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I am so excited to write to you today as many of us prepare to
launch new terms in our respective locations around the world! Some of
us, like myself, may be embarking on entirely new endeavors, in new
places and new institutions, and intertwined with new peoples and
cultures that will present new adventures and opportunities for learning
and sharing. At the same time, we have incredible new partnerships
forming and evolving as we prepare not only for the Annual TESOL 2015
International Convention in Toronto but also for doors to open for our
membership to share their knowledge and experiences of teaching and
learning in regional and other conferences and symposia.
At this year’s ICIS annual meeting, one of the visions we
discussed for our IS was exploring and creating new partnerships with
like-minded groups and organizations both within and outside TESOL, one
of which was International Association of Languages and Intercultural
Communication (IALIC). I am happy to report that not only will members
of ICIS be presenting a panel at this organization’s upcoming annual
conference in November in Aviero, Portugal, but that many of their
members will be joining us for both our academic session and a couple of
InterSections in March as well. We will welcome speakers teaching in
Iraq, the United States, Japan, Lebanon, and Egypt who hail from even
more countries and cultures. What a rich conference it promises to
be!
Of course, many more of you will be invited to be a part of the
Toronto sessions as ICIS has been granted 22 research- and
practice-oriented session slots along with several poster sessions and
roundtable discussions. The acceptances will likely be sent out in
October, so watch your mailboxes!
It is an exciting time to be a part of our ICIS! It is an
exciting time to explore ways to become more involved as Austin Pack,
who discovered us in Portland, has done this month as we welcome him as
our new community manager! I hope you will take time to read his
introduction and his vision for our online community and how you can
help.
Thank for your membership and support of your Intercultural Communication Interest Section!
Amy Alice Chastain
Chair 2014–15 | 
