improvement of English language teaching in China; and

3. To promote academic exchanges in China and exchanges with international academic organizations.

Article III. The Tasks of the Association

The Association sets forth the following as its tasks:

1. To organize and encourage its members to engage in research in applied linguistics with emphasis on the theory and practice of English language teaching through such activities as academic discussion, symposiums, conferences, lectures and short-term courses in member institutions;

2. To promote academic exchange and the exchange of teaching staff within China and with other countries;

3. To establish links and promote collaboration between this association and international academic organizations and academic associations of other countries;

4. To collect and study critical views and suggestions in the field of English language teaching, and convey these views to educational departments of local and central governments for their consideration in policy making with regard to English language teaching;

5. To publish the Association’s journal and collections of academic papers and other academic works related to research in applied linguistics and the teaching of English;

6. To set up a website for exchanging academic information and communication among members and other academics of the field at home and abroad;

7. To co-operate and to strengthen academic exchanges with other foreign language education associations and other professional organizations with similar concerns in China; and

8. To collaborate with educational departments concerned in the training of teachers of English.

Article IV. Membership

The Association is chiefly made up of institutional members.

1. Academics engaged in English language teaching and research at colleges, universities and other academic institutions in China, who are willing to abide by the Constitution of the Association can apply collectively for membership. The applicant institution becomes a member upon approval by the Standing Committee of the Executive Council. Individual applicants are required to fill the registration form and file the application through their institutions, which are responsible for sending the registration forms to the Secretariat for registration. An individual applicant will become a member after the approval of the Standing Committee;

2. Members of the Association are free to withdraw from the organization. Any withdrawal should be reported to and recorded by the Standing Committee of the Executive Council.

Article V. Rights and Obligations of the Members

All members of the Association are entitled to the rights:

1. To vote and to be voted to the leading organs of the Association;

2. To participate in the academic activities organized and sponsored by the Association;

3. To have access to information disseminated by the Association and to enjoy priority in subscribing to its journal and other publications; and

4. To criticize and advise on the work of the Association.

All members of the Association have the following obligations:

1. To abide by the Constitution and implement the resolutions of the Association;

2. To carry out work entrusted by the Association; and

3. To pay membership dues.

Article VI. Academic Activities

1. Most of the academic activities of the Association will be conducted regionally. Vice Presidents and members of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council in the region are responsible for organizing such activities.

2. A national convention on English language teaching will be held every three years at a venue to be decided through negotiation.

3. Other exchanges of academic information are carried out through the Website of the Association.

Article VII. The Executive Council and Its Standing Committee

1. The Executive Council is the leading organ of the Association.

2. Each institutional member is automatically a member of the Executive Council, normally with one representative member to the Council. When there is a need to increase the number of council members from an institution, decisions should be made by the Standing Committee of the Executive Council. Each representative member to the Executive Council is nominated and dispatched by the institution concerned with a letter of appointment to the Secretariat.

3. The Executive Council meets once every three years. When the Council is not in session, the Standing Committee of the Council exercises its functions and powers.

4. The Standing Committee of the Executive Council consists of 30-40 members elected by the members of the Executive Council. The Standing Committee is responsible for electing the President and the Vice-Presidents.

5. Under the supervision of the Executive Council, the Secretariat takes care of the routine matters of the Association. The Secretary-General is nominated by the President from among members of the Executive Council, to be approved and appointed by the Standing Committee.

6. The Executive Council sees to the implementation of the tasks of the Association as laid down in Article III, works out detailed plans for the Association’s programs, submit a work report to the national convention, discuss important matters of the Association, propose amendments to the Constitution, raise funds, prepare a budget, and publish the Association’s journal. The Executive Council can establish sub-committees as it deems necessary.

Article VIII. Dues

The association’s fund chiefly comes from membership dues and donations.

Article IX. Headquarters

The headquarters of the Association is located at the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press of Beijing Foreign Studies University.