Affiliate News - 02/22/2019 (Plain Text Version)
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MY TESOL STORY: YOU SHOULD DARE TO HAVE ONE TOO! Karen Vasquez, HELTA, Honduras
Never did I think I could experience TESOL at such a professional level. I attended TESOL Chicago as a first-time participant and presenter and had the privilege of sharing with members. I shared not only information on how to gain opportunities in TESOL, but also my excitement about being there and why such opportunities are rewarding for personal and professional growth! As English teachers who are professionals in the field, we need to understand how our actions impact our contexts directly, be it at the K-12 level or in adult and higher education contexts. Our commitment and engagement in professional development ensures that all learner generations will benefit from relevant contributions in the learning environments we develop. Desimone, Porter, Garet & Birman (2002) in their longitudinal study explored how professional development directly impacts instruction in the classroom, how active learning increases the potential of the use of these practices, and how continued training guarantees proven, positive impact in learning and growth. Additionally, Mizell (2010) describes professional development as not only attendance at conferences, seminars and workshops but also acquiring knowledge through discussions with colleagues, learning about their projects, and observing what they do. Well, you know, TESOL encompasses precisely all those aspects and more! TESOL allows for high quality professional development through the varied sessions delivered. It provides possibilities to hear authentic teacher experiences from real situations in the classroom, multiple spaces for networking and establishment of new projects and teacher engagement. Additionally, there are scenarios to acquire leadership skills and learn from novel and tenured teachers, complemented by possibilities volunteering and learning which go hand in hand and allow teachers to grow and develop their careers! During my presentation at TESOL, participants had the opportunity to learn about the impact the affiliates leadership workshop had on a newcomer; how a novice presenter benefitted from the experience; how the variety of sessions offered through TESOL allowed for a renewal of lessons in the classroom; and how the networking opportunities translated into relevant projects, not only for learners but also for our English association in Honduras. The session described how TESOL’s holistic approach to professional development allowed implementation of lessons learnt to go beyond the conference and be shared with teachers from all over Honduras. Participants also learned about and how to access the variety of opportunities TESOL offers: grants, volunteer opportunities, tips on how-to prepare for and what rewards you will receive from being a presenter, and finally recommendations on how to best network in the settings to make the most of the TESOL experience! So, dare to have a TESOL story too! You will absolutely love it! ReferencesBirman, B. F., Desimone, L., Porter, A. C., & Garet, M. S. (2000, May). Designing Professional Development that Works. Educational Leadership, 57(8), 28-33. Hayes, M. (2010). Why Professional Development Matters. Learning Forward, 28.
Karen Vasquez has a BA in Business and Industrial Administration, a Secondary School Certification and a Master of Education Degree from Framingham State College. She completed a Diploma in Writing from UC Berkeley. At present she is … at ECSI and has 10+ years’ experience in the education field. USDS Alumna through E-teacher programs and AE Webinars. Presenter at TESOL International on 2018 and Vice President at HELTA Honduras TESOL. |
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