During the Third International Conference on the Teaching of English the author was conscious of a bewildering variety of ideas and impressions on almost every conceivable subject that had some relevance to the teaching of English. In this article, the author shares his thoughts on the conference and the speakers. Donald Graves' account of his research into patterns of control in children's writing was the initial stimulus. James Moffet became a talking point of the conference by polarising participants with his views on the relationship between writing, inner speech and meditation. Harold Rosen warned that people must avoid paternalism in the approach to the needs of the culturally different. Ian Pringle's account of his research in Canada into mechanical and conventional errors as symptoms developed this thought further. Attendance at this conference has been for the author the most professionally rewarding experience of his teaching career. [This article was originally published in "English in Australia," n55 p15-19 Mar 1981.]