The TESOL 2019 Convention was a huge success! From the roaring exposition room to the small hallway conversations, from the informative workshops to the thoughtful reflections, the 2019 TESOL Convention allowed all of us to come alive, feel welcomed, and leave refreshed.
As an ambassador for the convention, I was so happy to speak with folks from around the world and from different sections of our field. Over and over, I heard people talking about the energy of the convention.
As we all go home to our different parts of the world and sync back into our old routines, we must not lose our convention energy and motivation. We must use this as a platform to raise up our programs, colleagues, students, and profession.
Here are a few ideas to help continue the energy from convention!
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Join myTESOL, check it often, and interact! The myTESOL platform is here to help facilitate new conversations and continue old ones. Repeatedly, I heard attendees talking about wanting to connect with other affiliates, schools, and teachers. myTESOL is a great first start!
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Apply for the TESOL Leadership Development Certificate Program! This is a free online self-paced TESOL certificate program. This is a great way to take what you have learned and the conversations that you have had and start creating a plan forward.
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Submit to the TESOL Resource Center. This is a wonderful way to share teaching tips and lessons that you have used in the past, presented on during convention, or soon hope to try. The TESOL Resource Center is a great launching pad.
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Explore the TESOL Calendar of Events. Are you looking for more conferences to attend in your area? Do you want to travel to another area and present? Did you have a great presentation at convention that you want to share with an affiliate? Take a look at the TESOL calendar of events and make sure to check it often.
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Participate in a TESOL Seminar. TESOL offers frequent TESOL seminars online that are free for TESOL members. If you have a busy schedule or many other commitments, this is a great way to continue sharing, learning, and growing after convention. Take a look at what is ahead and mark your calendar now!
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Have a conversation. This post is probably the most important. The best way to keep the convention energy glowing strong is to share what you learned at TESOL, start new conversations, and get others involved. Begin a conversation with a fellow teacher, your department, or even your students.
As TESOL professionals, we are all at different places in our TESOL journey. However, the best way to move forward is to lift ourselves up. Make time to reflect on all that you have learned at convention and take these six suggestions as a way to keep the fire burning bright.
See you next year at TESOL 2020 in Denver, Colorado!
Stephanie Marcotte is an AESL professor at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. She is a doctoral student at the University of New England, where she studies transformational leadership within higher education. Stephanie is also the past-president for NNETESOL, a TESOL affiliate organization.
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