The 2015 TESOL convention allowed access to an amazing group of peers and mentors who shared concepts regarding leadership, collaboration, and a host of best practice in the field of language acquisition. A common theme was the evolving world of ESOL—in the past, it was enough to teach English using a rote method, in a manner that promoted mimicry rather than as a process that includes cultural understanding and equity in access to resources.

Fascinating convention themes included ways to promote collaborations and develop partnerships, implementing meaningful needs analysis to improve services, adapting to a dynamic environment, understanding the value of language training as a commodity, the value of critical thinking in the academic environment, methods of exploring cultural competencies, and the importance of strategic planning. Other concepts that resonated include respect for an individual’s native language, the changing reality of TESOL’s international membership, the implications of technology combined with a larger audience for language training programs, increased need for cultural competencies within an ESL context, and the challenges of reaching an evolving membership.

The MIDTESOL conference organizers hosted a successful fall 2015 MIDTESOL conference, October 23-24, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Our conference team is already gearing up for the annual fall conference in Kansas City, September 30-Oct 1, 2016.

Photo by Roberta Morgan: Affiliate leaders brainstormed on the topic, “What role do affiliates play in intercultural communication competence development?”