Greetings from Tokyo and Singapore!

It is our great pleasure to send you our greetings in this preconvention newsletter, as it means that TESOL 2011 is just around the corner! The opening plenary is on the evening of Wednesday, March 16, and it will be the start of another amazing week, packed with great workshops, paper presentations, and unparalleled networking opportunities with colleagues from around the world!

We are excited to announce that ICIS is sponsoring 29 fascinating IC-focused presentations this year, including paper presentations, poster sessions, three InterSections (with Teacher Education IS, Social Responsibility IS, and International Teaching Assistants IS), and of course our big Academic Session, which shouldn’t be missed!

As you plan your itinerary, we highly recommend that you use the “Online Convention Program and Itinerary Planner” tool found on the left-hand side of the convention page of TESOL’s Web site. This will not only ensure you find presentations that match your interests, but also save you valuable time and energy during the frenzied convention week, allowing you to zip directly to your sessions, know when to visit the booths, know when to take your coffee break, and so on, while others are stuck in the halls flipping pages of the Program Book. Don’t forget to specify Intercultural Communication in the interest section search box to access all the ICIS-sponsored sessions.

Next, we would like to invite you to the ICIS Open Meeting, which will take place on Thursday, March 17, 5-6 p.m. in Room 212. If you are interested in Intercultural Communication issues in English language education, this is where you should be! You can learn about the inner workings of ICIS, get involved with next year’s sessions and activities, and of course meet and chat with other interesting IC enthusiasts from around the world. We will warmly welcome everyone and look forward to listening to your questions, thoughts, and opinions. Please join us to collaborate and brainstorm to increase IC awareness, research, and activities in TESOL!

Finally, please be aware, new arrangements have been made this year for interest section booths. Two tables will be set up at the TESOL Center and each IS will take turns to staff the table for a few hours during the convention. The tables will be placed in a high-traffic area of the convention center and flyers from all the ISs can be picked up there at any time during the convention. ICIS representatives will be at the TESOL Center booth on March 17, from 4 to 5 p.m., just before our Open Meeting. Please stop by to chat with the ICIS volunteer reps and show your support.

Thank you very much for your great contributions throughout the year; we look forward to seeing you soon in New Orleans!

Warmest regards,

Fumiko, fkuri@tamacc.chuo-u.ac.jp, & Josh, jborden@insing.com