Dear IEPIS Community Members:

Back in 1970 my life’s direction changed. That was the year I became a Peace Corps EFL teacher in Liberia, West Africa. Why, you might ask, was that a monumental moment in my life? Well, it literally set me on the journey which I still actively pursue today. That was the moment I discovered I loved teaching English to speakers of other languages and was captivated by the thought of learning as much as I could about people from different cultures. That devotion later propelled me to accept a teaching position at the ELS Language Center in Oklahoma City, where I still reside and teach. Today, I am fortunate to have spent 37 extraordinary years enjoying every day’s experiences with students from countries around the globe. Colleagues have wanted to know why I haven’t become an administrator at our center, and my answer has always been that the classroom is where I shine and that the daily contact of teaching students the complexities of English is the most important goal of my life.

A few years after joining ELS, I was fortunate to help Oklahoma educators create a state affiliate, OKTESOL. From its beginning, I was an active member serving on most of the positions of governance. Today, OKTESOL is still a vital organization. Essentially, it was the local affiliate experience that led me to TESOL International Association’s Intensive English Programs Interest Section. Since 1987, I have been a regular attendee at TESOL. IEP has always been my Interest Section of choice. I served for several years as its historian and now am happy to try my hand at the chair-elect position.

Being a member of TESOL is important to us all. It is a great source of information and guidance. Our IEPIS community actively communicates its issues and needs with each other on our website and through attendance at the yearly TESOL Convention. The site for the 2014 convention is Portland, Oregon, a beautiful location. This convention is being held March 26–29 and registration is already in progress. There are so many opportunities to learn from others in our field and to share experiences with people who understand us. The TESOL convention also is a great place to see and purchase the latest publications in our field, find employment abroad or in the United States, or find old friends.

One final note, as chair-elect it has been my responsibility to provide IEPIS with its 2.5-hour Academic Session in Portland. With input from those in attendance at the IEPIS annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, the theme of our Academic Session will involve how to use the “flipped” classroom approach for ESL instruction. I have been fortunate to enlist Robyn Brinks, John Graney (look at his article in the last IEPIS Newsletter), Helaine Marshall, and Jesse Sauer, who will engage us in understanding more about this method.