Should Conferences Strive to be International?

In the Podcast version of this post, Cate and I discussed many topics including my recent trip to Greece, Australian and British politics and our recent writings and outings. However, for this accompanying Weekly Squeak blog post, I want to discuss one topic in particular and get your feelings and thoughts.

Frequently when a tech event in a smaller country wants to broaden it’s reach and grow, they look to attract international speakers. This generally means switching the main language of the event to English, as it’s often the lowest common denominator language that everyone can understand enough of.

I have had recent experience of attending events where the organisers have been enthusiastic and excited about attracting more international speakers and attendees. They try to get attendees motivated and excited too, but often are greeted by a silent room.

Why is this?

It could be a cultural thing, not every culture is confident and communicative, some are more quiet and introspective than others. But I winder if it’s actually more of a confidence issue, or to be more precise, a confidence over language.

When an organiser boldly asks for questions, lightening talk volunteers, or other interactive request, often the room falls silent.

I wonder if this is due to many in the room not feeling confident enough in their language skills to feel that they can adequately say what they would like to say or add to a discussion.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe I have attended events that haven’t promoted anyone to say anything.

But this does lead me to ask a further question. Do events need to broaden their delivery language (or indeed, limit it to 1) to appeal to a larger audience or are there other ways?

I have been to events where 1, 2, or more languages were welcome, and that way attendees can then choose which sessions they feel more comfortable attending. or at a larger event, maybe events could hire translators (or volunteer) to allow speakers to deliver in a language they are comfortable in, and allow attendees to also participate in a language they are comfortable with.

Maybe within a few years, technology will translate languages almost instantly like the Babel fish in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and these questions will be a thing of the past.

Or maybe I’m being overly sensitive, and really, most people are fine with events held in English anyway.

I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts.