This year’s TESOL Convention took place on March 26 through 28 in
Let me explain what TESOL means, first: it is the acronym for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. In non-professional circles, such speakers are called simply ESL learners, i.e., learners of English as a second language. As you may notice, the emphasis on the “label” (“category” would be a milder term) used for them is on their learning English. In professional circles, the emphasis is placed on the fact that the learners are already speakers of a language (at least one—their mother tongue), so they are called speakers of other languages.
TESOL also refers to the association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, a global association for English language teaching professionals headquartered in
Of the numerous invited speakers and plenary speakers, the one I deemed as particularly outstanding was Dr. Janet Zadina, a cognitive neuroscientist and reading specialist. She talked about language, learning, and the brain. Being a cognitive linguist myself, I was delighted at the tour of the real brain she gave her audience. She insisted on the second language processes in the brain, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism, thus encouraging ESOL teachers to help their students to stay bi- or multilingual and cherish their native culture (or their parents’ culture) while learning a new language and adapting to a new culture.
Other interesting topics that diverse presenters focused upon include: teacher talk and interaction, ESOL students’ academic voice, reading and fluency, nonnative-speaker varieties of English, redefining cultural identity, English language assessment and ESOL learners.
While during the first plenary the speaker (Allan Duke) talked about policy priorities and local funding constraints (hoping to see all of us next year, too!!!), the closing plenary (speaker, Andy Hargreaves) addressed what the speaker called “Fourth Way” of educational change that can ensure progress, namely a way of innovation, inspiration, and sustainability.
In conclusion, I am back inspired, in hand with some innovating tips offered by my peers, and especially ready to accept any support that I can get from the WSSU family to establish a tradition of excellent TESOL training at our university for the benefit of the thousands of ESOL learners in North Carolina who need and deserve well-trained ESOL teachers.
