The TESOL Convention is an annual event that brings together educators, researchers, and professionals from around the world who are interested in teaching English as a second or foreign language. This year was the first time for us to attend the Convention and present at the Affiliate Leadership Workshop. We traveled for four days to and from Portland for a unique opportunity to advocate for Ukraine and show how TESOL-Ukraine copes with the challenges of war, crisis, migration, and constant air alerts.
In the presentation titled “TESOL Ukraine in the ELT Professional Development in Times of War” we showed the hardships of wartime – ruined schools and universities, bombed cities, and millions of teachers and students that had to relocate and start a new life from scratch. To support TESOL-Ukraine members, its board decided to continue professional development because for many teachers TESOL-Ukraine remained a safe place that helped them to go through the hardest times.
April, May, and June 2022 were rich in meetings with our foreign colleagues and gave Ukrainian teachers of English tangible support in this very difficult time for every person in our country. Thanks to the series of the online webinars under the umbrella term “Sharing Contexts Across Cultures” delivered by our colleagues from TESOL-Italy, we got vitally important information and practical advice on how to cope with difficulties we all faced unexpectedly and how to reduce stress and maintain our wellbeing as teachers. Due to Hawaii TESOL and TESOL-Ukraine Joint Project “Hawaii TESOL Webinars in Solidarity with TESOL-Ukraine,” Ukrainian teachers of English had a chance to get new and necessary information about how to teach in challenging circumstances. TESOL-Ukraine members were also supported by the colleagues from Turkey, Moldova, and the USA.
In spring 2022, life stopped, education was interrupted, students and teachers ran for their lives to find safe places to stay in Ukraine and abroad. Sadness, sorrow, grief, depression, pain, rejection, sometimes rage, and even hatred were the key emotions of those days. The most asked questions of our lives have become and still are “How are you doing?” which has gained a more specific meaning: “I am asking to support, offer help, and make you feel better. We care and hope.” And teachers could ask this question when they were at the online training sessions that TESOL-Ukraine organized – and that’s how many of us survived.
All these stories were delivered to the participants of the Affiliate Leadership Workshop, and we received enormous support from colleagues from all over the world. Many offered us partnerships and assistance in continuing teacher development. Advocating for Ukraine involved networking with other attendees and building relationships that can help to promote Ukraine's interests in the field of TESOL. It also included connecting with representatives from educational institutions or organizations that have an interest in Ukraine and engaging with policymakers or funders who can support initiatives related to English language education in the country in times of war.
At the TESOL Convention, other Ukrainian attendees also participated in sessions that focused specifically on the challenges and opportunities of teaching English in Ukraine at wartime. They shared their experiences and insights and engaged in discussions with other educators and professionals from around the world.
Overall, by highlighting the impact of the conflict on education and the challenges that Ukrainian English language teachers face, we helped to ensure that the needs of Ukraine's English language learners are not overlooked. This can promote a more inclusive and equitable approach to English language education and support the development of a more peaceful and stable future for Ukraine.
Olena Ilienko is TESOL-Ukraine President, she holds Ph.D. in Philology, she is also Doctor of Pedagogy, the Head of the English Philology and Translation Department at O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv. In fall 2023 Olena’s University was ruined by the Russian bomb, and now faculty and staff from the university work online.
Maryna Tsehelska has a PhD in Philology, founded Educational Centre "Interclass", and she’s TESOL-Ukraine Vice President. Since the war started, both ladies stay in Ukraine, helping Ukrainian teachers of English and advocating for Ukraine.
