Katherine O'Meara, Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, USA

Broadly defined as the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own informed choices, agency is the theme of 2019 Symposium on Second Language Writing (SSLW), which will be held at the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Arizona, USA. On 13–16 November 2019, hundreds of second language writing specialists and scholars will assemble in the Valley of the Sun to discuss the roles that teachers, students, administrators, and researchers play both in the lives of second language writers and across the field of second language writing. This article serves as a preview of the many exciting initiatives and activities offered as part of SSLW 2019.

Plenary Speakers: Agency for Activity-Building, by Multiple Definitions, and in Educational Reform

Plenary talks will be given by three celebrated scholars, each speaking to the symposium theme of agency.

Neomy Storch (University of Melbourne, Australia) discusses ways to promote and accommodate multilingual learners’ agency in “Learner Agency Enactment in L2 Writing Activities.” She delves into sociocultural theories, particularly activity theory, in this plenary to explore the manifestations of agency in the writing activities, including peer feedback, collaborative writing, and student response to teacher feedback.

Tanita Saenkhum (University of Tennessee-Knoxville, USA), who published the 2016 book Decisions, Agency, and Advising: Key Issues in the Placement of Multilingual Writers into First-Year Composition, will extend this conversation to include multiple definitions of agency in her plenary, “Practicing Agency in Second Language Writing.” Saenkhum’s talk advocates for the maximized agency of students, writing teachers, program administrators, and researchers.

Todd Ruecker (University of Nevada, USA) shares how his teaching and research experiences have been shaped by state and federal policies that both standardize and constrain writing curricula. His plenary is titled “Enacting Agency for Second Language Writers and Their Teachers in an Era of Neoliberal Education Reform.” He considers the ways that teachers can enact agency in the face of seemingly oppressive forces through various strategies, such as reexamining curriculum design, rethinking pedagogical approaches, and engaging in advocacy in both local and broader contexts.

The SSLW Institute: Personalized Opportunities With L2 Experts

One popular feature that is returning for 2019 is the SSLW Institute. This year’s institute is a one-day, preconference event that will be held on Wednesday, 13 November, offering 10 interactive sessions.

Institute Director Sarah Snyder notes that many of these institute sessions are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. She writes, “The Institute functions as a hands-on space for SSLW attendees to continue their learning.” Even with robust coursework and rich books and articles available to us all, Snyder says these “pale in comparison to being with that scholar in the same room, discussing exciting, scholarly concepts in real time.” Snyder continues, “The Institute really is a special time to relive the magic of the classroom, build networks, and get even more excited for the Symposium that starts the next day.”

Snyder adds that a second but equally important goal of the SSLW Institute is to cater to many different roles that second language writing intersects with, including classroom teaching (e.g., K–12), research, and administration, all the way through to activism in the larger community of education. This preconference event is open to everyone, offering power-packed workshops with some of the most famous people in the field ready to collaborate with attendees on their favorite subjects. It is poised to be a continuous learning experience unlike any other. The full list of institute sessions follows:

Morning Sessions:

• Publishing in the Journal of Second Language Writing (AM session; Icy Lee and Christine Tardy)
• Implementing and Assessing Collaborative Writing Activities (Neomy Storch)
• Creating and Assessing Placement Practices to Maximize Student Agency in Composition Course Placement (Tanita Saenkhum)
• Creating Opportunity for Nonnative English-Speaking Teachers of Writing (Todd Ruecker and Mariya Tseptsura)
• Intercultural Rhetoric: Research Methods and Pedagogical Applications (Ulla Connor and Estela Ene)

Afternoon Sessions:

• Publishing in the Journal of Second Language Writing (PM session; Icy Lee and Christine Tardy)
• Designing Assignments to Enhance Transfer of Writing Skills and Strategies (Ann Johns and Dana Ferris)
• Issues and Strategies in L2 Writing Program Administration: Policies, Procedures, and Politics (Paul Kei Matsuda)
• Classroom Writing Assessment (Deborah Crusan)
  
  

Even More in Store: Social Events at SSLW 2019

Beyond the presymposium institute and the symposium itself, multiple events have been planned in the spirit of professional collegiality. Associate Chair and Arizona State University graduate student Richie Ryuichi Sato mentions that there are two events to look forward to. The first is a presymposium social held on Wednesday, 13 November; the second is a closing reception on Saturday, 16 November. Both events will be within walking distance of the Arizona State University campus, and more details are forthcoming as the symposium draws closer.

An International Affair

Overall, SSLW Founding Chair Paul Kei Matsuda looks forward to another successful symposium. He remarks, “This year’s SSLW will include over 250 presentations representing a wide range of topics.” It will be an international fête, welcoming presenters from 28 different countries.

Preregistration runs through 31 October on the SSLW Registration web page, including reduced rates for full- and part-time students. You can also find out about the venue (Arizona State University Tempe), hotels/lodging, and more on the full SSLW 2019 website.

The 2019 SSLW is sure to be an unforgettable experience this coming November. By the way, did you know that the average temperatures in Tempe during the Symposium range from 52–75°F (11–24°C)? Join in on the learning, collaboration, and fun during SSLW 2019.

We hope to see you all there!